70 THE APETAL0U9 FtTCnSIAS OF SOUTn AMKEICA. 



This very handsome species appears to have been first discovered 

 by Jameson in 1836 in the provducc of Alausi, Ecuador, at an eleva- 

 tion of 10,000 feet, and subsequently, in 184S, near the top of the 

 " Cuesta de Aquas," on the road to Guayaquil. With the 

 specimens from the latter place is a note running thus: "It 

 has no leaves, and its true habitat is on the trunks of old trees covered 

 with moss," Spruce collected it in 1859 in mossy woods on the west 

 side of Mount Azuay. It is very closely allied to F. apetala, of 

 which it may possibly be a variety ; but it has much larger, handsomer 

 flowers with longer sepals and very long exserted stamens. The true 

 apetala appears to develope its leaves at the same time as the flowers, 

 and the leaves of the present plant arc quite unknown ; but it is not 

 absolutely leafless, as the scars of fallen leaves testify. 



4. F. apetala, Kuiz et Pav. PI. Peruv. iii., p. 89, t. 322, fig. b.— 

 Frutcx epiphytus villosus, cortice verrucoso deciduo, ramis brevibus 

 A crassis tortuosis, foliis amplis (ad 6 poll, longis) alternis petiolatis 



" cordato-ovatis subtus praecipue in venis hirsutis, floribus ad apices 



rainulorum confertis, breviter pedicel] atis, calycis tubo H-2 poll, longo 

 sursum gradatim cxpauso 8-costato, limbo laciniis lanceolato-ovatis 

 6-9 lin. longis, staminibus exsertis, stylo longe exserto. — Peruvia. 



The first apetalous species discovered in America, There is no 

 record of its having been in cultivation in tliis country, but it is stated 

 to have been in Belgian gardens. 



5. F. MEMBRANACEA, ti.sp. — Frutcx cpiphytus (?) omnino 

 glaberrimus, ramis foliosis teretibus, cortice demum deciduo, 

 foliis petiolatis alternis suboppositis vel tcrnatis late ovato- 

 lanceolatis ellipticis vel fere rotundatis acutis minute dentatis 



<^ tenuibus 2-23 poll, longis, petiolo gracili 6-9 lin, longo, floribus axilla- 

 ribus sub-solitariis longe pedicellatis, pedicellis gracilibus ad sesqui- 

 pollicaribus, calycis tubo H-lf longo 8-costato sursum gradatim ex- 

 panse, limbo laciniis lanceolatis acutis 9-12 lin. longis, staminibus 

 inclusis, stylo basi hirsute. — Caracas, Linden, 372, Hb. Kcw. 



A distinct new species, quite glabrous in all its parts, with small 

 thin leaves on slender petioles and axillary pendent flowers on slender 

 pedicels. The leaves are fully developed when the flowers appear. I 

 have seen only quite young flowers, and therefore the stamens and 

 style may possibly be exserted in fully-expanded flowers. 



6. F. sALiciFOLiA, n.sp. — Frutex epiphytus omnino nisi florcs 

 glaberrimus, ramis foliosis teretibus, cortice persisteute, Ibliis alternis 

 breviter petiolatis anguste lanceolatis acute acuminatis minute et re- 



, mote denticulatis, subcarnosis, 2\-3^ poll, longis, 9-12 lin. latis, 

 \ petiolo brevi costaque crasso, floribus pedicellatis axillaribus geminatis 

 vel solitariis leviter pubescentibus roseis, pedicellis 9-12 lin. longis, 

 calycis tubo basi globoso supra basin constricto superne gradatim . 

 expanse 8-costato H-2 poll, longo, limbo laciniis lanceolatis acutis ad 

 pollicaribus, staminibus inclusis, stylo exserto stigmate clavato. — San- 

 dillani, 7-8000 ped., li. Pearce, Hb. Kew. 



Another very distinct species, differing remarkably in its foliage 

 from all previously described species. I have only seen specimens 

 gathered by Mr. Pearce, who collected for Messrs. Veitch some years 

 ago. 



