+ 
A NEW GENUS OF THE COMMELINACEAE 274 
glabrous, much branched at maturity, the branches ascending, 
breaking through the close-fitting leaf-sheaths: basal leaves 0.5— 
3.5 dm. long, acute or acuminate, smooth or slightly pubescent 
bract; calyx of three similar, green, ovate, imbricated, persistent 
sepals; corolla showy, the petals equal or very unequal; stamens 
six, all fertile but dissimilar in size and in degree of pubesc cence; 
ovary oblong, three-celled, with two superimposed ovules in 
the transverse embryo. 
“ Commelinantia anomala (Torr.) comb. nov. 
Tradescantia anomala Torr. U.S. & Mex. Bound. Bot. 
225. 1859. 
Tinantia anomala C, B. Clarke; De Candolle, Monog, Phaner. 
3: 287. 1881. 
Pea green, usually glaucescent SOs: stems clustered, 
at first simple but later much branched, more than one branch 
frequently arising at a ee nig Sanaa. in the upper part 
of a stem late in the season) ; basal leaves 2—3.5 dm. long, linear- 
spatulate, attenuate into long ciliate petioles below, rather aes 
ches glaucescent, slightly os with a few long hair. 
above; lower cauline leaves 1.5-2.5 dm. long; upper pees 
pees sessile at “the top of the sheaths or eked. 0.5-2 
ng, broadly or narrowly lanceolate or somewhat cordate 
and clasping at the base, acute or acuminate; inflorescence 
erect, shorter (4-8 cm. long), broader, and strongly cordate- 
clasping at the base and in having no sheath; flowers three to 
very scrote lavender blue one an avery small and in con- 
aus anterior white petal, the showy petals almost rhomboid, 
1.5-1.8 cm. long and somewhat broader than long, the small 
petal ovate-rhomboid, 3-4 mm. long, and longer than broad ; 
stamen densely bearded (except at the extreme apex, at the 
