286 RowLeEE: GENUS CosTUS IN CENTRAL AMERICA 
overlapping, spreading-hirsute where exposed and with long 
appressed needle-like hairs where included in the next lowe 
sheath: lower leaves reduced to sheaths with oblique orifices: 
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most leaves forming a transition to the bracts of the spike. 
Spike ovate-cylindrical, 13 cm. long, 6 cm. wide, conspicuously 
bracteate, the bracts oblong, 2-5 cm. long, 1-8 cm. wide, puberu- 
ent on the back and along the margins, strigillose within; 
appendages of the bracts narrowed at the base, ovate, acuminate, 
rusty puberulent: bracteole on the right side of the flower, 
the back near the ee acuminate, rusty-puberulent. Flower 
3-5 cm. long; ovary 5 cm. long, three-ribbed, the ribs densely 
lobed, very thin and delicate, nearly equalling the labellum, 
nearly as broad as long, reddish orange in the upper part: sta- 
minodia equalling the labellum, also reddish orange at the tip; 
stigma spoon-shaped with a notched appendage on the back. 
[PLATE 12 
Costa Rica: in woods on the hillside about a mile south of 
Siquirres, H. E. Stork (Rowlee & Stork 675). Specimen pre- 
served in the herbarium of Cornell University. 
Only a single mat of the species, including one flowering culm 
and several leafy culms, was found, although careful search 
was made for additional material. The plant differs from any 
other species known to us and is remarkable in its peculiar 
vesture and delicate texture. It appears to be most closely 
related to K. Schumann’s Costus Dinklagei from Cameroon, 
Africa. The locality where this novelty was found is interesting. 
The old Spanish trail from the mouth of the Matina River leads 
westerly along the foot of the mountains to near Siquirres. 
It then ascends the mountains along the south side of the gorge 
of the Reventazon River to the central plateau, where the cities 
of Cartago and San Jose are located. Our plant was found near 
this trail. There was also found near the same place a spur 
(for horse-back riding) quite unlike any known to the present 
generation and probably dating back to the days of the buccaneer. 
2. Costus sepacuitensis sp. nov. 
Vegetative and fruiting culms diverse: leafy culms with large 
elliptic leaves (rese esembling those of C. maximus), at least 30 a 
lon 9 cm. wide, softly pubescent on both sides, margi 
ciliate; petiole 5 cm, long; ligule 1.5 cm. long, ciliate on tie 
