RowLeEE: GENUS Costus IN CENTRAL AMERICA 287 
margin, pubescent on upper part, glabrescent below; venation 
/ long 
Spike not much exceeding the culm in thickness and appearing 
like it in texture et in color (dark chestnut in dried specimens) : 
bracts broadly o , 4 cm. long, and 3 cm. wide, glabrous, 
highly polished yoga within. Flowers not seen. Fruit 
obovoid, pubescent, 1.5 cm. long and 0.8 cm. wide, crowned with 
a deeply parted calyx; calyx lobes unequal, 1.3 cm. long, separated 
to near the base, ovate, acute. [PLATE 13.] 
GUATEMALA: near the Finca Sepacuite, Alta Verapaz, April 
13, 1902, O. F. Cook & R. F. Griggs 596. Known only from the 
type specimen, which is in the U. S. National Herbarium. 
‘This remarkable plant is related to C. geothyrsus K. Schum. 
of Ecuador and C. erythrocoryne K. Schum. of Peru but differs 
from both in the shape and size of the spike, in the calyx, and 
in the vesture of the plant. Other species with diverse culms 
occur in South America and in the Eastern Hemisphere. 
3. COSTUS VILLOSISSIMUS Jacq. Fragm. 51. pl. So. 1800-1810 
Specimens referable to this species from Central America 
and the West Indies exhibit considerable variation, although 
agreeing in stature and in having appendiculate green bracts 
and ovate spikes. The hairiness varies, for example, from tawny 
shagginess to an almost smooth condition, while the color of 
the flower varies from sulphur yellow to white. In all cases, 
however, the margin of the labellum is tinted with pink. The 
most typical specimen collected by H. E. Stork and the writer 
is No. 401, found in June, 1918, on the west side of the Panama 
Canal, opposite Balboa. The flowers are large and showy, the 
labellum being tubular, about 7.5 cm. and ivory white 
except for the rose red border. The whole plant and particularly 
the upper leaves are clothed with long tawny hairs. This 
specimen was 3 m. tall. Another specimen, also in bloom but 
only half as tall, is No. 325a, collected in September, 1918, at 
Quiriga, in Guatemala. It agrees with No. 401 in having tawny 
hairs and in the color of its flowers. 
The species, although apparently rare, is widely distributed in 
tropical America. The following additional specimens from 
Central America may be cited: near Balboa, Canal Zone, 
Panama, H. Pittier fae 3779, 6690; Province of Alta Verapaz, 
Guatemala, O. F. Cook & R. F. Griggs 308. 
