290 RowLeE: GENUS CostUs IN CENTRAL AMERICA 
8. CosTUS PULVERULENTUS C. Presl, Reliq. Haenk. 1:41. 1830 
The original specimen of C. pulverulenius was collected in 
Mexico by Haenke, no more definite locality being mentioned. 
The writer has identified with it, somewhat doubtfully, the 
following specimen from Guatemala, origina'ly referred to C. 
Malortieanus: Rio Sis, Dept. Suchitepequez, 1300 ft. alt., J. 
Donnell Smith 4800. This and the following six species agree 
in having a callose on the back of the bracts. 
g. CosTUS SANGUINEUS Donn. Sm. Bot. Gaz. 31: 122. 1901 
This species is the most frequent representative of the genus 
in northern Costa Rica, and a photograph of it has been repro- 
duced in Calvert’s ‘A year of Costa Rican Natural History,”’ 
opposite page 257, under the incorrect name C. Malortieanus. 
It is not found on the beach but inhabits higher ground, often 
at an elevation of as much as 2000 feet. The type specimen 
was collected in 1901, at Cubilquitz, Dept. Alta Verapaz, 
Guatemala, about 1000 ft. alt., by H. von Tuerckheim (No. 
7686), but the species has been found in other Central American 
countries bounding the Carribbean Sea. The following specimens 
may be cited: Peralta, Rowleé & Stork 45; Livingston on the 
Reventazon River, Rowlee & Stork 653; and Siquirres, Rowlee & 
Stork 1311, 1312. The plant is about 1.5 m. high, and the 
leaves are softly pubescent. The red spikes are fusiform and 
acute, when perfectly developed, as shown in Calvert’s figure, 
but they are frequently deformed and much shortened. 
10. Costus SPICATUS (Jacq.) Sw. Prodr. Fl. Ind. Occ. 11. 1788 
The original material of C. spicatus came from the West 
Indies, where the species is widely distributed. It is found, 
also, in the close vicinity of the seashore in northern Costa 
Rica, between Limon and the mouth of the Matina River. The 
following specimens may be referred to it: Chargres, 1850. 
A. Fendler 446; Rio Dulce, March, 1889, J. Donnell Smith; 
vicinity of Frio, province of Colon, August, 1911, H. Pittier 
4137; Limon, Rowlee & Stork 674. The field notes that follow 
were made from No. 674. 
Culms 1-2 m. high, many from a rather dense mat, leafy to near the base, 
whole plant glabrous. .Leaves 18 cm. long, 7 cm. wide, elliptic, short-acuminate 
