208 



Infforcsccnce in cymose clusters of various sizes; peduncles often 

 branched; pedicels, wbicli are of varying: length, bearing a single flower. 

 Peduncles very generally stronger than the stems from which they arise. 

 Pedicels in the majority of instances from 10 to 15 mm. long. Sloane's 

 note that flowers arise from "single side of stalk" seems well taken, 

 though his added statement, "as others of this kind are," needs moditica- 

 tion. 



Stem, closely appressed to stem of host where haustoria are developed 

 and in such places strengthened and rous^hened. It also presents a large 

 number of free ends which Ijranch somewhat freely, each branch being 

 subtended by an evident leaf-scale from 1 to 3 mm. long. The free 

 branches have a twisted appearance and twine freely about each other. 

 The plant as a Avhole is straw colored. 



The abundant material permitted the dissection of the flowers, giving 

 the following additional characters; 



Flower generally four-parted, in this differing from the majority of 

 American Cuscutas. 



Anthers somewhat sagittate, filaments strong. 



Scales large, about one-half length of filament; luiited at base; deeply 

 cleft near top, less deeply at sides, intervening arch not fringed. 



Sepals narrowly elliptical, the acumination being really a cuspidation. 



Petals delicate in structure with but few large cells; elliptical, obtuse; 

 reflexed fully one-third of their length. 



Ovari/ lenticular, rather sharp-edged. In early authesis styles are 

 about length of ovary; later they become as long as corolla and very 

 prominent. The styles are somewhat thick, awl-shape, and the globose 

 character of the stigma is apparent from the first. 



This is Sloane's Jamaica plant as I was able to make out its char 

 acters after an extremely careful study. 



The Linnseau description in Sp. PI. (lT.j;3), p. 124, is as follows; 



"C. Americana. 



Cuscuta floribus pendunculatis. 



Cuscuta caule aphyllo volubili repente (Gron. Fl. Virg. p. 18). 



Cuscuta inter majorem et minorem meaia, filamentis lougis et 

 lloribus late super arbores et campos se extendens. Habitat in Virginia." 



This is a verbatim copy of Gronovius" description of "Cuscuta inter 

 majorem et minorem media" in Flora Yii'ginica. Pas Prima, p. IS. 1743 



