STANDLEY TREES AND SHRUBS OF MEXICO. 1185 



1. Rothrockia cordifolia A. Gray, Proc. Amer. Acad. 20: 295. 1885. 



Baja California and Sonora. Soutliern Arizona ; type from Santa Catalina 

 Mountains. 



Stems usually suffrutescent, hirsute and puberulent ; leaves broadly ovate- 

 cordate, 2 to 8 cm. long, acute or acuminate, deeply cordate at base, pubescent ; 

 inflorescence umbellate or racemiform, few-flowered ; corolla greenish white, 8 

 to 12 mm. long, the lobes oblong. " Talayote " ( Baja California ) . 



Brandegee reports that in Baja California the young pods are eaten raw. 



2. Rothrockia umbellata T. S. Brandeg. Zoe 5: 165. 1903. 

 Cape liegion of Baja California. 



Stems hirsute ; leaves ovate-cordate, 3 to 8 cm. long, acuminate, deeply cor- 

 date at base, hirsute and puberulent ; cymes racemiform, 1 to 6-flowered ; corolla 

 3.5 cm. broad, the lobes ovate-oblong, papillose within ; follicles 12 to 15 cm. 

 long, glabrous. » 



3. Rothrockia fruticosa T. S. Brandeg. Zoe 5: 165. 1903. 



Type collected near Santa Anita, Cape Region of Baja California. 



Stems fruticose below, hirsute; leaves ovate-cordate, 3 to 7 cm. long, acute 

 or acuminate, deeply cordate at base, pubescent ; flowers solitary or umbellate, 

 the terminal pedicel 2 to 3.5 cm. long ; corolla lobes about 12 mm. long, narrowly 

 oblong ; follicles 15 cm. long, glabrous. 



22. VINCETOXICUM Walt. Fl. Carol. 104. 1788. 



Plants usually scandent, fruticose or lierbaceous ; leaves mostly cordate ; 

 flowers small or large, green, brown, or nearly black ; calyx 5-parted, glandu- 

 lar within; corolla rotate, shallowly or deeply lobate, often reticulate-veined; 

 corona annular, adnate to the corolla, entire, dentate, or lobate ; stigma de- 

 pressed ; follicles smooth or muricate ; seeds usually with an apical tuft of 

 hairs. 



Besides the species listed below, several herbaceous ones, with erect or subs- 

 candent stems, occur in Mexico. Of a number of the species listed, no speci- 

 mens have been seen, and it may be, consequentl.v, that some names are incor- 

 rectly placed in the key. 



The following vernacular names are reported for plants of this genus: 

 " Chimicuro " (Oaxaca) ; " gueto de venado " (Oaxaca) ; " tlalayote " (Oax- 

 aca). The name most commonly used is "talayote." The young fruits are 

 eaten either raw or coked. Sweetmeats are sometimes made by boiling them 

 in sirup. 



Corolla glabrous within. 



Leaves mostly about 1 cm. long 1. V. hastulatum. 



Leaves mostly 3 cm. long or larger. 



Corolla about 3 mm. long 2. V. saepimentorum. 



Corolla 5 mm. long or more. 



Corolla lobes suborbicular, oval, or broadly deltoid. 

 Stems puberulent or glabrate. 

 Peduncles about as long as the petioles ; corolla glabrous outside. 



3. V. lutescens. 



Peduncles usually more than twice as long as the petioles ; corolla 



puberulent outside 4. V. cavanillesii. 



