А TEXAN SPECIES OF MEGAPTERIUM' 
R. R. GATES 
University of London 
Formerly Research Assistant to the Missouri Botanical Garden 
While looking over some material in the herbarium of the 
Missouri Botanical Garden, a sheet was found containing three 
specimens which were so distinctive that it seemed desirable 
to describe them. The interest in them was enhanced by the 
fact that one of the specimens differs strikingly from the other 
two in such a way as to suggest that it may be a mutation. 
The plants in question were collected at Amarillo Creek, in 
Northern Texas, by J. Reverchon, who had recognized them as 
representing a new species of Megapterium. 
I am indebted to Dr. Greenman for suggesting а very appro- 
priate name for this species. Тһе diagnosis is as follows: 
Megapterium argyrophyllum, sp. nov. Plate 23. figs. 1 and 2. 
Herba cespitosa; foliis lanceolatis, petiolatis obseuré gland- 
uloso-denticulatis, utrinque dense canescento-pubescentibus; 
caulibus et alabastris (hypanthio et ovario incluso) canescente 
pubescentibus; ovarium quadrialatum, pedicellatum; hypan- 
thium 9-10 cm. longum, paulatim ad basin coni dilatum; 
petala 3-4 cm. longa. 
Var. retusifolium, var. nov. Plate 23. fig. 3. 
A forma typica differt foliis subrotundis bis oblongo-obo- 
vatis, retusis, mucronatis; flore grandiore (petala 45 mm. 
longa). 
Specimens examined: 
Texas: on rocky bluffs at Amarillo Creek, in northern Texas, 
29 May, 1902, J. Reverchon, 2749 (Mo. Bot. Gard. Herb.), 
TYPE; stony bluffs along Red River, Randall Co., northern 
Texas, 12 August, 1900, H. Eggert (Mo. Bot. Gard. Herb., 
4 sheets). 
Two of the specimens, one slightly older than the other (see 
pl. 23 fig. 1, 2), represent the type of the species. Тһе plants 
are esspitose or with very short internodes, leaves coriaceous, 
lanceolate, broad-pointed, tapering below to a petiole, about 
1 Issued January 30, 1915. 
Ann. Mo. Вот. GARD., Vor. 1, 1914 (401) 
