Gardneriane. * N.O. Eriocaulonee. - 
TAB. DXII. 
PaPALANTHUS spEcIosus. Gardn. 
Caule ramoso dense folioso, foliis caulinis semiamplexicaulibus 
erecto-patentibus lanceolato-acuminatis cuspidatis extus pilo- 
siusculis intus glabris margine junioribus presertim ciliatis, 
pedunculis hirsutis, vaginis glabris profunde bifidis apice sub- 
ciliatis. 
Pepalanthus speciosus. Gardn. Herb. Bras. n. 5244. 
Has. On rocky mountain declivities, to the north of the Dia- 
mond district, Brazil. July 1840. 
Suffruter 4-5-pedalis, ramosus, dense foliosus, ad insertiones 
foliorum pilosus. Folia basi dilatata caulem semiamplectentia, 
erecto-patentia, lanceolato-acuminata, cuspidata, striata, supra 
concava glabra, subtus convexa pilosiuscula, juniora presertim 
margine pilis albis ciliata, 2-3 pollicaria. Pedunculi creberrimi, 
circiter 300, umbellati, zquales, 2-pollicares, hirsuti. Vagine . 
glabree, bifidee, apice subciliatee. Capitula hemispherica, albo- 
lanata, magnitudine seminis piperis nigri. Bractee involu- 
crantes steriles, breves, obovato-oblonge, ciliate; bractee 
flores stipantes oblonge, obtuse, apice ciliate. Receptaculum 
pilosum. Flores masculi et feeminei mixti; illi pedicellati : 
sepala 3 exteriora oblonga, obtusa, ad apicem pilosa: 3 
interiora in tubum obconicum apice trilobum concreta, acuta. 
Anthere subrotunde, flave. Flores feminei sessiles: sepala 
3 exteriora, oblonga, obtusa, ad apicem pilosa; 3 interiora 
exterioribus simillima. Pistillium generis. Stigmata 3, fili- 
formia, simplicia. 
This, which is by far the finest species of the now numerous 
tribe to which it belongs, is often five feet high, and thickly 
branched down to the ground, each branch bearing a large yel- 
lowish ball-shaped umbel at its extremity. It is easily distin~ 
guished, at first sight, from P. Mazimiliana, Kinth, by its 
shorter peduncles, and more slender habit.—G. Gardner. 
Fig. 1. Head of flowers. £2. Male flower. jf. 3. Female 
flower. /. 4. The same more expanded :—magnified. 
1c eens 
