Plate 2522. 



TRADESCANTIA ORCHIDOPHYiiLA, Rose et Hemsl 



COMMELINACE.E. 



T. orchidophylla, Rose et Hemsl, (sp. nov.) ; T. fuscatce similis sed 

 foliis orbicularibus sessilibus diflfert. 



Herba acaulis, paucifolia. Folia iis Orchidia spectabilis similia (fide 

 Jones), supra terrain applanata, sessilia, niembranacea, purpureo-macu- 

 lata, fere orbicularia, 2-4 poll, diametro, puberula, longitudinaliter 

 15-17-nervia, nervis pallidis alternis tenuioribus. Mores circiter 8 lin. 

 diametro, 16-20, fasciculati, graciliter pedicellati, pedicellis puberulis 

 1-2 poll, longis. Sepala 3, ovato-lanceolata, vix acuta, hirsutula, quam 

 petala breviora. Petala ovata, alba, tenuissima. Stamina 6, omnia 

 perfecta, tilamentis filiformibus nudis, connectivo late ampliato anther- 

 arum loculis discretis. Ovarii loculis 2-ovulatis. Capsula ignota. 



Mexico : in dark, wet woods below Colima, State of Colima, 

 M. E. Jones, 487, in the United States National Herbarium. 



I have only seen a single specimen of this remarkable species of 

 Tradescantia. In habit it resembles T. fuscata, Lodd. (Pyrrheima 

 Loddigesii, Hassle.), a. Brazilian species cultivated early in the century ; 

 but it is at once distinguished by its sessile, orbicular leaves. — 



W. BoTTING HEMSLEY. 



Fig. 1, a flower, natural size; 2, the same, enlarged; 3, views of a stamen, 

 enlarged ; 4, pistil, enlarged. 



