AEQUATOEI ALES DIVISION 55 



II AEQUATORIALES 



With cataphyls or scales constantly present toward the base of the 

 branches, exceptionally cymosely dichotomous or forking without a per- 

 current main stem. Spikes axillary and, in the cymose forms, terminal. 

 Flowers in dioecious or monoecious unisexual spikes or, mostly, with 

 staminate and pistillate flowers on the same spike. All are glabrous ex- 

 cept for the small group Anomalae. Central in Brazil, extending from 

 the Argentine to central Mexico and through the West Indies even to 

 the northern Bahamas. 



Cataphyls on the basal joint only of each branch. INTERRUPTAE. 



Cataphyls on alternate joints. PARADOXAE. 



Cataphyls on all joints. CONTINUAE. 



D. INTEKRUPTAE. 



Cataphyls strictly limited to the basal joint of each branch, the 

 branches normally percurrent so that some joints occur without cata- 

 phyls. Throughout the range of the Aequatoriales. 



With foliage leaves. FOLJOSAE. 



Leaves reduced to scales. SQUAMOSAE. 



I. FOLIOSAE. 



With foliage leaves. All are glabrous except for the group Anomalae. 

 Throughout the range of the Aequatoriales. 



Leaves basinerved. BASINERVIAE. 



Leaves pinnately veined, never very narrow. PENNINERVIAE. 



a. BASINERVIAE. 



Nerves starting from the base of the leaves, rarely joined for a short 

 distance above the petiole, never with a pinnately branched midrib al- 

 though the middle nerve may be stronger and more raised than the oth- 

 ers. 



Glabrous throughout, though sometimes papillate. 

 Leaves not clasping. 



Fruit elongated, with erect sepals. LONGIBACCAE. 



Fruit round, ovoid, or ellipsoidal. 



Flowers prevailingly 2-ranked on each joint. 

 Fruit tuberculate. 



Stem mostly sharply 4-angled. 



Leaves obovate. Of wide range. E MARGIN AT AE. 

 Leaves elliptical or lance-oblong. 

 Argentine. ARGENTINAE. 



