CLETHRACEAE. 



Determined by Alfred Rehder and E. H. Wilson. 



CLETHRA L. 



Clethra monostachya Rehder & Wilson, n. sp. ~ C . '^«''^-f»^*ic 



Frutex v. arbor parva, 2-6 m. alta; ramuli hornotini initio stellato- 

 pilosi, mox glabrescentes, purpureo-brunnei, annotini brunnei cortice 

 solubili; gemmae elongatae, acutae, dense sericeo-villosae. Folia 

 membranacea, ovato-lanceolata v. elliptico-lanceolata, rarius lanceo- 

 lata, acuminata, basi cuneata, serrata dentibus adpressis mucronatis, 

 8-14 cm. longa et 2.5-5 cm. lata, supra obscure viridia, glabra, subtus 

 pallidiora, in axillis venarum barbata ceterum glabra, costa media 

 supra impressa subtus elevata, nervis utrinsecus 10-16 subtus elevatis; 

 petioli glabri, supra canaliculati, interdum leviter alati, 1-2.5 cm. 

 longi. Racemi terminales solitarii, rarius 3, laxi, 15-20 cm. longi, 

 lateralibus fere dimidio minoribus, rhachis ut pedicelli stellato- 

 tomentosa; pedicelli 5-8 mm. longi, bracteis lanceolatis caducis circiter 

 5 mm. longis suffulti; sepala ovata, acuta, 2.5-3 mm. longa, extus 

 dense villosa; petala oblonga v. ovali-oblonga, leviter concava, ob- 

 tusa V. emarginata, 5-6 mm. longa, glabra; stamina petalis paullo 

 longiora, filamentis basi dilatatis infra medium sparse villosis, an- 

 theris fere 2 mm. longis; stylus staminibus paullo brevior infra apicem 

 curvatus, adpresse pilosus apice excepto, stigmate 3-lobo; ovarium 

 dense villosum, apice pilosum. Capsula nutans, subglobosa, circiter 

 5 mm. diam., tomento cinereo-fusco obtecta, stylo persistente coro- 

 nata, basi sepalis persistentibus adpressis suffulta; semina irregu- 

 lariter ovalia, circiter 1.5 mm. longa, flavo-brunnea, testa manifeste 

 reticulata. 



Western Szech'uan: without precise locality, alt. 1600-2300 m., 

 July 1903 (Veitch Exped. No. 3927, type) ; Mupin, woodlands, October 

 1908 (No. 1 192). 



This species is allied to Clethra Delavayi Franchet which is described as hav- 

 ing cuncate-obovate loaves sliKhtly scabrid above, solitary racemes, petals 8-12 

 mm. long, obovate and ciliate and longer than the stamens. Clethra Fargesii 

 Franchet is distinguished chiefly by the leaves being less attenuate at the base, 



501 



