98 SMITHSONIAN MISCELLANEOUS COLLECTIONS VOL. 1 26 



number of the species where these parts have been examined, the stamens are 

 not consistently or clearly longer or shorter than the petals. This is particularly 

 the case in several of the commoner species with compound inflorescences. Con- 

 sequently it seems best to construct a key that is artificial insofar as is neces- 

 sary to give it maximum efficiency. This key is divided into a number of sub- 

 keys to make it less unwieldy and to save it from extreme indentation. 



Conspectus of subkeys 



I. Flowers in exactly 2 ranks (fig. 32), but sometimes twisted until secund, 

 (Fig. 36.) 

 2. Inflorescence compound. 

 3. Flowers not secund. (Fig. 32.) 

 4. Upper scape-bracts equaling or exceeding the internodes. 



Subkey A 



4. Upper scape-bracts shorter than the internodes Subkey B 



3. Flowers secund at anthesis and after; the floral bracts often secund as 



well. (Fig. 36.) Subkey C 



2. Inflorescence simple. 

 5. Flowers not secund except sometimes insofar as the petals are exserted 

 from the bracts on one side. 

 6. Scape straight or ascending; inflorescence erect. 

 7. Flowers all erect, either imbricate or appressed to the rhachis. 



(Figs. 41, 42.) Subkey D 



7. Flowers (at least the lower ones) not imbricate, spreading or di- 

 vergent with evident space between them. (Fig. 43.).. Subkey E 



6. Scape decurved; inflorescence pendulous. (Fig. 47.) Subkey F 



S. Flowers secund at anthesis and after; the floral bracts often secund as 



well Subkey G 



I. Flowers in more than 2 ranks ; inflorescence simple or few-branched ; leaf- 

 blades very narrowly triangular, acuminate. (Fig. 48.) Subkey H 



SUBKEY A 



I. Flowers all erect and contiguous at anthesis. 

 2. Sterile bracts of the branches remote; floral bracts fleshy, black. 



I. V. funebris 



2. Sterile bracts of the branches imbricate or lacking ; floral bracts coriaceous 



or subcoriaceous, lighter. 



3. Floral bracts shorter than the sepals. 



4. Primary bracts shorter than the elongate sterile bases of the branches ; 



floral bracts obtusely carinate, 35 mm. long 2. V. gravisiana 



4. Primary bract equaling the short sterile base of the lateral branch; 



floral bracts ecarinate, less than 25 mm. long 3. V. sincorana 



3. Floral bracts equaling or exceeding the sepals. 



5. Rhachis alate; floral bracts glabrous, narrov*^, even; Amazonian 



species 4. V. rubra 



5. Rhachis merely angled; floral bracts more or less lepidote, broad, 

 strongly incurved. 

 6. Branches &-i4-flowered with one or no sterile bracts at the base; 

 floral bracts sparsely lepidote toward the apex, 27-32 mm. long. 



5. V. schwackeana 



