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TWO NEW CARLUDOVICAS FROM THE ISLAND OF 

 ST. KITTS, WEST INDIES 



By J. F. Cowell 



The two Carludovicas collected on the island of St. Kitts in 

 the fall of 1 90 1 seem to be undescribed, and, so far as' is now 

 known, confined to that island ; both are quite distinct from any 

 hitherto found in the West Indies. One of them (No. 164) is 

 remarkable for its high-climbing habit and free branching, and, 

 as seen in the deep mountain ravines, using the trunks of tall 

 ferns and other trees as a means of support, is a very striking 

 plant ; so strong is its adhesion to the trees by means of its long 

 rope-like roots that it takes great force to detach the plant, and 

 it forms a good ladder for the ascent of the trees ; in some cases 

 the stems were 25 to 30 feet long with branches at least 6 feet 

 long. 



The other species (No. 326) was found only at the bottom of 

 one ravine, growing in dense shade at an elevation of about 1,500 

 feet above the sea ; with its sturdy growth and abundant dark 

 green leaves it is one of the most beautiful of the genus. 



Carludovica scandens sp. nov. Caudex 3-4 cm. thick, climb- 

 ing on trees to a height of about 8 m., often branching. Leaves 

 several at the summit ; petiole very short, not exceeding 1 

 cm. in length ; blade 6— J dm. long, rather more than 2 dm. 

 wide, not rigid, bright green on both sides, cleft to about the 

 middle, the lobes oblong-lanceolate, acutish, not acuminate, the 

 midvein not very prominent, the lateral veins about 10 on each 

 side : peduncles stout, erect or ascending, 7—8 cm. long, slightly 

 compressed, bearing 4 or 5 bracts, the bracts membranous, lan- 

 ceolate, pale green, acuminate, 6—8 cm. long : spadix cylindric, 

 blunt, 4-5 cm. long, about 1.8 cm. thick; fruiting perigonia 

 irregularly 5 -sided, about 1 cm. broad, the 4 stigmas elevated 

 above the surface, forming a cross. 



In the forest, Buckley Estate, St. Kitts, B. W. I. (Britton 

 and Cowell, Sept. 10, 1901, No. 164). 



Carludovica Caribaea sp. nov. Terrestrial ; caudex short, 

 stout, 5—6 dm. high. Leaves several at the top, dark green on 

 both sides but slightly paler beneath than above, thin, not rigid ; 

 petiole about 5 cm. long ; blades cuneate-obovate in outline, 



