Two new species of Amsonia from the Southwest 



E. J. Alexander 



The southwestern Amsonias present a group where both 

 more study and field-work are needed to clear up a not clearly 

 understood genus. Some work has been done, and done well, 

 but there are still points which need clearing up. 



The two following proposed species stand out quite dis- 

 tinctly in the material which the writer has examined, but fruit 

 of both remains to be collected, and in one case the species 

 range contains a gap of 650 miles which is rather awkward, but 

 quite probably due to the botanically little known region of 

 western Mexico, where future collecting may fill in the gap or 

 prove the Mexican plant a distinct species. 



Amsonia grandifiora Alexander, sp. nov. Herba perennis 

 glabra erecta 5-9 dm. alta; foliis alternis sessilibus vel sub- 

 petiolatis linearis vel anguste linearis, 4-12 cm. longis; corollae 

 tubo longo subclavato 1.5-2 cm. longo; corollae lobis oblongo- 

 ovatis 11-13 mm. longis; stigmate apici bilobato; folliculos 

 maturis non vidi. 



Arizona, Near Patagonia, May 6, 1930, Peebles, Harrison 

 & Loomis, #6986. (U. S. 1468292). Typus. 



Herbaceous perennial from a thickened, woody root; stems 

 5-9 dm. tall, slightly scabrate near the base, otherwise glabrous, 

 clustered from the base, erect, somewhat branched above, the 

 branches erect-spreading; leaves alternate, relatively numer- 

 ous, the blades linear to narrowly linear, nearly sessile or with 

 an inconspicuous petiole, glabrous, 4-12 cm. long, 2-7 mm. wide, 

 only the lower ones more than 3 mm. wide; inflorescence panic- 

 ulate, many-flowered (20-35 flowered), pedicels 1-4 mm. long; 

 calyx 4-6 mm. long, glabrous, the lobes subulate-aristate; co- 

 rolla pale greenish-blue, salver-shaped, the tube constricted at 

 the mouth, 1.5-2 cm. long, glabrous without, the lobes 11-13 

 mm. long, oblong-ovate, spreading; stigma apiculate by two 

 obtuse lobes; mature follicles not seen. 



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