2o6 



THE CACTACEAE. 



9. WITTIA Schumann, Monatsschr. Kakteenk. 13: 117. 1903. 



Epiphytic, branching cacti, pendent from trees and rocks ; joints elongated, flattened or some- 

 what thickened, spineless, the margins more or less crenate; flowers small for this group, not 

 fugacious, with a definite tube, much longer than limb; perianth-segments short, erect; style (so 

 far as known) slender, white, a little exserted; fruit small, berry-like. 



Type species: Wittia amazonica Schumanii. 



In vegetative characters this genus is similar to some of the Rhipsalidanae, but the 

 flower has a tube longer than the limb. 



The genus is named for N. H. Witt, who made valuable collections in Brazil. 

 We recognize two species, natives of Panama and northern South America. 



Key to Species 



Fruit roughened b\ small tubercles 

 Fruit smooth 



1 W amazonica 



2 \\ panamensis 



'3V 



Fig. 208. — Wittia amazonica. 



1. Wittia amazonica Schumann, Monatsschr. Kakteenk. 13: 117. 1903. 



Branches flattened except at base, 15 to 40 cm. long, 4.5 to 9 cm. broad, often with constrictions, 

 cuneate at base, coarsely crenate, obtuse or acute at apex; flowers 2.5 cm. long; perianth wine- 

 colored, 2 cm. long, cylindric, somewhat curved; perianth-segments 10, erect, in 2 series; stamens 

 included, in 2 series; style 18 mm. long; stigma-lobes 5; ovary strongly tuberculate; scales on 

 ovary 3-angled; fruit 12 to 17 mm. long, deeply urabilicate at apex. 



Type locality: Near Laeticia and Tarapoto, Peru. 



Distribution: Northeastern Peru, not far from the Brazilian border. 



We know the plant from description and illustration only. 



Illustration: Monatsschr. Kakteenk. 13: 119. 



Figure 208 is reproduced from the illustration cited above. 



