226 Plants Collected in Paraguay. 



long ciliate ; segments of perianth 5, minutely pubescent, not ^ mm. liigli. 

 Pistillate spikes terminal, thicker, 6-8 cm. long ; floral bracts 7-8 divided 

 nearly to the base, glabrous ; perianth segments 3, ovate ; ovary tawny-liir- 

 sute ; style parted shortly above the base into 15-18 much exserted purple 

 threads. Fruit not seen. 



A species nearly related to A. communis, Muell. Arg. 

 Central Paraguay (1578). March. 



Ricimis commiiiiis, L., Sp. PL, 1007. 



Asuncion (121). 



The Castor-oil Bean is very common on the river banks and in 

 the woods around Asuncion. It frequently grows into a small tree 

 5 or 6 m. high, and may be found in flower or fruit the greater part 

 of the year. 



Tragia §ellolviana, Muell. Arg., Linnsea, xxiv, 178. 



Near Asuncion (709). May. 



A climbing herb, suflfruticose below, with very slender fuscons- 

 haired stems. Leaves far apart, ovate, cordate, acute, dentate, 

 palmately nerved, 5-10 cm. long, sparsely white pubescent on both 

 sides, on petioles 3-6 cm. long. Flowers monoecious, in biparted 

 racemes, the branches of distinct sexes; the common peduncle 

 naked. Stipules lanceolate, small. Fruit of 3 silky-haired, globose 

 cocci ; seeds globose, yellov/ or brownish spotted, nearly 4 mm. in 

 diameter. In thickets. 



Stilliiigia sylvatica, L., var. Paraguayensis, Morong, n. var. 



Varies very decidedly from the Florida form (Chap. Flor., 404). A tree 5-8 

 m. high. Stem single, alternately branched, with smooth gray bark. Juice 

 milky. Leaves willowy, alternate, glabrous, lanceolate, acute at either end, 

 4r-10 cm. long, 8-15 mm. wide, crenate-serrulate, the serratures appressed and 

 ending in a gland, often biglandular at the base of the blade ; petioles 5 or 6 

 mm. long. Stipules very small, ovate, scalelike. Spikes terminal, mona'ci- 

 ous, sometimes all staminate, or again with only a few pistillate flowers at the 

 base, 6-8 cm. long. Glands not cnp-shaped at all, but flat, 1-2 mm. wide. 

 Bracts yellowish-green, broader than long, sometimes fimbriate. Style short; 

 stigmas 3, longer, curled downwardly, stigmatic on the upper side. Fruit a 

 large 3-celled capsule, each cell containing a single flatfish, black, smootli 

 seed enveloped in a scarlet pulp, the seed about 5 mm. long. 



In flower at Asuncion, October, November; in fruit on the Pilco- 

 mayo River, January (814). = Balansa 1711. 



