238 Plants Collected in Paraguay. 



Tillaiidsia usneoides, L., Sp. PL, 287. 



Pilcomayo River (886). January-May. 



This is common on some parts of the Pilcomayo, but not so 

 abundant nor so luxuriant as in our Southern States. A lichen 

 growing by its side rivalled it in length. 



Tillandsia vernicosa, Baker, Jour. Bot., 1887, p. 241. 



Gran Chaco, near Asuncion (554). January. 



Leaves in a dense rosette, ensiform, acuminate, 7-20 cm. long, 

 channelled, pale green, glossy, finely lepidote, very thick and rigid 

 in texture, the outer spreading widely. Spikes densely crowded on 

 scapes 15-20 cm. high. Flowers w^hite, or at least the petals. 



IRIDE^. 



Cypella gracilis (Klatt), Baker, Jour. Lin. Soc, xvi, 129. 



Named by J. G. Baker. 



Between Trinidad and Asuncion (277). = Balansa 536. 



It is difficult to convey any idea of the very irregular and beauti- 

 ful flower of this little bulbous plant. The outer segments of the 

 perianth are oblong, about 2 J cm. in length, with a basin-shaped 

 base which is stiflfer than the upper part, yellow, slightly purple- 

 tinged at the base inside. The 3 inner segments are much shorter, 

 clawed, incurved at the apex in a fold which is rolled inwardly and 

 pointed, purple blotched. Stamens 3 ; filaments stout and thick ; 

 anthers black on the cell margins, cohering to the stigma at the top. 

 Stigmas appendaged much as in Iris. Stems slender, about 20-25 

 cm. high, 2-leaved, and with several acute bracts above. Pedicels 

 bracted. Flowers spreading when open. Abundant on the campos 

 northeast of Asuncion. 



Buenos Aires (13). October. 



I did not see this species in Paraguay, but as it is common in 

 Chile and about Montevideo and Buenos Aires, it may be looked 

 for northwards. The stem is glabrous, somewhat stout, 3-4 dm. 

 high, ancipital. Leaves linear-ensiform, acuminate, 3-10 cm. long. 

 Flowers several from the same spathe, on capillary pedicels, small, 

 bluish-purple, with darker purple stripes, the 3 outer segments with 

 5 and the 3 inner with 3 stripes; a yellow eye at base of the corolla 



