Plants Collected in Paraguay. 24T 



Copernicia riilira, Morong, n. sp. 



Intermediate in characters between C. cerifera and C. alba, but decidedly 

 different from both. Stem 10-13 m. high, and 18 cm. or more in diameter, 

 clothed nearly to the top of the trunk with the bases of the old leaf stalks, 

 never smooth as in C. cerifera, and always much thicker. The head is large 

 and rotund in outline like that of C. alba. The inflorescence is very similar 

 to that of the other two species, except that the tomentum is of a more rusty 

 tinge. The drupes are larger and globular or slightly oval in shape, obtuse 

 at both ends, instead of being ellipsoidal as in the others. The wood is reddish- 

 colored, and more compact than in C. alba, but never hard and solid as in 

 C. cerifera, hence popularly known as Palma colorada. It is seldom used as 

 timber. 



The peons of our party distinguished these 3 species of palms at 

 a glance, though they were mingled in the groves upon the banks 

 of the Pilcomayo. Palma negra, however, is much the most nume- 

 rous, P. colorada being rather rare. 



Pilcomayo River (10*78); Central Paraguay (738). Flower 

 January ; fruit April-May. 



TYPHACEJE. 

 Typlia aiigustifolia, L., Sp. PL, 971. 



Between Yilla Rica and Escoba (532) ; Pilcomayo River (1025). 

 January-May. 



No. 1025 has unusually broad leaves for the species, being from 

 l^ to 2 cm. wide. The spikes in some cases are 2 cm. in diameter 

 and 9 dm. in length, the pistillate and staminate flowers occupying 

 nearly equal spaces on the rachis. This was growing in vast num- 

 bers in the great laguna on the Pilcomayo River, and was one of 

 the weeds which so densely choked the stream that we were unable 

 to force our boats through. 



AROIDE^. 

 Pistia Stratiotes, L., Sp. PI., 963. 



Asuncion (180). November-December. 



The form called by Engler in Flor. Bras, cuneata, with obversely 

 triangular leaves, rounded and commonly emarginate at the apex. 

 Common in pools about Asuncion. 



