86 Contributions from the Gray Herbarium 
characters it is intermediate between M. newranthum (Hemsl.) 
J.D. Sm. and M. campanulatum J.D. Sm. Iam indebted to Capt. 
Smith for the loan of the unique type of M. campanulatum for 
purposes of comparison. 
MerintrHopopium leptesthemum, sp. nov. Frutex in palmis 
epiphyticus. Caulis glaber pallide brunneus rugulosus. Folia 
alterna obovata vel ovali-obovata breviter acuminata basi longe 
acuminata integerrima chartaceo-coriacea glaberrima obscure 
viridia subtus paullo pallidiora, nervis lateralibus 6—7-jugis supra 
impressis subtus prominentibus venulis nullis, 12.5-20.5 em. 
longa 3.5-6 cm. lata, in petiolis 1-1.7 em. longis supra eanaliculatis. 
Pedunculi 7-9 cm. longi; flores pauci ad apicem axis perennis 
5-15 em. longi dense cicatricosi in pedicellis 3-3.5 cm. longis ad 
apicem incrassatis et granuloso-puberulis. Sepala 5 oblongo-ovata 
acuta paene ad basin libera (interdum per 2 et 3 connata) 1-nervia 
venulis anastomosantibus granulosa 1.3-2 em. longa 0.8 cm. lata. 
Corolla tubulesa supra paullum ampliata textura tenuis 4.8 em. 
longa extus granularis multinervosa, lobis 5 porrectis ovato-tri- 
angularibus obtusiusculis 1.3 cm. longis. Filamenta tenuissima 
3.7 em. longa ad basin corollae brevissime adnata fere ad medium 
patenti-pilosula; antherae 8 mm. longae. Stylus 3.8 em. longus; 
stigma saltem senectute conicus 1mm. longus. Capsula ellipso- 
idea obtusa 1.3 em. longa polysperma. Semina compressa 2 mm. 
longa, albumine exiguo donata.— British Honpuras: an 
epiphytic shrub on palms, Toledo, 12 Sept. 1906, M. E. Peck 508 
(rypPE in Gray Herb.).— From M. neuranthum (Hemsl.) J. D. Sm., 
its nearest relative, M. leptesthemum differs primarily in the thin 
texture and different nervation of the corolla. In M. leptesthemum 
there are on each side of the main nerve of the lobes, between this 
and the strong nerve on the margin of the sinus, three weaker but 
distinct nerves; and in the sinus itself two similar weak veins be- 
tween the two strong marginal ones. In M. neuranthum, on the 
other hand, the much thicker corolla bears only one or two weak 
nerves laterally on each side of each main nerve, between the 
latter and the nerves bordering the sinus, the latter being two- — 
nerved much as in M. leptesthemum. : 
In deseribing these two new species I have with some little 
hesitation followed Capt. John Donnell Smith in his separation 
of Merinthopodium from Markea. The distinctions between the 


