Blake — Descriptions of New Spermatophytes 87 
two genera appear somewhat vague. Merinthopodium, as origi- 
nally based by Capt. Smith (Bot. Gaz. xxiii. 11, t. 1 (1897)) on 
Markea neurantha Hemsl., was distinguished by the peculiar in- 
florescence of few umbellate-racemose flowers terminating 9 very 
scarred and evidently perennial rachis or leafless flowering branch, 
the tubular-campanulate corolla, and the seeds described as exal- 
buminous. The last feature is, however, apparently based on a 
misconception, for in fig. 9 of Faxon’s plate above cited the embryo 
is represented as surrounded by what is apparently a thin layer of 
albumen, and in M. leptesthemum, certainly a very close ally of 
M. neuranthum, the seeds are clearly albuminous. In this respect, 
then, Merinthopodium does not differ from the original species of 
Markea (M. coccinea) as figured by Vauthier (Dict. Class. Hist. 
Nat. xvii. t. [9]) and by Miers (Ill. ii. t. 45). In Vauthier’s plate 
the flowers are represented as scattered in a sparsely branched 
panicle, in Miers’ as racemose along an axis which, except for its 
scattered and not crowded scars, is very similar to that of Merin- 
thopodium. Merinthopodium, if it is to be distinguished as a genus, 
must accordingly rest on its peculiar inflorescence and tubular- 
campanulate or more openly campanulate (not salver-form) corolla. 
In these features, however, a plant from Costa Rica (Cooper (distr. 
J. D. Smith) 5887) described by Capt. Smith as Markea leucantha 
(Bot. Gaz. xxxi. 116 (1901)) is a good Merinthopodium and should 
be called MerintHopoprum leucanthum (J. D.Sm.), comb. nov. 
There is no material of the true genus Markea in the Gray 
Herbarium, and I have been forced to depend for the characters 
of the genus on Miers’ and Vauthier’s plates and on the descrip- 
tion in the Genera Plantarum. A final determination of the re- 
lationships of the two genera must be deferred until authentic 
specimens of the two can be compared. 
Sotanum (§ Morelia) Peckii, sp. nov. Herbacea valde ramosa. 
Caulis tenuis obtuse subangulatus supra lineatim puberulus 
ceterum glaber, internodiis 5.5-6.5 cm. longis. Folia bina valde 
inaequalia collateralia tenuia ovalia vel ovato-lanceolata ad apicem 
et basin acuminata obtusiuscula viridia sicc. plus minusve nigres- 
centia supra granularia subtus non pallidiora ad venas et venulas 
plus minusve hispidulo-puberula ceterum glabra subintegra, 
nervis validioribus ca. 4-jugis venulis anastomosantibus, majora 
9-9.5 cm. longa 3.5-4.5 cm. lata, in petiolis 1.3-2 em. longis vix 
