TROPICAL AMERICAN COMPOSITAE. 31 
all the features important for classification. It appears to be very 
different from any species known and may well have published record. 
It has somewhat the habit of a Symphyopappus, but the pappus- 
bristles are capillary and distinct to the base, showing no tendency to 
become firm or to be connate into aring. It may here be mentioned 
that recent examination of Symphyopappus leads to the belief that it 
is an exceedingly weak genus of very doubtful distinctness and little 
taxonomic value. Its distinctions from Eupatorium, both technical 
and habital, break down completely. 
E. sctapuitum Robinson, Proc. Am. Acad. liv. 256 (1918). This 
interesting species, originally collected in Dept. Antioquia, Colombia, 
by Kalbreyer, appears to have been rediscovered by Dr. Pennell in 
the shrub zone, alt. 2800-3000 m., below Paramo de Chaquiro, Dept. 
Bolivar, Colombia, no. 4349 (N. Y.). Dr. Pennell’s plant while 
agreeing with the original material in all the more essential points 
iffers in having the leaves crowded, somewhat smaller (about 4 em. 
long) and less rigidly coriaceous, the contour being elliptic-oblong 
rather than spatulate-oblong. In the presence of close agreement in 
the inflorescence, involucre, florets, achenes, pappus, pubescence, 
ete., it is probable that these differences are largely the result of indi- 
vidual environment or are at most only of a formal nature. 
E. sctatRaPHES Robinson, Proc. Am. Acad. liv. 257 (1918). Among 
the plants recently collected in Venezuela by Prof. H. Pittier is a 
Eupatorium in bud. It is labeled as follows: “Niquibao. Fls. pale 
lilac. Medicinal, pectoral. Around Caracas: altitude 800 to 1000 
meters. Cultivated. - June, 1918. H. Pittier, no. 7882.” In habit, 
foliage, pubescence, as well as in the details of inflorescence and florets, 
SO far as shown, this plant so closely coincides with the Santo Domin- 
gan E. sciatraphes that its specific identity seems practically assured. 
i the original material the number of florets in the closely fastigiate 
eads_ shows considerable variability, ranging in the Venezuelan 
material from 4 to 8, while in the Santo Domingan specimens exam- 
ned it ranged from 8 to 13. More mature material of the Venezuelan 
oo be essential to prove with absolute certainty the 
—- ad » yet the highly characteristic habit, texture, lucidity, and 
a ‘by - of the leaves, ete., give fairly conclusive evidence. It is 
= ee erved that the Venezuelan material is from cultivated stock, 
tere is as yet no evidence that the plant is indigenous on the 
continent. 
i Eximbricata) simulans, spec. nov., ut dicitur herbaceum 
cosum 1-2 m. altum; caule tereti griseo-brunneo juventate 

