26 



MEMOIRS OF THE NEW YORK BOTANICAL GARDEN 



[VC*L. 10 



4. Saxofridericia spongiosa Maguire, sp. nov. Figure 4. 



Herbae perennes 2-3 m altae ; caudice aliquantum rotundato nee compresso 

 nee conspicue sigmoideo; vaginis 30-35 cm longis, 8-10 cm latis conduplicatis, 

 crasse spongiosis, in sicco conspicue transverse rugosis; laminis 1.5-3.5 m longis, 



7- 10 cm latis, subtus delicate et dense punctatis, apice gradatim vel attenuate 

 acuto, saepe f alcato, reticulate venatis, venis primariis 1-3 mm separatis ; pedun- 

 culis duobus, bracteis submembranaceis 15-30 cm longis subtentis, pedunculo 



8- 12 dm longo, ca. 15 cm lato, aliquantum compresso sed non acute compresso. 

 conspicue bulbose subtus inflorescentia expanso; inflorescentia hemisphaerica 

 solitaria bibracteata ; bracteis involucralibus 8-10 cm longis, 4-5 cm latis conna- 

 tis igitur saccatis, demum capite maturo ruptili; receptaculo ovato vel hemis- 

 phaerico 15-20 mm demum 35 mm longo, multispiculato ; spiculis 60-100, fusi- 

 formibus, 26-32 mm longis, sepalis inclusis; bracteolis 6-18, gradatis, oblongo- 

 oblanceolatis acuminatis, 14-20 mm longis, 4—6 mm latis, 5-9-nervatis sursum 

 subinduratis, deorsum subscariosis ; sepalis 25-28 mm longis. 6-8 mm latis, lan- 

 ceolato-acuminatis, induratis, et valdius 9-11-nervatis sursum, ad basim scariosis; 

 petalis liberis, ungue 20-22 mm longo, 4-5 mm lato, lamina rhomboideo-orbiculari 

 vel ovato-orbiculari, minute acuminata 18-20 mm lata; filamentis ca. 20 mm 

 longis; antheris ca. 18 mm longis, valde transverse rugosis; stylo ca. 3 cm longo, 

 stigmate minuto terminali; ovario triloculari, loculis pluriovulatis ; capsula ovali- 

 oblonga ca. 1 cm longa. 



Type : perennial herb to 3 m high, sheaths conspicuously spongy, petals ovate 

 rhomboid; frequent, granitic slopes, Cerro Arauicaua, alt. 120-200 m, Rio 

 Yatua-Pacimoni, Amazonas, Venezuela, Feb 4, 1954, Maguire, Wurdack & Bunt- 

 ing 37485 (holotype NY). Paratype : perennial herb with leaves to 3.5 m long, 

 flowers yellow, scapes and leaves glaucous, frequent, granitic slopes, Cerro 

 Arauicaua, Maguire, Wurdack & Bunting 37474. 



Known only from Cerro Arauicaua, where this handsome herb is a conspicu- 

 ous plant of the open granite slopes. It is the only species of the subgenus Saxo- 

 fridericia known to occur at low altitudes and elsewhere than on sandstones of 

 the Roraima Sediments. 



5. Saxofridericia grandis Maguire, sp. nov. Figure 4. 



Herbae perennes ca. 2 m altae; caudice ad 3 dm longo; vaginis coriaccis 

 induratis, gibboso-lanceolatis, 15-20 cm longis, 5-7 cm latis, conduplicatis, mar- 

 ginibus late submembranaceis; petiolis 15-20 cm longis; laminis linearibus, 7-10 

 dm longisf 4.0-5.5 cm latis; nervis a 0.5 mm separatis; pedunculo aliquantum 

 compresso glauco, gradatim expanso subtus inflorescentia; inflorescentia hemis- 

 phaerica; bracteis involucralibus ovato-lanceolato-acuminatis, 7-10 cm longis, 

 connatis saccatis demum capite maturo ruptili ; spiculis numerosis 50-80, 25-30 

 mm longis; bracteolis 10-15, exterioribus anguste lanceolatis, 20-22 mm longis, 

 ca. 4 mm latis, interioribus oblongo-lanceolatis, abrupte acuminatis, 16-18 mm 

 longis, 6-7 mm latis, subinduratis ; sepalis oblongo-lanceolatis et acuminatis indu- 

 ratis, 22-26 mm longis, 8-10 mm latis; petalis staminibusque non visis; seminibus 

 scmiannulatis transverse rugosis et striatis, canis, 4-5 mm diam. • 



Type : herbaceous perennial 2 m high, caudex to 3 dm high, flowers yellow, 

 copious gelatin at base of leaves; frequent, cumbre at head of Cano, Cerro Paru. 

 at 2000 m alt., Rio Paru, Rio Ventuari, Amazonas, Venezuela, Jan 31, 1951. 

 Cowan & Wurdack 3111:") (holotype NY). Paratypes: Cerro Paru: occasional, 



