12 



MEMOIRS OF THE NEW YORK BOTANICAL GARDEN 



[voH 10 



bracteis sterilibus 2 ; sepalis 3, ea. 22 mm longis, nee earinatis nec conduplieatis, 

 lateralibus appositis, tertio subanteriore, omnibus subter medio membranis ob- 

 laneeolatis scariosomarginatis mucronatis; eorollis eaeruleis ephemeris; antheris 

 sagittatis 5-6 mm longis; granis pollinis sphaeroideis, non aperturatis spinosis, 

 140-150/x diam., sporodermide 5 /x crassa, spinis tenuibus 6-7 /x longis: ovario 

 oblongo-obovato, valvis cum appendicibus bidentatis apicalibus 1 mm longis; 

 plaeentis axialibus, 4-seriatis ; stylis triquetris, acute angulosis, ca. 3 cm longis, 

 cum 3 appendicibus simplicibus reflexis subulatis, subter medio affixis; stigmati- 

 but hypoerateriformibus fimbriatis; capsulis ca. 10 mm longis, 4 mm latis; 

 seminibus numerosis, 0.7-0.8 mm longis, 0.8-0.0 mm latis, valde 8-10 vertice 

 eostatis, brunneo-rubris. 



Type : perennial herb with branched inflorescence, fruiting, cumbre at 2000 m 

 alt.. Cerro Paru, Terr. Amazonas, Venezuela, Feb 10, 1951, Cowan d- Wurdack 

 31387. Paratype : perennial herb with blue flowers, only once seen in flower, 

 locally frequent, cumbre along west rim at 2000 m alt., Cerro Paru, Feb. 1, 1951, 

 Cowan d- ^Yurdack 31300. 



Known only from the cumbre of Cerro Paru. The third sepal seems to be a 

 normal feature of the flower. 



The calyx of A. jxiniculata (and that of the next, A. uni flora) is unique 

 in Abolboda. First, there are regularly three sepals, in contrast otherwise to 

 the prevalance of two. Secondly, the sepals in Abolboda are characteristically 

 opposite, decussate, conduplicate, and strongly keeled. Those of A. paniculato 

 are neither conduplicate, decussate, nor keeled. The third sepal is inserted in a 

 sernianterior position, but its body becomes oriented within the convex surface 

 of the first. This extraordinary departure from the prevailing arrangement 

 within the genus, and the equally extraordinary departure in habit, suggest 

 that A. paniculata and uniflora are not generically consistent with the conforma- 

 tive members of Abolboda. 



4. Abolboda uniflora Maguire, sp. nov. 



Herbae perennes cum rhizomatibus brevibus et foliis numerosis dense 

 rosulatis; foliis linearibus triquetris, laevibus, 2.0-3.5 cm longis, 0.8-1.5 mm 

 latis, abrupte acutis, brevimucronulatis. basibus expansis sed non amplectanti- 

 bus; scapo solitario 3-5 dm alto. 1.5-2.0 mm diam., cum 4-5-jugatis plus minusve 

 aequaliter distantibus bracteis, subappositis vaginatis sterilibus, lanceolatis, ca. 

 2 em longis, plurinervatis anguste scariosomarginatis ; spiculis fusiformibus. 

 terminalibus et solitariis vel etiam in axillis bractearum ultimarum vel penul- 

 timarum, tforibus probabiliter eis A. paniculatae similibus. 



Type : leaves grass-green ; stems purple-brown as are bracts, around rills on 

 rocky dry ridge-top. summit of Cerro Duida, Brocchinia Hill, at 1700-1980 m 

 alt., Terr. Amazonas, Venezuela, Sept 1, 1944. Steyermark 58169 (F, holotype, 

 XY 2 sheets). 



Known only by the type collection. 



Fig. 3. a-f, Abolboda Uneari folia, a, habit, X M>, from Maguire, Wurdaclc $ Bunting 

 37642; b, sepals, X 2; c, corolla spread out, X l 1 ^; d, pistil, X 2, ovary, X 3 ; e, anthers, 

 X 6; drawings of floral parts all from Maguire, Coican # Wurdaclc 30468. f , seed, X 20, drawn 

 from Maguire, Wurdack $• Bunting 36381. g-h, Abolboda glomerata. g, habit, X % ; h> 

 spikelet, X 1%, from Maguire 4' Wurdack 35593. i-n, Abolboda macrostachya var. angustior. 

 i, sepals, X 1%; j, corolla spread out, X 1%; k, anther, X 6; 1, pistil, ovary dorsal and ven- 

 tral views, X 1%; floral parts drawn from Maguire, Wurdack 4' Bunting 36342; m, capsule, 

 X 2; n, seed, X 20; from Maguire, Wurdack 4- Bunting, 36600. 



