8 



MEMOIRS OF THE NEW YORK BOTANICAL GARDEN 



[VOL. 10 



Of several species described from living plants in cultivation apparently no 

 specimens were preserved by their authors. The fine illustrations that accompany 

 the original descriptions of most of these species serve to differentiate them. 



POLLEN STUDY 



Following Wodehouse's technique of pollen preparation (Erdtman, Tntrod. 

 Pollen Anal. 31. 1943), observations were made of pollen grains from about ten 

 species of Spathiphyllum (selected at random). The grains were found to be 

 subprolate or ovoid, without pores, and the sexine is vaguely striate but smooth 

 at the ends of the grains. The principal difference between species appears to be 

 the size of the grains, which probably has taxonomic significance only statistically. 

 Erdtman in 1952 (Pollen Morph. PI. Taxon. 56, 57) described the pollen grains of 

 S. cannae folium and S. patinii; he illustrated a grain of the latter species. 



Very detailed comparative studies of pollen, in conjunction with chromosome 

 studies 10 of the Pacific S. commutatum and the American species, especially 

 S. cannaefolium, may be rewarding. 



ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE 



Several species of S pat hiphy Hunt are prized for the unique beauty of their 

 inflorescences, and are cultivated either under glass or out-of-doors in warm 

 regions. S. wallisii (S. "clevelandii") is most often grown, and it is not excep- 

 tional to see the blossoms offered for sale at better flower shops in New York. 

 Plants of 8. wallisii are quite tolerant of artificial light and low atmospheric 

 humidity. They make excellent additions to large combination planters, al- 

 though flowering may be reduced under such conditions. 8. floribiuuhon and 8. 

 cochlcarispathunt are often seen in cultivation, and several other species thrive 

 in the conservatory of The New York Botanical Garden. 



In the Soconusco region of Chiapas, Mexico, and along the Pacific slope of 

 Guatemala and El Salvador, the natives eat the young spadices (called "huisnay") 

 of 8. matudae either cooked with eggs or cooked and pickled in vinegar. 



ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 



This investigation was conducted primarily at The Xew York Botanical 

 Garden. I am deeply indebted to that institution for making available its entire 

 facilities tefme, and to its director and staff for their untiring assistance through- 

 out the pursuit of this project. Most sincere thanks are due Dr. Bassett Maguire, 

 who directed the research, facilitated field work in Venezuela for me, and offered 

 valuable suggestions in preparation of this manuscript. The kind assistance of 

 the following persons has been most valuable in the completion of this work ■ 

 Dr D. D. Keck, Head Curator, Dr H. W. Riekett, Bibliographer, and Miss Eliza- 

 beth C. Hall, Librarian (all of The Xew York Botanical Garden). 



A note of thanks is due Dr Thomas Pray, who arranged study facilities for 

 me at the herbarium of the Hancock Foundation at the University of Southern 

 California, and to Dr E. Y. Dawson of the Los Angeles County Museum for his 

 assistance. 



10 Darlington & Animal (Chromosome Atlas Cult. PI. 303. 1945) reported the somatic 

 chromosome number of S. patinii as 18 (x = 9), determined by Matsuura & Suto (1935). This 

 entry was deleted from the latest edition of the Chromosome Atlas (Darlington & Wylie 1955). 



