46 



MEMOIRS OF THE NEW YORK BOTANICAL GARDEN [ Vol. 8, No. 1 



4-lobato intus glabro, lobis late deltoideis 0.5-1 mm. longis subacutis, sinibus 

 rotundatis vel late obtusis; disco annulari-pulvinato glabro; corolla subcarnosa 

 late campanulata sub anthesi 8-9.5 mm. longa, basi angustata, apice circiter 6 

 mm. diametro, glabra, lobis 4 deltoideis subacutis circiter 1.5 mm. longis et 

 3-4 mm. latis; staminibus 8 similibus quam corolla brevioribus, filamentis ligu- 

 latis 2-2.5 mm. longis superne copiose pallido-hispidulis, antheris 3.5-3.8 mm. 

 longis, thecis crassis basi obtusis longitudine tubulos aequantibus, tubulis 

 gracilibus per poros subterminales dehiscentibus; stylo filiformi quam corolla 

 breviore, stigmate truncato. 



El Oro: In Moro-Moro region, about 21 miles west of Portovelo, 3,400-4,200 

 ft. elev., Oct. 7, 1944, Camp E-633 (TYPE US 1,988,987; dupl. NY) (in dense 

 rain-forest, seen both as epiphyte and on soil on steep banks; when on banks, the 

 flowering branches ascending to 10-15 cm.; corolla deep red; fruit angled, green- 

 ish white, translucent when mature, 0.75-1 cm. in diameter). 



The species here described seems best placed as a relative of the three 

 species discussed immediately above, differing from all of them in its ovate and 

 subacute leaf-blades and large corollas. In leaf-size it most closely approximates 

 5". flaviflorum, described above, but the 4-merous flowers, comparatively small 

 calyx-lobes, glabrous corollas, and differently proportioned anthers further dis- 

 tinguish it. 



The mention in Dr. Camp's field notes of an angled fruit may suggest that the 

 new species would be better placed in Themistoclesia, in which it bears a super- 

 ficial resemblance to T. cuatrecasasii A. C. Sm. However, the calyx-tube in flower 

 appears essentially globose, as in Sphyrospermum, and the habit of the plant 

 certainly suggests this genus. The campanulate corollas and nearly terminal 

 anther-pores are known to occur in Sphyrospermum, but not in Themistoclesia. 

 A close approach of the two genera, however, is here indicated. 



Sphyrospermum cordifolium Benth. Pi. Hartw. 222. 1846. 



Pichincha: Along the road from Quito to Sto. Domingo de los Colorados, Camp 

 E-1734. Azuay: The eastern Cordillera, vicinity of the village of Se villa de Oro 

 and 1-8 km. northward, Camp E-4442 (NY only), E-4560, E-4740, s. n. (July-Sept. 

 1945) (NY only). El Oro: In Moro-Moro region, about 21 miles west of Portovelo, 

 Camp E-631 (NY only). Loja: "Oriente" Border, crest of the Cordillera de Zamora, 

 east of Loja> Camp E-77. Hda. Anganuma, at headwaters of Rio Cachiyacu, on 

 west slopes of Cordillera Condor, about 46 km. south of Loja, Jorgensen & Prieto 

 PJ-50B (NY only). Santiago-Zamora: Eastern slope of the cordillera, valley of the 

 Ribs Negro and Chupianza, region of Tambo Consuelo, Camp E-1602 (NY only). 



Tr^e cited specimens were collected at elevations of 3,400 to 10,000 ft.; the 

 plant is usually an epiphytic vine, but sometimes terrestrial with branches hang- 

 ing over rocks; leaves crisp-coriaceous, deep green above and paler beneath; 

 corolla white to pinkish or crimson (in plants not otherwise distinguishable); fruit 

 pale blue, translucent. 



These collections are fairly diverse, but I expect that the range of variation 

 which I previously indicated (Brittonia 1: 213, 214. 1933) is not exceeded; degree 

 of floral pubescence and size of corolla seem to be unstable in this species, and 

 flower-color also seems unreliable. The most extreme of the cited specimens is 

 no. i734, which perhaps ought to be excluded from the species; it is a shrub 1 m. 

 high, with very short (5-7 mm.) pedicels and small, essentially glabrous flowers. 

 Such short pedicels are found in S. sodiroi (Hoer.) A. C. Smith, also from the 

 Province of Pichincha, but in that species the flowers are densely villose, with 

 comparatively large corollas and long filaments. Sphyrospermum sodiroi is re- 

 corded (Haugbt 3228a, US) as abundant along the Quito-Santo Domingo road, the 



