48 



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



9,000-11,000 ft. dev., Oct. 30, 1944, Camp E-706 (type US 1,988,992; dupl. 

 NY) (shrub 1.5 m.; flowers white). Santiago-Zamora: Eastern slope of the Cor- 

 dillera, valley of the Rios Negro and Chupianza (on the trail from Sevilla de Oro 

 to Mendez), between Hda. Chontal and Sta. Elena, 3,400-4,600 ft. elev., Camp 

 E-792 (epiphytic shrub to 3 m ); same locality, between Tambo Chontal and Tambo 

 Consuelo, 5,700-8,000 ft. elev., Camp E-1572 (much-branched epiphyte, in clumps; 

 leaves dark above, paler beneath, shining; fruit globular, pale). 



In foliage and in calycine characters E. floribundum suggests E. octandrum 

 (Sleumer) A. C. Smith, from which it differs in its more compact and fewer-flowered 

 inflorescences, conspicuous cylindric disk (scarcely 0.2 mm. high in E. octandrum), 

 slightly shorter corolla, and reduced number of stamens, with longer and copiously 

 pilose filaments. From E. tetrandrum A. C. Smith, which similarly has a reduced 

 number of stamens and a conspicuous disk, the new species differs in its propor- 

 tionately narrower leaf-blades, its inflorescence with a shorter rachis but longer 

 pedicels, shorter and more deeply lobed corolla, and stamens with shorter fila- 

 ments and longer anthers. So far as observed at present, the stamens are uniformly 

 4 in E. tetrandrum and 5 in E. floribundum. 



Eleutherostemon oliganthum A. C. Smith, sp. nov. 



Frutex interdum epiphyticus, ramulis gracilibus obtuse angulatis juventute 

 minute puberulis mox glabratis; stipulis obscuris pulvinatis; petiolis subteretibus 

 rugulosis 1-2 mm. longis obscure puberulis glabrescentibus; laminis papyraceis in 

 sicco fuscis ovato-lanceolatis, (4-)5-12 cm. longis, (1.5-)1.8-4 cm. latis, basi 

 late obtusis vel rotundatis vel inconspicue subcordatis, in acuminem ad 2 cm. 

 longum (apice ipso obtuso) angustatis, margine anguste recurvatis, utrinque glabris 

 ( juvenilibus basim versus puberulis) vel subtus dispersim et sparsissime glanduloso- 

 strigillosis, costa superne impressa subtus elevata, nervis secundariis utrinsecus 

 2 vel 3 basim versus orientibus (intimis cum costa ad 2 cm. concurrentibus) 

 adscendentibus supra insculptis vel prominulis subtus paullo elevatis, rete venu- 

 larum supra subplano subtus prominulo; floribus axillaribus solitariis, bract eis 

 basalibus minutis; pedicellis gracillimis parce puberulis sub anthesi 10-13 mm. 

 longis basim versus minute bibracteolatis; calyce sub anthesi 2.5-3.5 mm. longo 

 et 2-3 mm. diametro pilis pallidis circiter 0.2 mm. longis copiose hispidulo ac 

 etiam obscure rubro-glanduloso demum subglabrescente, tubo cupuliformi 1.5-2 

 mm. longo, limbo subpatente quam tubo leviter breviore minute 5-dentato (dentibus 

 circiter 0.5 mm. longis), sinibus rotundatis; disco carnoso annular i-pulvinato glabro; 

 corolla tenuiter carnosa cylindrica sub anthesi 10-11 mm. longa et circiter 3.5 mm. 

 diametro glabra, lobis 5 deltoideis obtusis haud 1 mm. longis; staminibus 10 quam 

 corolla paullo brevioribus, filamentis gracilibus ligulatis 5-6 mm. longis superne 

 parce hispidulis, antheris 3.5-4 mm. longis, thecis 1.2-1.4 mm. longis basi ro- 

 tundatis vel obscure mucronulatis, tubulis quam thecis longioribus per rimas 

 elongatas dehiscentibus; stylo leviter exserto filiformi, stigmate minute peltato. 



Santiago-Zamora: Cordillera Cutucu, along narrow flood-plain of Rio Itzintza, 

 3,500-3,700 ft. elev., Nov. 17-Dec. 5, 1944, Camp E-1230 (TYPE NY) (epiphytic; 

 leaves shining; corolla crimson); ridge ascending into central Cutucu, 4,400-4,700 

 ft. elev., Camp E-1158 (NY only) (shrub; leaves shining beneath; corolla red); on 

 banks of Rio Itzintza, 3,500 ft. elev., Camp E-1205 (NY only) (epiphyte, flowering 

 on old wood among the roots; leaves deep green and dull above, pale and shining 

 beneath; corolla bright crimson). 



Eleutherostemon oliganthum is characterized by its solitary flowers and elongate 

 filaments, being readily distinguished from E. octandrum (Sleumer) A. C. Smith, 

 apparently its closest relative, by these characters and by its pilose calyx, 

 longer corolla, and more numerous stamens. 



