7952] 



PLANTS COLLECTED IN ECUADOR 



53 



corolla tenuiter carnosa urceolata sub anthesi 3.5-4 mm. longa et 2.5-3 mm. dia- 

 metro basi et faucibus contracta, lobis 4 oblongis circiter 1 mm. longis subacutis; 

 staminibus 8 quam corolla brevioribus, filamentis gracilibus liberis circiter 2 

 mm. longis superne villosis (pilis albidis circiter 0.4 mm. longis), antheris cir- 

 citer 1.4 mm. longis, thecis basi rotundatis, tubulis gracilibus thecas subaequantibus 

 per rimas ovales circiter 0.5 mm. longas dehiscentibus; stylo tereti corollam 

 subaequante, stigmate minuto. 



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

 elev. , Oct. 7, 1944, Camp E-616 (TYPE NY) (in dense rain-forest, on banks; 

 flowers white). 



This new species is without close allies, being characterized by its very small 

 flowers with urceolate corollas. In foliage it may most nearly suggest D. hum- 

 boldtii (Kl.) Nied. and D. campii (described above), but the size and shape of the 

 corolla and the minute anthers of D. micranthum make detailed comparisons 

 superfluous. 



Disterigma sp. 



Napo-Pastaza: Valley of the Rio Pastaza and adjacent uplands, low hills east 

 of Puyo, 3,000 ft. elev., Camp E-1699, E-1700 (both NY only) (epiphytes; fruit 

 subtranslucent). 



The cited specimens represent another species of Disterigma with a lax habit, 

 leaves comparatively spaced on the branchlets, and subsessile solitary flowers. 

 They closely resemble the preceding new species (D. micranthum) in foliage, 

 but the calyx-lobes are comparatively elongate (about 2 mm. long) and hispidulous- 

 ciliolate on the margins; the leaves also are persistently ciliolate-margined. 

 Although I feel certain that these two collections represent an undescribed species, 

 in the absence of corollas I think it best to await more complete material. 



Disterigma acuminatum (H. B. K.) Nied. Bot. Jahrb. 11: 209. 1889. 



Pichincha: Western slope of the cordillera, along the road from Quito to Sto. 

 Domingo de los Colorados, Camp E-1729 (NY only). Azuay: Paramo and sub- 

 paramo area north and northwest of the Paramo del Castillo (6-8 km. north-northeast 

 of Sevilla de Oro), Camp E-5173. Paramo del Castillo and surrounding forested 

 areas (crest of the eastern cordillera on the trail between Sevilla de Oro and 

 Mendez), Camp E-4810. Loja: "Oriente" Border, crest of the Cordillera deZamora, 

 east of Loja, Camp E-75, E-96. Napo-Pastaza: Valley of the Rio Pastaza and 

 adjacent uplands, Sierra de los Leones, near Banos, Camp E-1696. 



The above collections come from elevations of 7,000-11,200 ft.; the plant is 

 noted as an epiphyte, with stems pendant to 2 m. , or as terrestrial, erect or spreading, 

 up to 3 m. high, often irregularly branched; leaves pale green or deep green above 

 and paler beneath; corolla greenish yellow or white tinged with pink; fruit white, 

 translucent. 



Disterigma acuminatum is a well-marked and fairly abundant species, occur- 

 ring along the Andes from Colombia to Peru. Some of the Ecuadorian specimens, 

 such as Camp E-1729 and Sydow 608 (US), from Tungurahua, have leaves larger 

 than normal for the species. 



Disterigma pentandrum Blake, Jour. Wash. Acad. 16: 364. 1926. 



Chimborazo: Canon of the Rio Chanchan, about 5 km. north of Huigra, Camp 

 E-3313; same general locality, directly above the village of Huigra, Camp E-3480 

 (NY only). Canar: Valley of Rio de Cahar at "Selem," between Galleturo and 

 Canar, F. Prieto CP-40. Azuay: Nudo de Portete, Pacific side of pass between 

 headwaters of the Rios Tarqui and Giron, Camp E-2175. "Oriente" Border, east 

 slope of Eastern Cordillera, between Ona and the Rio Yacuambi, F. Prieto P-271. 



