56 



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



Semiramisia hypogaea A. C. Smith, sp. nov. 



Frutex repens caespite fere saepe occultus praeter flores ubique glaber, ramu- 

 lis gracilibus teretibus brunneis inferne radicantibus, internodiis interdum pauci- 

 bracteatis, bracteis inconspicuis papyraceis lanceolatis circiter 2 mm. longis; 

 petiolis subteretibus valde rugulosis 2-5 mm. longis crassis (1.5-2.5 mm. diametro); 

 laminis crasso-coriaceis in sicco fusco-olivaceis late ovatis, 3.5-7 cm. longis, 

 2.5-4.6 cm. latis, basi rotundatis vel late cuneatis, apice subacutis raro (minori- 

 bus) subrotund atis, margine incrassatis et paullo recurvatis, maturis inconspicue 

 immerso-glandulosis vel sparsissime castaneo-glanduloso-strigillosis (juvenilibus 

 pilis rubris glandulosis 0.2-0.3 mm. longis utrinque strigillosis ), costa utrinque 

 leviter elevata, nervis primariis basalibus plerumque utrinsecus 2 curvato- 

 adscendentibus haud elevatis, venulis immersis; floribus paucis in axillis soli- 

 tariis vel infra folia orientibus ubique (i. e. pedicello, calyce, et corolla) pilis 

 albidis circiter 0.3 mm. longis patentibus indutis, bracteis minutis; pedicellis 

 leviter curvatis sub anthesi 7-8 mm. longis basim versus minute bibracteolatis 

 superne paullo incrassatis et cum calyce continuis; calyce 4.5-5.5 mm. longo 

 apice 4-5 mm. diametro, tubo cupuliformi circiter 3 mm. longo, limbo suberecto 

 1.5-2.5 mm. longo, lobis 5 deltoideis circiter 1.5 mm. longis et 1.5-2 mm. latis 

 acutis, sinibus subacutis; disco annulari-pulvinato glabro; corolla siccitate fragili 

 cylindrica sub anthesi 20-23 mm. longa 4-5 mm. diametro, lobis 5 oblongo-deltoideis 

 3.5-4 mm. longis 2-2.5 mm. latis obtusis; staminibus 10 corollam subaequantibus, 

 filamentis ligulatis liberis glabris circiter 3 mm. longis, thecis levibus 5-6 mm. 

 longis basi obtusis in tubulos gracillimos 15-18 mm. longos poris subterminalibus 

 apertos terminantibus; stylo filiformi corollam subaequante, stigmate minuto. 



Loja: "Oriente" Border, crest of the Cordillera de Zamora, east of Loja, 

 about 10,000 ft. elev., July 2, 1944, Camp E-88 (TYPE NY; dupl. US) (in pass, the 

 plants spreading by runners, almost hidden in the short grass; young leaves 

 brilliant red, green with age, and dull on both surfaces; flowers noted on old 

 wood or in the axils of last year's leaves, apparently solitary; corolla deep red, 

 hidden in the grass or sometimes below the surface of the turf; when flowers are 

 produced below the surface of the soil the pedicels elongate and bring them to the 

 surface; anthers brilliant yellow; this plant would be easily missed were it not 

 for the bright red of the young leaves). 



The remarkable habit described in Dr. Camp's field notes, which indicate that 

 the flowers are sometimes subterranean, has not otherwise been noted in this 

 group. Perhaps, however, the related S. fragilis A. C. Smith [including Ceratostema 

 longepedicellatum Sleumer; see Bull. Torrey Club 63: 312 (1936) for reduction], 

 also ffbm Ecuador, may have a similar habit. These two species form a very dis- 

 tinct group without close allies in Semiramisia, From S. fragilis the new species 

 differs in matters of degree which seem worthy of specific recognition; the leaves 

 are considerably larger and predominantly acute at apex, the pedicels are shorter 

 (but perhaps elongating as implied in the field note), the calyx is slightly larger, 

 and the thecae of the anthers longer. Comparable dimensions in S. fragilis are: 

 petioles 1.5-2 mm. long; leaf-blades 1.5-3 by 1.1-2.2 cm., rounded or broadly 

 obtuse at apex; pedicels 10-20 mm. long at anthesis, up to 40 mm. in fruit; calyx 

 3-3.5 mm. long; thecae 2-3 mm. long. 



Ceratostema Juss. Gen. PI. 163. 1789- 



Englerodoxa Hoer. Bot. Jahrb. 42: 310. 1909- 



Periclesia A. C. Smith, Contr. U. S. Nat. Herb. 28: 357. 1932. 



In my treatment of 1932 I recognized the genus Englerodoxa as composed of 



three species; shortly afterward the identity of this concept with Ceratostema 



