1952] 



PLANTS COLLECTED IN ECUADOR 



67 



The cited specimens agree well with type material (also from Pichincha) in 

 foliage and in the elongate anther-tubules; I doubt whether this entity should be 

 kept apart from M. rupestris even on a subspecific level. 



Macleania benthamiana Walp. Repert. Bot. 6: 415. 1847. 



Chimborazo-Canar border: Western escarpment, between Sta. Rosa and Joyagshi, 

 8,300-9,000 ft. elev., Camp E-4043 (shrub to 2 m., from relatively small burl). 

 Azuay: Paramo de Tinajillas and surrounding chaparral and forests, 30-50 km. 

 south of Cuenca, 9,200 ft. elev., Camp E-453 (spreading shrub to 3 m.). Same 

 locality, 11,000-11,500 ft. elev., Camp E-2285 (shrub 2 m., from burl about 0.3 

 m. in diameter). 



The cited specimens have leaves which are deep green above and paler be- 

 neath; the hypanthium is greenish to deep red, the corolla crimson to coral or 

 pale pink toward base, paler distally, the filaments white, the anthers orange. 

 The numerous oblong-lanceolate bracts subtending the inflorescence distinguish 

 this entity from M. rupestris. It is essentially glabrous throughout and typically 

 has rather large and coriaceous leaves, with the principal nerves strongly raised 

 beneath; the cited specimens, however, have leaves smaller than typical. 



Macleania ecuadorensis Hoer. Bot. Jahrb. 42: 300. 1909. 



Canar: Uplands called "Huairacaja," 10-20 km. northeast of Azogues, 11,000 

 ft. elev., Camp E-1758 (shrub 4 m. ; leaves dull, deep green above, pale beneath; 

 corolla deep pink toward base, apically white, becoming crimson with age). 

 Azuay: Paramo del Castillo and surrounding forested areas (crest of the eastern 

 cordillera on the trail between Sevilla de Oro and Mendez), 9,000-11,000 ft. elev., 

 Camp E-725A (NY only) (erect shrub 2 m.; flowers deep red). Paramo and sub- 

 paramo area north and northwest of the Paramo del Castillo, 10,000-11,200 ft. 

 elev., Camp E-5157 (NY only) (shrub 2 m.; leaves deep green above, pale beneath; 

 corolla basally crimson, the apex and lobes pale pink). 



Macleania ecuadorensis has the leaves characteristically white-pilose beneath, 

 with prominent secondary nerves, and regularly oval in shape. However, no. 1758 

 has narrower than typical leaves, while nos. 725 A and 5157 have the calyx and 

 corolla faintly pilose. The entity seems hardly more than an expression of character- 

 combinations in the general complex of M. rupestris and M. hirti flora. 



Macleania loeseneriana Hoer. Bot. Jahrb. 42: 302. 1909. 



Pichincha: Western slope of the cordillera, Cerro Corazbn, 11,000 ft. elev., 

 Camp E-1647 (NY only) (spreading shrub to 3 m.; leaves dull on both surfaces, 

 deep green above, paler beneath; hypanthium red; corolla basally pale red, apically 

 white; immature fruit dull, non-glaucous). 



The robust habit and inflorescence , pilose flowers, and calyx with large sub- 

 spreading limb make this one of the more easily identified entities among the 

 2-tubuled Macleaniae. 



Macleania hirtiflora (Benth.) A. C. Smith, Contr. U. S. Nat. Herb. 28: 382. 1932. 



Canar: Uplands called "Huairacaja," 10-20 km. northeast of Azogues, Camp 

 E-1756. Azuay: Paramo de Tinajillas and surrounding chaparral and forests, 

 30-50 km. south of Cuenca, Camp E-386. Cordillera de Alpachaca, Camp E-285, 

 E-532, E-536, s. n. (May 22, 1944). Paramo de Carboncilla, about 15 km. south of 

 Ona, Camp E-554A-E-544F incl. (NY only). Paramo del Castillo and surrounding 

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

 and Mendez), Camp E-4844. Eastern Cordillera, between Ona and the Rio Yacuambi, 

 F. Prieto P-231 (NY only). 



The cited specimens were collected at elevations of 8,000 to 11,200 ft., on 

 paramo or subparamo; they are noted as shrubs up to 4 m. high, often spreading 



