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



from large burls (these sometimes more than 1 m. in diameter); leaves deep green 

 and subnitid above, paler beneath; hypanthium often red or crimson; corolla deep 

 crimson to pink at base, paler or yellowish or white distally; fruit elongate-spherical, 

 when ripe purple-black and up to 1.5 cm, in diameter, sweetish or insipid. 



These specimens are variable in details, as indeed are those I referred to this 

 species in 1932 and the numerous ones so identified since that time. It seems 

 unlikely that this concept represents a natural genetic unit; actually the specimens 

 might be construed as representing extreme forms of various strains of M. rupestris, 

 characterized by the pilose flowers, a tendency toward shorter corollas and stamens, 

 and frequently pilose leaves. The indument seems persistent on the pedicels and 

 calyx, but it is sometimes fugacious on the corolla. Among the specimens from 

 Azuay, nos. 285, 386, 532, and 536 have an unusually persistent corolla-indument, 

 as well as a tendency toward very small leaves. 



Macleania cf. hirtiflora (Benth. ) A. C. Smith. 



Canar: Paramo between Biblian and Canar, Camp E-447, Parroquia Bayas, 

 valley of Rio Tabacal, about 15 km. northeast of Azogues, F. Prieto P-118. Region 

 of San Marcos, about 10 km. northeast of Azogues, F, Prieto P-80. Uplands called 

 "Huairacaja," 10-20 km. northeast of Azogues, Camp E-1754, E-1811. Azuay: 

 Cruz Pamba region above Banos, about 15 km. southwest of Cuenca, Camp E-3939 

 (coll. M. Giler & F. Prieto). The eastern Cordillera, 4-6 km. north of the village of 

 Sevilla de Oro, Camp E-4702. Vicinity of El Pan, Camp E-500. Paramo del Castillo 

 and surrounding forested areas (crest of the eastern cordillera on the trail be- 

 tween Sevilla de Oro and Mendez), Camp E-716, E-721 (NY only), E-724 (NY only). 



The cited specimens were obtained at elevations between 8,500 and 11,000 ft.; 

 they came from erect, spreading, or scrambling shrubs 2-5 m. high, sometimes 

 with large soft burls; leaves deep green and subnitid above, pale and dull be- 

 neath; hypanthium crimson; corolla crimson to pink, tipped with yellow, white, or 

 pale pink; fruit ellipsoid, when mature about 2 x 1.5 cm., "pink- or red-flushed, 

 sweetish but flat in taste; local name guayapa, used for plants of this general affinity. 



These collections agree with M. hirtiflora in the indument of their flowers and 

 sometimes of their foliage, but their inflorescences are subtended by elongate 

 bracts similar to (or approaching in size) those of M. benthamiana. It must be 

 assumed, I think, that these two species are interfertile where their ranges coin- 

 cide, if indeed either species is more than a series of variations from M. rupestris. 

 The cited specimens also suggest other "species" of this complex . In some, e. g. 

 no. 4702, the leaves may be coriaceous "and prominently nerved as in typical M. 

 benthamiana, but sometimes strictly glabrous and sometimes pilose in precisely 

 the manner typical for M. ecuadorensis. Number 721 is accompanied by extraordi- 

 narily large leaves (blades up to 16 x 10 cm.), although its inflorescences are 

 associated with leaves of normal size. 



Macleania mollis A. C. Smith, Phytologia 1: 132. 1935. 



Canar: Valley of Rio de Canar at "Selem," between Galleturo and Canar, 7,000 

 ft. elev., F. Prieto CP-38, CP-39 (terrestrial shrubs 2 m.; leaves deep green, 

 dull or somewhat shining; corolla coral-red). 



These are the only collections of the species known to me except for the type, 

 from Chimborazo. While this entity is not too distinct from certain forms of M. 

 hirtiflora, it is distinguishable by its subcordate leaf-blades with more basally 

 oriented and ascending secondary nerves, its few-flowered fasciculate inflores- 

 cences, and its corollas averaging longer. On the whole, M. mollis seems a stronger 

 "species" than most of this relationship. 



