7952] 



PLANTS COLLECTED IN ECUADOR 



79 



Camp E-1207 (NY only) (short-branched epiphyte; bracts flushed with pink; hypan- 

 thium greenish, the calyx-lobes white; corolla deep purple toward base, white above). 



This recently described species, occurring, like many others of the family, 

 over a wide altitudinal belt in Pacific Colombia, has already been recorded from 

 the Province of Pichincha but not elsewhere in Ecuador. In Colombia it occurs 

 from near sea-level up to 2,000 m. The cited specimens both have very young in- 

 florescences but present no important points of difference from Colombian material; 

 under very high magnification the young bracteoles, calyces, and corollas are 

 seen to be copiously glandular with minute spherical sessile glands. 



Cavendishia pseudospicata Sleumer, Bot. Jahrb. 71: 406. 1941. 



Napo-Pastaza: Valley of the Rio Pastaza and adjacent uplands, Shell Mera 

 (east of Mera), about 3,500 ft. elev., Camp E-1702 (on steep bank, the branches 

 drooping to 8 ft.; also seen as an epiphyte; ripe fruit purple-black, insipid). 



The cited specimen, in fruit, agrees excellently, in general, with Sleumer's 

 species, collected in the same region. However, the indument described by Sleumer 

 appears to be fugacious, if my identification is correct. The following differences 

 of no. 1702 from the original description should be noted: leaf-blades slightly 

 larger (up to 10 x 3.5 cm.); inflorescence (except corolla, not seen) essentially 

 glabrous in fruit except for a few scattered appressed glandular hairs; rachis 

 slightly longer (to 11 cm. long). 



Cavendishia bracteata (R. & P.) Hoer. Bot. Jahrb. 42: 280. 1909. 



Thibaudia bracteata R. & P. Fl. Peruv. Chil. 4: pi. 388. 1802, ex J. St.-Hil. 



Expos. Fam. Nat. 1: 363. 1805. 

 Proclesia hartwegiana Kl. Linnaea 24: 35. 1851. 

 Cavendishia hartwegiana Hoer. Bot. Jahrb. 42: 489. 1909. 



Carchi: Canon between San Gabriel and Bolivar, Camp E-375. Tungurahua: 

 Along Rio Pastaza just west of Banos, Camp E-2367. Canar: North rim of the 

 valley of the Rio de Canar, between Suscal and Chontamarca, Camp E-2890 (coll. 

 M. Giler). Valley of Rio de Canar at Abadel, below town of Galleturo, Prieto 

 CP-33. Azuay: Numerous localities, Camp E-411, E-553, E-1984, E-2178, E-3936, 

 E-4495, E-4892, E-5013 o Loja: Cerro Villanaco (about 7 km. west of the city of 

 Loja), Camp E-186-E-196 inch, E-682. Nudo de Cajanuma, 7 km. south of Loja, 

 Camp E-114, E-115. Crest of the Cordillera de Zamora, east of Loja, Camp E-93 y 

 E-94, E-103. Napo-Pastaza: Valley of the Rio Pastaza and adjacent uplands, 

 near El Topo, along trail to La Gloria, Camp E-2400. Santiago-Zamora: Eastern 

 slope of the Cordillera, valley of the Ribs Negro and Chupianza, near mouth of 

 Rio Patos, Camp E-754. 



The extensive suite of specimens cited above (without detailed notes on precise 

 locality, habit, habitat, and color, since such notes are too abundant for inclusion 

 here) demonstrates considerable variation, and yet I hardly see how it can be re- 

 ferred to more than a single species. The material is from shrubs up to 5 m. high, 

 taken at elevations from 4,000 to 10,000 ft., and the corolla color is uniformly 

 noted as red to crimson below, yellow or greenish yellow at apex. The most strik- 

 ing variations are seen in the indument of corolla and calyx, and in the density 

 of glands on the calyx, pedicels, bracts, etc. The corolla, in particular, varies 

 from copiously white-pilose with short spreading hairs to entirely glabrous. Of 

 particular value is Dr. Camp's series numbered E-186-E-196 inclusive, taken from 

 plants in the same colony, demonstrating the instability of these characters. 



In my treatment of 1932 (Contr. U. S. Nat. Herb. 28: 489 et seq.) I expressed 

 uncertainty as to the biological validity of several species of this alliance, and 

 C. hartwegiana in that work was keyed with both the pubescent- and the glabrous- 



