1953] 



BOTANY OF THE GUAYANA HIGHLAND 



105 



long, 5 mm, wide, appressed-grayish puberulent, (sometimes 2 pistils per flower 

 produced), the stipe grayish pubescent, 1.5-1.8 cm. long; fruit unknown. 



Specimens Examined: "Upper Essequibo and Rupunoony in Guiana Anglica," Schom- 

 burgk 524 (type no. of Allania insignis Benth.; US); Essequibo River, Jenman 5247; 

 Makouria River, Essequibo River, Sandwith 1574. 



The enormous flower buds and flower parts of this species prevent its being 

 confused with any other species. 



lb. Aldina insignis (Benth.) EndL var. retusa Cowan, var. nov. 



Arbor usoue ad 13 m.; folia 5-foliolata, petiolis, rachibus, et petiolulis 

 granulari-puberulis, petiolis 4-5 cm. longis, rachibus 3-5 cm. longis, petiolulis 

 corrugatis, 7-10 mm. longis, foliolis oblongis, valde transverso-corrugatis, 10-13 

 cm. longis, 5.5-6 cm. latis, ad basim rotundatis, ad apicem rotundatis retusisque, 

 supra glabris, subnitidis, infra glaucis, pubescentibus, pilis plus minusve erectis, 

 flexuosis, brevibus, siccitate decumbentibus, venis primariis vix prominulis supra, 

 infra salientibus; inflorescentiae terminales, racemosae vel laxe ramosae, 15-20 

 cm. longae, dense aureo-velutinae, alabastra matura ca. 2.5 cm. longa, pedicellis 

 5-7 mm. longis; calyx ca. 2.5 cm. longus, dense aureo-velutinus extus, intus 

 arachnoideo-villosus, lobis 5, plus minusve aequalibus, lanceolatis, vix reflexis, 

 petala 5, obovato-cuneata, 3* 5— 4.5 cm. longa, ca. 2.3 cm. lata; stamina numerosa, 

 glabra, filamentis ca. 3 cm. longis, filiformibus, antheris 7 mm. longis, 1 mm. 

 latis; stigma simplex, stylus sparse griseo-sericeus, plus ouam 5 mm. longus, 

 ovarium oblongum, 6 mm. longum, 3 mm. latum, dense griseo-puberulentum, stipite 

 ca. 1 cm. longo, dense griseo-puberulis; fructus ignotus. 



TYPE: Makreba Falls, Kurupung R., upper Mazaruni Region, February 25, 

 1939, Pinkus 266; New York Botanical Garden. 



The uniformly retuse-tipped leaflets and different type of pubescence on the 

 leaflets serve to distinguish this variety from the typical variety. These hairs 

 are apparently exceedingly thin-walled, so that they collapse on drying and are 

 not readily discernible. Such hairs are also characteristic of A. occidentalis 

 Ducke but are not found otherwise in the genus. On the leaflets of the typical 

 variety the hairs, though minute, are perfectly distinct with magnification, strictly 

 appressed, and directed toward the apex and margin of the leaflet. 



2. Aldina polyphylla Ducke, Arch. Inst. Biol. Veg. [Rio de Janeiro] 4: 17. 1938. 



Large tree, all vegetative parts glabrous except the lower leaflet surface; 

 leaves (5-7-)9"(ll)-foliolate, 40 cm. long, the petioles 5 cm. long or longer, the 

 rachis 8 cm. long or longer, the petiolules about 1 cm. long, the leaflets lanceolate- 

 oblong, 8-16 cm. long, 3*4 cm. wide, the base obtuse, acute or rarely rotund, the 

 apex long-acuminate, the upper surface glabrous, nitid, the lower surface minutely 

 and sparsely appressed-puberulent, the venation subobscure above, prominulous 

 below; inflorescence loosely paniculate, about 30 cm. long, densely subappressed 

 puberulent, the pedicels 4-7 mm. long, the mature buds about 1.5 cm. long; calyx 

 split into three strongly recurved parts, densely subappressed-puberulent outside 

 and glabrous except for arachnoid-villose tips on the inner surface; petals 4, 

 white, oblong, 2-2.3 cm. long, 0.8 cm. wide; stamens glabrous, filaments 1.5-2 

 cm. long, the anthers 6 mm. long, 0.8 mm. wide; ovary oblong-oval, 5-ovulate, ap- 

 pressed-aureo-puberulent, 5 mm. long, 3 mm. wide; style glabrous, except at base, 

 about 6 mm. long, uncinate at tip; stigma simple, stipe about 1 cm. long, densely 

 appressed-puberulent. 



Specimens Examined: "Uarura, super Uanauaca, Rio Negro (civit.Amazonas)," 

 Ducke H.J.B.R. 35083 (isotypes at US, NY). 



The plurifoliolate leaves of this species place it near A. kunhardtiana and 

 A. insignis var. insignis, but it may be distinguished from the former by the mi- 



