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MEMOIRS OF THE NEW YORK BOTANICAL GARDEN [Vol. 9, No. 3 



I 



several differences: (1) the new species has leaflets on which the costa is more 

 or less sulcate oh the upper surface; (2) its bracteoles are considerably larger; 

 (3) its hypanthium is usually longer, and on a shorter stipe; and (4) the sepals 

 and the petal-claw are markedly longer. In floral dimensions, the new species is 

 nearer M. canaliculatum but the latter has the petal reflexed and it has rather 

 differently shaped leaflets to separate it from M. rubrum. 



The specific epithet is chosen as being descriptive of the completely red 

 flowers of this species. In ether taxa of the genus, various parts of the flower 

 may be red or reddish but completely red flowers are unusual. 



Macrolobium wurdackii Cowan, sp. nov. 



Arbor 15 m altus, 20 cm diametro, ramulis et foliis glabris, stipulae mox 

 caducae. Petiolus 30-35 mm longus, ca. 4 mm diametro. Folium unijugatum, 

 foliola sessilia, 32-39 cm longa, 12-14 cm lata, inaequilateralia, leviter arcuata, 

 elliptica, ad apicem rotunda, ad basim inaequilateralia, basis latere inferiore 

 cordato, superiore acuto; costa valde saliens, venae et venulae conspicuae. In- 

 florescentiae e nodis defoliatis ortae, 12.5-22 cm longae, axe dense crasso- 

 puberulo, pedunculo 6-12 mm longo; bracteis deciduis. Pedicelli 6-9 mm longi, 

 dense crasso-puberuli; bracteolae caducae (fragmento solum praesente), 

 crassissimo-carnosae, crasso-puberulae extus et ad basim intus. Hypanthium 

 3.5-5 mm longum, crasso-puberulum, stipite 3-3.5 mm longo, crasso-puberulo; 

 sepalis 4, oblongis ad ovalibus, obtusis, concavis, 10-11 mm longis, 5-7 mm 

 latis. Petala decidua, 2-3 vestigialia nonnunquam praesentia. Filamenta 16.5-17.5 

 mm longa, villosa, 3-4 filamentis vestigialibus praesentibus, villosis. Stigma 

 capitellatum, puberulum, stylus 9.5-10.5 mm longus, ad basim crasso-puberulus, 

 ovarium ellipticum vel elliptico-oblongum, ca. 5 mm longum, 2 mm latum, 4- 

 ovulatum, dense crasso-puberulum, gynophoro 5 mm longo, crasso-puberulo. 

 Fructus ignotus. 



TYPE: In young fruit with orange-maroon calyx. Frequent in slope forest at 

 Camp III, elev. 650 m, Cerro de la Neblina, Rio Yatua, Terr. Amazonas, Vene- 

 zuela, January 26, 1954, Bassett Maguire, John J. Wurdapk & George S. Bunting 

 37385 (NY). 



This is perhaps one of the most distinct species in the genus and it is a 

 genuine pleasure, therefore, to name it in honor of my good friend, colleague, and 

 one of the collectors of the type material, Dr. John J. Wurdack. 



M. wurdackii is most closely allied to M. latifolium but there are abundant 

 differences to separate them. M. latifolium is now restricted to the isolated, 

 coastal rain forest near Bahia, Brazil, while the new species occurs on the op- 

 posite side of the Amazon Basin in southwestern Venezuela; so geographically 

 speaking, the two relatives are very disjunct. Both species have exceedingly 

 thick, fleshy bracteoles which are early deciduous, four equal to subequal sepals, 

 and much the same type of pubescence. The hairs of M. latifolium have been 

 described as clavate in shape but those of the new species are more "peg-like" 

 and have been referred to as thick or coarse in the description. 



The two species differ in: (1) habit; (2) leaflet size and shape; (3) position of 

 inflorescence; and (4) flower size. 



Macrolobium savannarum Cowan, Mem. N. Y. 3ot. Card. 8:323. 1953- 



In the original description of this species, characters of the fruit were not 

 supplied because material was not then available. Now a single fruiting collec- 

 tion {h\aguire & V> urdack 34522) from the type locality has been received and they 

 may be described as follows: Fruits glabrous, 6.5-8 cm long, 2.5-3 cm wide, 

 oblong, carpophore about 4 mm long; seed laterally compressed, 15 mm long, 12 

 mm wide, broadly oval, the testa tan, very thin-crustose. 



