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



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brevioribus, obtusis, glaber aut paucissimis pilis adpressi-malpighiaceis vestitus; 

 intus densissime pubescens in nervis et lanato-pubescens a tergo staminum. 

 Petala 6, lilacina, obovato- aut oblongo-spathulata (1.75-1.5x0.6 mm), obtusa. 

 Stamina 11, inclusa, perlonga calici aequantia, duobus dorsalibus brevissimis 3 

 episepalicis majoribus, tribus ventralibus glabris, caeteris pubescentibus; 

 antherae magnae, ovoideae. Ovarium semiovoideum (1.5 mm) in parte superiori 

 pubescens. Stylus glaber (± 0.5 mm). Stigma capitatum. Discus carnosus, magnus 

 (ca. 0.6 mm), crassus, oblongus, obtusus, erectus. Ovula 4-7. 



Semina (immatura) suborbicularia, leviter marginata, foveolata. 



TYPUS: VENEZUELA: Territorio Amazonas, Cerro Marahuaca, along streams, 

 montane slopes at 1000 m alt., 9 May 1949, Bassett Maguire & Bassett Maguire 

 Jr. 29201 (xNY). 



The flowers of this species are very similar to those of C. ductylophora 

 with a slight difference in the shape of the disk. On the other hand, its habit is 

 totally different and its pubescence is very slight to almost none. 



The name, derived from the Greek, refers to the shade of the calyx. 



FIG. 67. Cuphea pleiantha Lourt. A, calyx, x 5; B, the same opened, X 5; C, petal, X 5; 

 D, pistil with the disk, x 5; E, disk, x 5; F, seed, X 5. All from Bassett Maguire & C. 

 K. Maguire 35126. 



2. Cuphea pleiantha Lourt., sp. nov. (Fig. 67.) 



Suffrutex 20-50 cm altus, pubescentia exigua et subtili malpighiacea munitus, 

 plus minusve glabrescens. Rhizoma sublignosum (circiter 1 cm diam.).Caules 

 sublignosi dichotome ramosi; rami ascendentes, rubescentes, valde foliati. Inter- 

 nodia quam folia valde breviora (3-6 mm). Folia decussata, sessilia, lanceolata 

 (12-40 x 2-6 mm), subacuta, nervo centrali in utraque pagina conspicuo, margine 

 deorsum replicato, supra glabra, subtus exigua malpighiacea pubescentia munita. 

 Flores alternati in longis gracillimis inflorescentiis dispositi folia ovato-lance- 

 olata aut oblonga, reducta ad 2-5 x 2 mm gerentes; pedunculi (1-3 mrn) crassi, 

 infrapetiolatibus, glabris aut subglabris, apicem versus duobus bracteolis munitis. 

 Bracteolae rubescentes, crassae, oblongae aut ovatae (0.5-0.6 mm), acutae, 

 paene glabrae. 



Calyx (5.5-6 mm) purpureus, cum paucissimis subtilibus malpighiaceis pilis 

 vestitus, tubi plus minusve recti in fauce ampliati, calcari vix conspicuo, obtuso, 

 lobulis dorsalibus majoribus, appendicibus intersepalicis brevioribus, subtiliter 

 ciliatis; intus a tergo staminum lanato-pubescens et infra stamina in nervis 

 dorsalibus subtiliter pubescens et in caeteri nervis inconstanter pubescens. 

 Petala 6, albido-purpurea, oblongo- aut obovato-spathulata (4-5x2.5-3 mm), 

 obtusa, interdum aliquot pilos ad basim gerentes. Stamina 11, filamentis latis, 

 duobus dorsalibus brevissimus, episepalicis majoribus, margini calycis aequantia, 

 tribus ventralibus glabris, caeteris lanato-pubescentibus. pistillum margini 

 calycis aequans et post anthesim ei superans. Ovarium semiovoid eo-asymmetri- 



