132 The Philippine Journal of Science 1916 
under Vitis and Cissus. After considerable study of the Philip- 
pine forms, and such Indo-Malayan representatives of the 
genera Vitis, Cissus, Cayratia, and Tetrastigma as are avail- 
able here, I have very definitely concluded that Gagnepain’s 
position regarding the validity of Cayratia as a distinct genus 
is entirely justifiable, and that it is just as distinct from Vitis 
and Cissus as are, for instance, Tetrastigma, Ampelopsis, and 
Ampelocissus. 
As to the validity of the name Cayratia, however, there is 
a distinct cause for disagreement, at least if we accept literally 
the rules of nomenclature promulgated by the last two interna- 
tional botanical congresses. The oldest generic name for the 
group is Columella Lour., published in 1790, and typified by 
Columella pedata Lour. ( Vitis pedata Wall., Cissus pedata Lam., 
Cayratia pedata Juss.), which extends from India and Ceylon 
to Indo-China and Java. It is distinctly unfortunate, however, 
that the adoption of Columella of Loureiro must invalidate 
Columellia Ruiz & Pavon, 1794, a genus that has been universally 
recognized since its publication, and which typifies the family 
Columelliaceae. However, this case is not covered by the lists 
of nomina conservanda adopted by the Vienna and the Brussels 
Botanical Congresses, and a strict interpretation of the rules 
adopted by those congresses will necessitate the adoption of 
Loureiro’s generic name Columella in place of Jussieu’s name 
Cayratia. In order that this case may be brought to the atten- 
tion of future congresses, and that Columella of Loureiro may 
definitely be abandoned in favor of Cayratia, which should be 
included in the list of nomina conservanda if any generic name is 
so included, I purposely take up the generic name Columella, 
and transfer to it the Philippine species known to me at this 
time. 
COLUMELLA GEN 1CULATA (Blume) comb. nov. 
Cissus geniculata Blume Bijdr. (1825) 184. 
Cayratia geniculata Gagnep. in Not. Syst. 1 (1911) 345. 
This species extends from Indo-China to the Sunda Islands. To it I 
refer the following Philippine material: Luzon, Province of Nueva Vis- 
caya, Merrill 219, Bur. Sci. 8219 Ramos: Province of Batangas, Cuzner 25: 
Province of Pampanga, Bolster 22: Province of Laguna, Alberto s. n., 
For. Bur. 21310 Foxworthy & Catalan, Gates 5751, Bur. Sci. H975 Ramos: 
Province of Bulacan, Bur. Sci. 21721 Ramos: Province of Pangasinan, 
Bur. Sci. 18310 Otanes. 
The material here referred to Columella geniculata is characterized by 
being rather softly pubescent, with long petioles, rather long petiolules 
and inflorescences, the latter about one-half as long as the petioles. The 
material agrees closely with the published descriptions, and Planchon has 
