viii, c, 1 Merrill: Studies on Philippine Rubiaceae, 1 37 
no doubt but that it is the common and widely distributed local form that 
has for the most part been determined and distributed as Hedyotis congesta 
R. Br. In order more definitely to determine the status of Hedyotis 
prostrata (Blume) Korth., I requested the Director of the Rijks Her- 
barium to compare Blume’s type with recently collected Philippine material, 
and to inform me as to whether or not the Philippine and Javan material 
represented the same species. Instead of making the comparison he kindly 
loaned me two Javan sheets collected and named by Blume as Metabolos 
prostrata, one of which is presumably Blume’s type. Both sheets man- 
ifestly represent the same species, and a photograph of one of them is 
reproduced herewith. Blume’s specimens are very closely matched by a 
number of Philippine plants, and there is little doubt but that a single 
variable species is represented. If, however, the species is to be considered 
as a collective one, the oldest valid specific name is Hedyotis philippensis 
(Willd.) Merr., which, as Spermacoce, antedates Blume’s Metabolos pros- 
trata by about one year. 
Of the species involved, I have, at one time or another, examined the 
types of Spermacoce philippensis Willd., Metabolus laevigatas DC. (Selero- 
coccus laevigatas Barth, Hedyotis laevigatas Miq.), Spermacoce meyeniana 
Walp., and Metabolos prostrata Blume. I have not seen the type of 
Hedyotis congesta R. Br., but there is little doubt but that Valeton is 
correct in his reduction of this species to Hedyotis prostrata (Blume) 
Korth. 
HEDYOTIS PHILIPPENSIS (Willd.) Merr. ex C. B. Rob. in Philip. Journ. 
Sci. 6 (1911) Bot. 222. 
Spermacoce philippensis Willd. ex Spreng. Syst. 1 (1825) 401; Miq. 
FI. Ind. Bat. 2 (1856) 333; F.-Vill. Novis. App. (1880) 113 (phil- 
ippinensis) . 
Metabolas laevigatas DC. Prodix 4 (1830) 436. 
Sclerococcas laevigatas Barth ex DC. 1. c. in syn. 
Hedyotis laevigatas Miq. Fh Ind. Bat. 2 (1856) 178. 
This species is closely allied to Hedyotis prostrata (Blume) Korth., 
of Java and Borneo, and differs chiefly in its erect habit and its slightly 
scabrid leaves. A whole series of Philippine specimens that have largely 
been determined as Hedyotis congesta R. Br., show all stages of variation 
from the perfectly glabrous form, described by Walpers as Spermacoce 
meyeniana, and very close to Hedyotis prostrata Korth., to the slightly 
scabrid leaves and branchlets of H. philippensis. 
Fairly typical Hedyotis philippensis (Willd.) Merr., is represented by the 
following specimens, which, for the most part, are found at ’nigher altitudes 
than the quite glabrous form considered below under the .variety 
meyeniana : 
Luzon, without definite locality, “Malaspina” (type in herb. Willdenow) ; 
Haenke (type of Metabolas laevigatas Barth, herb. Prag.) ; Bengmet Sub- 
province, Bur. Sci. 24-81, 2528, 2787 Meamis, For. Bur. 4912 Curran, 
Merrill 7707: Province of Bataan, Mount Mariveles, Bur. Sci. 6204 Rob- 
inson, For. Bur. 1578, 1583 Borden, Elmer 6822, Merrill 3243, 3894; 
Province of Pampanga, Mount Arayat, Merrill 3929: Province of Nueva 
Vizcaya, Bur. Sci. 8182 Ramos, For. Bur. 19040 Madamba. Negros, Can- 
laon Volcano, Merrill 7280. 
