400 
MERRILL AND MERRITT. 
Planta stricta, erecta, 40 ad 80 cm alta ; foliis sessilibus, lanceolatis 
vel oblongo-lanceolatis, valde sinuato-lobatis, lobis dentibusque valde 
spinosis. Capitulis eirciter 2.5 cm diametro; bracteis pluriseriatis, exter- 
ioribus parvis, apiee spinosis, interioribns gradatim longioribus, spinosis 
vel acnminatis, vix dilatatis, vix patulis; floribns eirciter 2 cm 
longis. 
A strict, erect, stont perennial reaching a height of nearly 1 m, often 
much smaller, Avith feAV short branches bearing the heads in the upper 
part. Stems striate, more or less densely clothed with brownish, soft, 
weak hairs, the under surfaces of the leaves also with similar hairs. 
Leaves alternate, sessile, the lower ones often 30 cm long, 8 cm wide, 
frequently much smaller, lanceolate to oblong-lanceolate in outline, 
prominently sinuate-lobed, the lobes extending nearly to the midrib, 
each lobe with few large and more numerous smaller teeth, these teeth 
and the lobes terminating in sharp, slender, stout spines, the spines 
terminating the lobes and larger teeth often 1 cm long, the lobes 
about 12 on each side of the midrib. The uppermost leaves much 
reduced and very spiny, especially those subtending the heads. Heads 
solitary, terminating the stems and branches, about 2.5 cm in diameter, 
ovoid or subglobose. Flowers pale-purple to nearly white, the ones 
about 2 cm long. Outer involucral bracts about 7 mm long and 1.5 mm 
wide, lanceolate, prominently and sharply aAvned-acuminate, the inner 
ones gradually longer but with shorter awns, the innermost about 18 
mm long and 2 mm Avide, their apices not at all inflated, strict, not or 
but slightly spreading, acuminate, shortly awned, more or less scarious 
or nearly glabrous. Achenes oblong, smooth, 4 mm long, pappus-hairs 
about 12 mm long, white. Corolla 16 mm long, the lower half very 
slender, then abruptly enlarged, the enlarged portion split for one-half 
its length into 5 narrow lobes. Anthers 6 mm long, the filaments scarious. 
A species very widely distributed in the Benguet-Lepanto region and also 
found on Mount Banajao, most of the material here considered previously having 
been referred in our herbarium to Girsium wallichii DC. I am now of the opinion 
that the Philippine plant is specifically distinct from the Himalayan form, and it 
is accordingly here described as new. From DeCandolle’s species, as described, 
our specimens differ especially in the inner involucral bracts not being at all 
dilated, and not or but slightly spreading. Girsium luzoniense is represented by 
the following specimens, all from Luzon: 
Province of Benguet, Mount Pulog, For. Bur. 16125 Curran, Merritt, & 
Zscholcke, Merrill 5692, Bur. Sci. 8872 McGregor ; Pauai, Bur. Sci. 1(339, 1(1(93 
Mearns, Merrill 1(71(5, For. Bur. 11(1(29 Darling; Mount Tonglon (Santo Tomas), 
Elmer 6278, Williams 1981 (type), For. Bur. 1(962 Curran: Province of Laguna, 
Mount Banajao, Bur. Sci. 6064 Robinson, Bur. Sci. 2391 Foxworthy : Bontoe Sub- 
province, Bauco, Vanoverbergh 209. 
