the Genus Streptopogon . 123 
tion. In another species of the genus, 5 . rigidus , Mitt., the 
same distribution is found, and in this case the Madagascan 
plant, although described as a distinct species by Muller, 
appears to be identical with the South American plant 
(see p. 129). 
The shape of the capsule of S. erythrodontus is subject to 
considerable variation. It is most commonly, before the fall 
of the operculum, cylindric-oblong in shape, measuring 2-3 
mill, long and 75-1 mill. wide. After the fall of the operculum 
the capsule becomes shorter and wider, and broadly oblong 
in shape, the usual dimensions being about 2 \ mill, x J mill., 
or sometimes it is larger, measuring 3-35 x 1 mill. In some 
of Jameson’s specimens in the Kew Herbarium from ‘ west 
side of Pichincha, 1846’ the deoperculate capsules are cylin- 
drical or subcylindrical, and measure about 3 x | mill. On 
the other hand some of the capsules on specimens collected 
by Lindig in Colombia (Bogota, Pacho, alt. 2,200, Sept. 1863), 
are only if mill, long and \ mill. wide. When deoperculate 
and emptied of spores, the capsules become gradually paler, 
until finally they are often pale straw-coloured. The above 
remarks on the shape of the capsule apply not only to 
examples of the species from South America, but also to 
those from Madagascar to which the names 6 S. Hildebrandtii / 
‘ S . Rutenbergii ,’ and ‘S'. Parkeri ,’ have been given. The 
shape of the capsule in the Madagascan plant inclines fre- 
quently to the subcylindric, and the capsule measures usually 
about 3 x J-| mill. In some specimens, however, e. g. those 
of ( S. Rutenbergii 5 in Muller’s herbarium, the deoperculate 
capsules are of a broadly oblong shape, and measure about 
2 \ x 1 mill. In the Kew Herbarium, in the specimens of 
S. erythrodontus in Spruce’s ‘Muse. Amazon, et And., nr. 
1 41 c,’ there occurs an old capsule of a remarkable shape. 
This capsule is long and narrowly cylindrical, slightly curved 
and slightly asymmetric towards the base (Fig. 1 a), and 
measures 4 x \ mill. The same tuft bears capsules of quite 
normal shape and size, these being oblong and measuring 
2 \ x | mill. (Fig. 1 a). This appears to be the extreme 
