A REVISION OF THE VENEZUELAN SPECIES OF MONNINA RAMSN FERREYRA

Museo de Historia Natural " J a v i e r P r a d o " Lima, Peru

In continuation of his study of the genus Monnina (Polygalaceae), the writer has examined all the readily available Venezuelan specimens of it in several American herbaria, and the present paper summarizes what is known of the genus in Venezuela. On the basis of the material seen, there are ten species of the genus in this country, a somewhat smaller number than in Peru, Ecuador, or Colombia, 1 which would appear to be the more important centers of distribu- tion.

The work upon which this s tudy is based was accomplished dur ing the wri ter ' s tenure as a Fellow of the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation, to the administrators of which he is deeply gratefuL~ The authorities of the U. S. National Museum, of the Smithsonian Institution, kindly put at his disposal the facilities of the Department of Botany, where the s tudy was made. The herbaria from which specimens have been examined and cited are indicated as follows: Chicago Natural History Museum (Ch) ; Gray Herbar ium of Harvard University (GII) ; Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (K) ; New York Botanical Gar- den (NY) ; Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia (Ph) ; U. S. National IIerbarium (US) ; and the Hcrbario National, Ministerio de Ag'ricultura y Cria, Caracas (Vcn~,. The cooperation of the authorities of these institutions is deeply appreciated.

Key to the Species

Leaves ovate or elliptic, rarely lanceolate, the apex obtuse, sometimes more or less acuminate or acute; lower sepals conspicuously joined, usually one-third-some- times one-half-united.

Apex of leaves acuminate or acute, mucronate; flower-subtending bracts linear- laneeolate; lower sepals one-half-united, acute. 1. M. cacwmi~a.

Apex of leaves obtuse, not mucronate; flower-subtendlng bracts triangular; lower sepals one-third-united, sometimes only slightly united, obtuse, rarely acute.

Leaves ovate, about twice as long as wide (up to 35 X 18 ram) ; outer sepals acute, 1-nerved; keel glabrous within. 2. M. duidae.

Leaves elliptic or lanceolate, more than 3 times as long as wide (up to 68 X 16 ram) ; outer sepals obtuse, 3-5-nerved; keel pubescent within, rarely glabrescent.

Leaf blades elliptic, the apex obtuse; flower-subtending bracts acuminate; lower sepals usually one-half united. 3. M. aestuans.

Leaf-blades lanceolate, the apex acute; flower-subtending bracts acute; lower sepals one-third-united. 4. M. ~neridensis.

Leaves lanceolate, the apex acuminate or acute; lower sepals free. Racemes with linear, acuminate, conspicuous bracts (up to 14 mm long) ; outer sepals

larger than the wings and keel (up to 6 mm long), the apex involute. 5. M. bractecta Racemes with triangular, acute, rarely obtuse bracts (up to 7 mm long) ; outer sepals

smaller than the wings and keel (up to 4.8 mm long), the apex not involute. Ovary completely pubescent.

Leaves conspicuously acuminate; flower-subtending bracts conspicuous (up to 7 mm long), densely pubescent beneath; lower sepals spatulate, obtuse, 5- nerved, strongly pubescent beneath; keel pubescent beneath. 6. M. tatei.

Leaves acute; flower-subtending bracts inconspicuous (up to 2.2 mm long), slightly pubescent beneath; lower sepals triangular, acute, 3 nerved, glabres- cent beneath; keel glabrous beneath. 7. M. cladostachya.

1For a study of the Peruvian species, see Jour. Arnold Arb. 27:123-167. pl. 1-10 (1946). The Ecuadorian species are treated in Lloydia 16:193-226 (1954). The Colombian species are discussed in Smithson. Misc. Coll. 121~:1-59 (1953).

- 9 -

]0 BRITTONIA [voL. 9

Ovary completely glabrous. Flower-subtending bracts ovate, obtuse, pubescent above, the hairs toward the

base; lower sepals conspicuously spatulate, densely pubescent beneath; wings pubescent beneath. 8. M. ,,enezuelensis.

Flower-subtending bracts triangular, acute, glabrous above; lower sepals triangu- lar, glabrescent beneath; wings glabrous beneath.

Branches hirsute; leaves acuminate, more or less hirsute (up to 210 mm long); axis of racemes up to 10.5 cm long; conspicuously bracteate, the bracts up to 5 mm long, 3-nerved, glabrescent beneath; outer sepals obtuse. 9. M. p~tbescens.

Branches glabrescent; leaves acute glabrescent (up to 88 mm long); axis of racemes up to 6 cm long, inconspicuously bracteate, the bracts up to 2.2 mm long, 1-nerved, hirsute beneath; outer sepals acute. 10. M. steyermarkii.

1. Monnina cacumina N. E. Brown, Trans. Linn. Soc. Bot. 6:1901. Shrub to 1.5 m high, branched, the branches 3-6 mm in diameter, hirsute,

becoming glabrescent, s t r ia te ; leaves elliptie-lanceolate, 48-110 mm long, 15-45 mm wide, more or less coriaceous, usually slightly acuminate, sometimes acute, rare ly more or less obtuse, mueronate, glabrous above, hirsute beneath, becoming glabreseent, entire, slightly revolute, a t tenuate at base, the costa prominulous beneath, with 6-8 pairs of lateral veins; petioles 3-7 mm long, almost concave above, convex beneath, hirsute; racemes more or less conical, acute, 8 - ]0 mm wide, simple, terminal or axillary, pcdunculate (the peduncle 9-11 mm long), the axis 4 .5 -7 .5 cm long, finely pubescent, striate, bracteate, the bracts linear- lanceolate, 3-3.8 mm long, 0.9-1 mm wide, deciduous, ciliate, ]-nerved, slightly pubescent beneath; flowers 5-5.5 mm long, the pedicels 1.8-2.2 mm long, finely pubescent; outer sepals t r iangular , acute, ciliate, slightly pubescent beneath, becoming glabrcseent, the two lower 1.8-2.5 mm long, 1-1.2 mm wide, one-half- united, 3-nerved, sometimes 1-nerved, the upper sepal 2.2-3.2 mm long, 1.5-2 mm wide, 5-nerved, ra re ly 3-nerved; wings blue, 5.2-5.8 mm long, 4-4.8 mm wide, obovate, more or less acute at base, 3-nerved, glabrous; keel 6-6.2 mm long, 3.8-4.5 mm wide, orbicular, plicate, glabrous within, obtuse at base, 3- nerved, 3-lobed, the middle lobe obtuse-subcmarginatc; uppe r petals elongate- spatulate, pubescent; stamens 8, the filaments 4.2-4.8 mm long, almost ent irely united, the free par t 0.6-1.2 mm long, glabrous; ovary ovoid, 1.8-2.5 mm long, 0.9-1.5 mm wide, glabrous; style 2.5-3.2 mm long, genieulate above the base, glabrous, thicker toward the apex ; s t igma with 2 lobes, the lower acute, the uppe r ]-tubereled, the tubercle papillose; drupe ellipsoid, 6-7.5 mm long, 3-3.6 mm wide, glabrous, reticulate.

Dis t r ibut ion: western and southwestern par t of Venezuela, between 1600 and 2900 m altitude.

Zulia: P.~ramo de Perijfi, Ginds 1969 (Ven). Bolivar: Mount Roraima, southwestern slopes, Pinl~us 142 (Ch, GH, US) ; Mr. Roruima, near Rond6n Camp, Steyer~narlc 58682 (Cb) ; Ptari tepui, above Cave Camp, Steyermark 59498 (Ch); Cerro Apacarfi, Cardona 1545 (US); Cerro Uaipfin, Alto Caroni, Cardona 2006 (NY, US); Uaipfin, Cumbre, Phelps ~ Hiteheocl~ 368 (NY). Amazonas: Serranla Parfi, Carlo Asisa, Rio Ventuari, Cowan ~ Wurdaclc 31207, 31286 (NY).

The clliptic-laneeolate, acuminate or acute leaves (to 110 X 45 ram), the simple, terminal or axi l lary racemes, the linear-laneeolate flower-subtending bracts (to 3.8 mm long), and the lower sepals one-half-united distinguish this species.

2. Monnina duidae Blake, Bull. Tor rey Club 58:381. 1931. Frutescent , to 0.6 m high, more or less branched, the branches slightly

eanesccnt-hirsute, becoming glabreseent, s tr iate; leaves ovate, 20-35 mm long, ]3-18 mm wide, coriaeeous, obtuse, slightly emarginate, strigose above, becoming

1957] FERREYRA : MONNINA 11

glabrescent, canescent-strigose beneath, entire, slightly revolute, attenuate at base, the costa prominulous beneath, with 4 pairs of lateral veins; petioles 2-3 mm long, concave above, co~rvex beneath, canescent-strigose, articulate; racemes conical, acute, 8-10 mm wi4e, simple, terminal ~r axillary, pedunculate (the peduncle 5-10 mm long), the axis 2.2-3.2 cm long, strigose, striate, bracteate, the bracts deciduous, not seen; flowers 4-5 mm long, the pedicels 1-1.2 mm long, fine- ly pubescent ; outer sepals triangular, acute, ciliate, glabrescent beneath, l-nerved, the two lower 1.5-1.6 mm long, 1-1.1 mm wide, one-third-united, sometimes only slightly united at base, the upper sepal 2-2.2 mm long, 1.6-1.8 mm wide; wing~ 4.4-4.6 mm long, 3.5-3.6 mm wide, obovate, ahnost acute at base, 3-nerved, ciliate toward the base; keel 5.2-5.4 mm long, 2.8-3 mm wide, orbicular, plicate, glabrous within, obtuse at base, 3-nerved, 3-lobed, the middle lobe obtuse-emargi- nate; upper petals elongate-spatulate, pubescent; stamens 8, the filaments 3.24 mm long, ahnost entirely united, the free part 0.6-1.5 mm long, glabrous; ovary ovoid, 1.4-1.8 mm long, 1-1.2 mm wide, glabrous; style 2.8-3 mm long, geniculate above the base, glabrous, thicker toward the apex; stigma with 2 lobes, the lower acute, the upper l-tubercled, the tubercle papillose; fruit unknown.

Distribution: Known only from Mount Duida, at an altitude of 2130 m. Bolivar: Mount Dulda, summit of peak, Tate 604 (type N Y , f ragments and photo-

graph US). The species from Mount Duida differs from its closest relative, M. cacumina

N. E. Br., in its smaller, ovate, obtuse, emarginate leaves, which have only four pairs of lateral nerves, in its shorter petioles, raceme-axis, and pedicels, and in having its outer sepals shorter and 1-nerved. 3. Monnina aestuans (L.f.) DC. Prodr. 1:338. 1824.

Polygala aestuans L. f. Suppl. 315. 1781. Monnina densa P1. & Lind. cx Wedd. Chlor. And. 2:268. 1885. Shrub, to 1.2 m high, branched, the branches 1.5-7 mm in diameter, slightly

pubescent, becoming glabreseent, striate; leaves oblong or elliptic, 10-25 mm long, 4-7 mm wide, obtuse, mueronate, inconspicuously strigose above, becoming glabreseent, caneseent-strigose beneath, entire, slightly revolute, attenuate at base, the costa prominulous beneath, with inconspicuous lateral veins; petioles 1-2 mm long, concave above, convex beneath, articulate, strigose ; racemes conical, acute, 7-8 mm wide, simple, terminal or axillary, pedunculate (the peduncle 2-4ram long), th~ axis 0.6-1 cm long, strigose, striate, braeteate, the bracts triangular, acute, deciduous, slightly pubescent beneath, inconspicuous; flowers 4-4.2 mm long, the pedicels 1-1.2 mm long, finely pubescent ; outer sepals ovate- triangular, obtuse, ciliate, slightly pubescent beneath, becoming glabrescent, the two lower 1-1.2 mm long and wide, one-half-united, 3-nerved, the upper sepal 1.5-1.6 mm long, 1.4-1.5 mm wide, 5-nerved, rarely 3-nerved; wings dark blue, 4-4.5 mm long, 3-3.5 wide, obovate, obtuse at base, 3-nerved, glabrous, ciliate; keel 4-4.8 mm long, 2.2-2.5 mm wide, orbicular, plicate, glabrescent within, obtuse at base, 3-nerved, inconspicuously 3-lobed, the middle lobe obtuse-sub- emarginate; upper petals elongate-spatulate, pubescent; stamens 8, the filaments 3.2-3.8 mm long, almost entirely united, the free part 1-1.5 mm long, glabrous; ovary ovoid, 1.2-1.4 mm long, 1-1.2 mm wide, glabrous; style 2.4-2.6 mm long, geniculate above the base, glabrous, thicker toward the apex; stigma with 2 lobes, the lower acute, the upper 1-tubereled, the tubercle papillose; drupe ellipsoid, glabrous, reticulate.

Distribution: Northwestern Andes of Venezuela, between 3045 and 3475 m altitude. Also in Colombia and Ecuador.

12 BRITTONIA [VOL. 9

Tfiehira: Pfiramo de TamS, near Colombian-Venezuelan boundary, Steyermark 57414 (Ch). The present species shows numerous, small, crowded, oblong or elliptic, mucro-

nate leaves on the upper par t s of its branches; the racemes are conical, acute, simple, te rminal or axi l lary; the flower-subtending bracts are t r iangular and inconspicuous; and the two lower outer sepals are about one-half-united. The type was collected by Mutts in central Colombia.

4. Monn ina meridensis P1. & Lind. ex Wedd. Chlor. And. 2:268. 1861.

M o n n i n a coriacea Chodat, Bull. Herb. Boiss. 3:132. 1895. Frutescent , branched, the branches 2-3 mm in diameter, strigose, becoming

glabrescent, s t r ia te ; leaves lanceolate, subcoriaceous, 26-68 mm long, 6-16 mm wide, acute, mueronate, strigose, becoming glabrescent, entire, slightly revolute, a t tenuate at base, the costa prominulous beneath, with 7 or 8 pairs of lateral veins; petioles 2.5-3.5 mm long, concave above, convex beneath, art iculate, strigose; racemes conical, acute, 8-10 mm wide, simple, terminal, pedunculate (the peduncle 8-20 mm long), the axis 3.5-5.5 em long, strigose, striate, bracteate, the bracts t r iangular , acute hood-shaped at base, 3-5 mm long, 2.2-2.8 mm wide, deciduous, ciliate, l-nerved, finely pubescent beneath; flowers 4.2-5.5 mm long, the pedicels 1-1.2 mm long, more or less glabrescent ; outer sepals ovate-tr iangu- lar, ciliate, obtuse, glabrous, the two lower 2-2.2 mm long, 1.4-1.5 mm wide, one- third united, rare ly only slio'htly united, 3-nerved, the uppe r sepal 2.2-2.4 mm long, 2-2.2 mm wide, 5-nerved; wings 4.2-5.5 mm long, 4-5 mm wide, obovate, obtuse at base, 3-nerved, glabrous, ciliate toward the base; keel 4.6-6 mm long, 3.4-4.2 mm wide, orbicular, plieate, densely pubescent within, obtuse at base, 3-nerved, 3-lobed, the middle lobe obtuse-emarginate; upper petals elongate- spatulate, pubescent; stamens 8, the filaments 3.2-4 mm long, almost entirely united, the free par t 0.4-1 mm long, glabrous; ovary ovoid, 1.2-2 mm long, 0.8-1.2 wide, glabrous; style 2.4-3 mm long, geniculate above the base, glabrous, thicker toward the apex; s t igma with 2 lobes, the lower acute, the uppe r 1- tubercled, the tubercle papillose; drupe ellipsoid, 5.5-7 mm long, 2.8-3.2 m m wide, glabrous, reticulate.

Dis t r ibut ion: Apparen t ly limited to the northwestern pa r t of Venezuela, be- tween 2285 and 4000 m altitude.

M~rida: Pfiramo de Mucuehles, Jahn 804 (GH, US, Ven); Sierra Nevada de M~rida, Rio de Nuestra Sefiora, Jahn 81 (US) ; Chachopito, near San Rafael, H. Pittier 13227 (Ch, NY, Ph, US, Yen); Quebrada de Saisay, Gehriger 34 (Ch, Nu Ph, US, Ven); between Timotes and Paramito, SteyermarIc 55734 (Ch). T~chira: PSramo de Tamft, Cardona 331 (US, Ven).

The original description of M. coriacca given by Chodat agrees well with the present species, and his mater ia l was found in the same region where M. m e r i d e n s i s has been collected. The species is closely related to M. a e s t u a n s

(L. f.) DC., f rom which it differs in having lanceolate, acute leaves, the flower- subtending bracts acute and larger (up to 5 ram long), the lower sepals one- th i rd united, etc.

5. Monnina bracteata Chodat, Bull. Herb. Boiss. 3:133. 1895.

Monni~( , m~dticon~(fto Chodat. Bull. S~)c. Bot. Gen~ve I I . 25:211. 1934.

Explanat ion of :Figures 1-10 Fig. l. Mo~tnina cae~r Fig. 2. M. dtddae. Fig. 3. M. aestuans. Fig. 4. M. meridensis.

Fig. 5. M. bracteata. Fig. 6. M. tatei. Fig. 7. M. cladostachya. Fig. 8. M. venezuelensis. Fig. 9. M. pubescens. Fig. ]0. M. steyermarkii. From left to right, bract, lower sepals, upper sepal, wings (inner), keel, upper petals and stamens, gynaeclum; all X 3 except bracts in Fig. 5 (X 1) and Fig. 6 (X 2). The bract is omitted in Figs. 2, 3.

1 9 5 7 ] FERREYRA : MONNINA ] 3

14 BRITTONIA [VOW. 9

Shrub or slender tree to 3 m high, branched, the branches, 2.5-8 mm in diameter, conspicuously striate, hirsute, becoming glabrescent; leaves lanceolate, 50-195 mm long, 15-100 mm wide, acuminate, strigosc above, becoming glabres- cent, finely caneseent-hirsute beneath, entire, at tenuate at base, the costa promi- nulous beneath, with 8 or 9 pairs of lateral veins; petioles 4-11 mm long, concave above, convex beneath, articulate, slightly pubescent; racemes more or less coni- cal, acute, 8-10 mm wide, Simple, terminal or axillary, pedunculatc (the peduncle 8-20 mm long), the axis 3-12 cm long, canescent-hirsute, striate, bracteate, the bracts conspicuously filiform, 9-14 mm long, 3-4 mm wide, deciduous, acuminate, ciliate, ]-nerved, puberulent beneath; flowers 4.8-5.2 mm long, the pedicels 1.5- ].8 mm long, finely pubescent; outer sepals free, lanceolate, ciliate, acute, more or less involute at the apex, pubescent beneath, the two lower 4.8-5.8 mm long, 2-2.5 mm wide, 5-nerved, the upper 5.5-6 mm long, 2.6-2.8 mm wide, 7-nerved, sometimes 5-nerved; wings blue, 4.8-5.2 mm long, 4.2-4.5 mm wide, obovate, obtuse at base, 3-nerved, eciliate; keel 5-5.2 mm long, 3-3.2 mm wide, orbicular, plicate, slightly pubescent within, becoming glabrescent, obtuse at base, 3-nerved, 3-lobed, the middle lobe obtuse-subemarginate; upper petals elongate-spatulate, pubescent; stamens 8, the filaments 3.2-3.8 mm long, almost entirely united, the free part 0.8-1 mm long, glabrous; ovary ovoid, 1.8-2 mm long, 1.2-1.5 mm wide, glabrous; style 2.6-3 mm long, geniculate above the base, glabrous, rarely with a few inconspicuous hairs, more or less cylindric; stigma with 2 lobes, the lower one acute, the upper 1-tubereled, the tubercle papillose; drupe ellipsoid, 6-7 mm long', 3.5-4 mm wide, glabrous, reticulate.

Distribution: Andean region of southwestern Venezuela, between 2000 and 2400 m alti tude; also in Colombia.

Lara: San Isidro, near Guarico, Tamayo 11 (Ven.) M6rida: Palmira, Jal~n 602 (GH, US, Ven) ; Tabay, Gehriger 390 (Ch, NY, IJS, Ven), 558 (Ch, US, Veil) ; between Tabay and Mucurubfi, H. Pittier 12876 (Ven); San Jos~, M6rida, Hanbury-Tracy 228 (K); "Truxillo et M6rid,%" Moritz 1267 (type collection K, photographs of type Ch, US). State?: Without locality, Moritz s.n. (probably authentic material US).

The original material was collected in "Truxi l lo et M~rida," southwestern Venezuela. The description given by Chodat agrees well with all the specimens here cited and also with the type collection of M. mul t i comata Chodat. The species is near M. latifolia (Bonpl.) DC., from Colombia, but quite distinct in its smaller and laneeolate leaves (up to 195 mm long), the shorter axis of its racemes (up to 12 cm long), the larger flower-subtending bracts (up to 14 mm long), the involute apex of the outer sepals, etc. The writer has seen the type collection of M. mul t i comata Chodat (Pennel l 10386, from Caldas, Colombia), deposited at the U. S. National Herbarium, the New York Botanical Garden, and the Gray Herbarium.

6. Monnina tatei Ferreyra, sp. nov. F ru tex valde distinctus, habitu conspicue hirsuto, bracteis magnis hirsutis,

foliis laneeolatis aeuminatis hirsutis, sepalo exteriore libero obtuso, sepalis duo- bus inferioribus spatulatis; M. elongatae P1. & Lind. affinis, ramis hirsutis, bracteis florigeris triangularibus extus hirsutis, carina extus hirsuta differt.

Fruteseent, branched, the branches 4-5 mm in diameter, conspicuously hir- sute, striate; leaves lanceolate, 55-160 mm long, 20-50 mm wide, herbaceous, acuminate, hirsute above, becoming glabreseent, canescent-hirsute beneath, en- tire, at tenuate at base, the costa prominulous beneath, with 8 or 9 pairs of lateral veins; petioles 2-5 mm long, concave above, convex beneath, canescent- hirsute; racemes more or less conical, obtuse, 8-10 mm wide, simple, terminal or

1957] FERtgEYRA : MONNINA 15

axillary, pedunculate (the peduncle 8-12 mm long), the axis 1.5-2 cm long, hirsute, bracteate, the bracts triangular, hood-shaped at base, acute, 6-7 mm long, 3.5-3.8 mm wide, deciduous, ciliate, 3-nerved, rarely 4-nerved, densely canescent- hirsute beneath; flowers 4.54.8 mm long, the pedicels 0.8-1 mm long, densely hirsute; outer sepals free, concave, obtuse, ciliate, hirsute beneath, the two lower spatulate, 3.8-4 mm long, 2.8-3 mm wide, 5-nerved, the upper sepal ovate- triangular, 4.5-4.8 mm long, 2.4-2.6 mm wide, 7-nerved; wings blue, 4.8-5 mm long, 3.8-4 mm wide, obovate, acute at base, 3-nerved, pubescent beneath, eeili- ate; keel 5-5.2 mm long, 2.4-2.6 mm wide, orbicular, plicate, slightly pubescent within, hirsute beneath, obtuse at base, 3-nerved, 3-lobed, the middle lobe obtuse- subemarginate; upper petals elongate-spatulate, pubescent; stamens 8, the fila- ments 3.2-3.6 mm long, almost entirely united, the free part 0.5-1.2 mm long, glabrous; ovary ovoid, 1.5-2 mm long, 0.8-1 mm wide, pubescent; style 2.8-3 mm long, genieulate above the base, glabrous, thicker toward the apex; stigma with 2 lobes, the lower acute, the upper l-tubereled, the tubercle papillose; fruit unknown.

Distribution: Known only from the type collection. Type: G. H. H. Tate 74, U. S. National Herbarium No. 1230859, collected at

Carapas, State of Anzo~tegui, alt. 1680 m, 1925. Additional specimen examined: AnzoStegui: Carapas, T a t e 28 (US). The new species is characterized by its conspicuously hirsute habit, the strong-

ly acuminate leaves, the hood-shaped flower-subtending bracts, the spatulate lower sepals, etc. It is related to M. elongata P1. & Lind., from which it differs in having the branches conspicuously hirsute, the flower-subtending bracts tri- angular, the keel hirsute beneath, etc. From M. cladostachya Turcz., another ally, it is distinguished by its acuminate leaves, its larger flower-subtending bracts (up to 7 mm long), its spatulate, obtuse, 5-nerved lower sepals, its keel pubescent beneath, etc.

7. Monnina dadostachya Turez. Bull. Soe. Nat. Mose. 27(2) : 357. 1854. Shrub, to 4 m high, branched, the branches 2-5 mm in diameter, hirsute,

becoming glabreseent, striate ; leaves lanceolate, 27-128 mm long, 8-42 mm wide, usually acute, sometimes more or less acuminate, rarely obtuse, glabrous above, slightly pubescent beneath, becoming glabrescent, entire, attenuate at base, the costa prominulous beneath, with 6 to 8 pairs of lateral veins; petioles 1.5-6 mm long, concave above, convex beneath, hirsute; racemes conical, acute, 8-10 mm wide, simple, terminal or axillary, peduneulate (the peduncle 5-14 mm long), the axis 3.5-10 em long, hirsute, striate, braeteate, the bracts acute-triangular, 1.8-2.2 mm long, 1.2-1.6 mm wide, deciduous, ciliate, 1-nerved, slightly pubescent beneath; flower 4.2-5 mm long, the pedicels 1.2-1.5 mm long, finely pubescent; outer sepals free, triangular, acute, ciliate, glabrescent beneath, the two lower 2-2.5 mm long, 1.6-1.8 mm wide, 3-nerved, rarely l-nerved, the upper sepal 2.4-2.8 mm long, 1.8-2 mm wide, 5-nerved, rarely 3-nerved; wings 5-5.2 mm long, 4-4.8 mm wide, obovate, more or less acute at base, 3-nerved, finely pubes- cent beneath ; keel 5.2-5.8 mm long, 3-3.8 mm wide, orbicular, plicate, glabreseent within, obtuse at base, 3-nerved, 3-lobed, the middle lobe obtuse-subemarginate. sometimes slightly pubescent on a convex longitudinal line; upper petals elon- gate-spatulate, pubescent; stamens 8, the filaments 3-3.8 mm long, almost en- tirely united, the free part 0.6-1.2 mm long, glabrous; ovary ovoid, 1.5-2 mm long, 1-1.2 mm wide, pubescent; style 2.4-2.6 mm long, geniculate above the base, glabrous, thicker toward the apex; stigma with 2 lobes, the lower acute, the

16 BRITTONIA [VOL. 9

upper 1-tubercled, the tubercle papillose; drupe ellipsoid, 5-7 mm long, 3 . 5 4 mm wide, pubescent, reticulate.

Distr ibution : Andes of nor thern Venezuela, between 1400 and 2765 m altitude. Miranda: Upper belt of Pico de Naiguatfi, southern slope, H. Pittier 6246 (NY, US);

Naiguatfi, Holt 454 (Ven). Federal District: Cerros dcl Avila, E. Pittier 48 (Nu US); south slope of Cerro Avila, Vogl 72 (Ch); Los Venados, E1 Avila, Vogl 275, 313, 726 (Ch); selvas nubladas de E1 Avila, Lasser 9 (Ven) ; between Cotiza and Los Venados, Allard 79 (NY, US, Ven); E1 Avila, Delgado 6 (Ven); Upper Cotiza, near Caracas, t t . Pittier 7375 (OI-I, US, Ven); Silla de Caracas, Kuntze 1645 (NY); Silla de Caracas, gohl 20, 7 (Ven); Silla de Caracas, Coastal Range, //. Pitt ier 8346 (CH, US); Silla de Caracas, Cruger s.n. (K); San chorquiz, Eggers s.n. (US). M6rida: Vicinity of Zea, Lasses 458 (Ven).

The present taxon is distinguished by its laneeolate acute leaves, by the tri- angular and inconspicuous bracts of its recemes (up to 2.2 mm long), and by its completely pubescent ovary.

8. Monnina venezuelensis Fer reyra , sp. nov.

Frutex, ramis eonspieue hirsutis plus minusve teretibus, foliis lanceolatis breviter hirsutis, braeteis florigeris ovatis, sepalo exteriore libero obtuso, sepalis duobus inferioribus spatulatis; M. ta te i Fer reyra affinis, foliis aeutis, braeteis florigeris obtusis intus breviter pubescentibus, ovario glabro differt.

Shrub to 3 m high, branched, the branches 3-5 mm in diameter, conspicuously hirsute, more or less terete ; leaves broadly laneeolate, 48-100 mm long, 16-42 mm wide, acute, slightly hirsute above, becoming glabreseent, canescent-hirsute be- neath, entire, at tenuate at base, the costa prominulous beneath, with 6 to 8 pairs of lateral veins; petioles 2.5-5 mm long', concave above, convex beneath, hirsute; racemes conical, acute, 7-9 mm wide, simple, terminal or axillary, peduneulate (the peduncle 3-6 mm long), the axis 2.5-4 em long, hirsute, striate, braeteate, the bracts ovate, concave, usually obtuse, rarely acute, 4-6 mm long, 3-3.S mm wide, the base hood-shaped, deciduous, ciliate, usually 4-nerved, sometimes 3- nerved, conspicuously eaneseent-pubeseent beneath, slightly pubescent above, the hairs conspicuous at base; flowers 3 .84.5 mm long, the pedicels 0.4-0.8 mm long, pubescent; outer sepals free, obtuse, ciliate, densely pubescent beneath, 5-nerved, the two lower spatulate, 2.8-3 mm long, 2.6-2.8 mm wide, the upper sepal t r iangular , a.6-a.s mm long, 2.8-3 mm wide; wings 4-4.2 mm long, 4 4.1 mm wide, obovate, obtuse at base, 3-nerved, pubescent beneath; keel 4.2-4.8 mm long, 2.8-3 mm wide, orbicular, plieate, pubescent within, obtuse at base, 3- nerved, 3-lobed, the middle lobe obtuse-subemarginate; upper petals elongate- spatulate, pubescent; stamens 8, the filaments 3-3.5 mm long, almost entirely united, the free part 0.5-1.2 Inm long, glabrous; ovary ovoid, 1.2-1.5 mm long, 0.8-1 mm wide, glabrous; style 2-2.4 mm long, genieulate above the base, gla- brous, thicker toward the apex; stigma with 2 lobes, the lower acute, the upper 1-tubereled, the tubercle papillose; drupe ellipsoid, 5.5-6.2 mm long, 3-4 mm wide, glabrous, reticulate.

Distribution : Known only from the type collection. Type : J u l i a n A . S t e y e r m a r k 61926, Herbar ium of the Chicago Natural His-

tory Museum, No. 1367264, collected at the summit of Cerro de la Cueva de Dofia Anita, Valley of Caripe, State of Monagas, alt. 1300 m, 7 April 1945.

The proposed species is near M. ta t e i Ferreyra , from which it differs in hav- ing the leaves acute, the flower-subtending bracts ovate and obtuse, the keel glabrous beneath, the ovary glabrous, etc.

9. Monnina pubescens H.B.KINov. Gen. & Sp. 5: 418. 1821. Shrub, to 5 m high, branched, the branches 2.5-7 mm in diameter, eonspicu-

1957] FERREYRA : MONNINA 17

ously hirsute, sometimes becoming glabrescent, str iate; leaves lanceolate, 38--210 mm long, 14--80 mm wide, usually acuminate, rarely acute, glabreseent above, more or less hirsute beneath, entire, at tenuate at base, the costa prominulous beneath, with 8 or 9 pairs of lateral veins; petioles 2-9 mm long, concave above, convex beneath, hirsute; racemes almost conical, acute, 7-9 mm wide, simple, terminal or axillary, pedunculate (the peduncle 6-35 mm long), the axis 1.5-10.5 cm long, conspicuously hirsute, striate, bracteate, the bracts acute-triangular, hood-shaped at base, 3-5 mm long, 2.8-3 mm wide, deciduous, ciliate, 3-nerved, glabrescent beneath, rarely slightly pubescent; flowers 4- t .5 mm long', the pedi- cels 1.2-1.6 mm long, finely pubescent; outer sepals free, ovate-triangular, obtuse, ciliate, finely pubescent beneath, becoming glabrescent, the two lower 1.8-2.5 mm long, 1.5-1.8 mm wide, rarely slightly united at base, 3-nerved, some- times 5-nerved, the upper 2.2-3 mm long, 1.6-1.8 mm wide, 5-nerved; wings 4.8-5.6 mm long, 3.8-4 mm wide, obovate, obtuse at base, 3-nerved, glabrous; ecitiate ; keel 4.8-6 mm long, 3-3:2 mm wide, orbicular, plicate, pubescent within, rarely glabrescent, obtuse at base, 3-nerved, 3-lobed, the middle lobe subemar- ginate ; upper petals elongate-spatulate, pubescent ; stamens 8, the filaments 3.2-4 mm long, almost entirely united, the free par t 0.6-1.2 mm long, glabrous, ovary ovoid, 1.5-2 mm long', 0.8-1.2 mm wide, glabrous; style 2-2.5 mm long', genieulate above the base, glabrous, thicker toward the apex; stigma with 2 lobes, the lower one acute, the upper 1-tubercled, the tubercle papillose; drupe ellipsoid, 4.5-6 mm long, 2.8-4 mm wide, glabrous, reticulate.

Distr ibution: Found in the region of the north-central Andes of Venezuela, between 1000 and 2300 m altitude.

Miranda: Los Teques, H. P i t t i e r 6035 (NY, US), 7525 (US), 11237 (GH, NY, US, Yen). Federal District: Silla de Caracas, Birschel s.n. (K); Headwaters of Chiehiriviehe and Peta- quire Rivers, /~r. Pi t t i e r 8127 (GH, US, Ven) ; Agua Negra, W i l l i a ~ s 12287 (Ven), 12288 (Ch, Ven); between Agua Negra and E1 Junquito, KiIlgp ~ RoM 37158 (US); Agua Negra, WilliaTtts 9934 (Ch, US, Ven) ; Galipfin, Al lar t 16(? (Nu US, Ven) ; Caracas, Linden 22 (GH, K); "prope Caracas," Herb. Humboldt s.n. (photographs of type Ch, US). Aragua: Carre- tera a Choroni, Charddn 767 (Ven) ; Colonia Tovar, A!lart 442 (Ven) ; La Cumbre de Choroni, W i l l i a ~ s 10475 (Ven); near Colonia Tovar, H. P i t t i e r 9257 (Ven); Colonia Tovar, Pi t t i e r 9327 (Ven), Fendler 2~3 (GH, K, Ph); Cruger s.n. (K); Carretera Maraeay-Coroni, Ferndn- dez 103 (Ven), Lasser 173 (Ven). M~rida: P'Srarno de Chaeant~, J a h n 904 (Ven).

M o n ) ~ i n a p u b e s c e n s is characterized by having a conspicuously hirsute habit ; the leaves are acuminate, the flower-subtending bracts acute-tr iangular (to 5 mm long) and conspicuous, the racemes conical, acute, simple, terminal or axillary, and the ovary is completely glabrous.

10. Monnina steyermarkii Ferreyra , sp. nov. Frutex, ramis plus minusve hirsutis, striatis, foliis lanceolatis vel elliptico-

lanceolatis strigosis, bracteis florigeris triangularibus, sepalo exteriore libero acuto; a M . p h y t o l a c c a e f o l i a H.B.K., cui affinis, foliis minoribus, braeteis flori- geris minoribus, sepalis duobus inferioribus liberis et eharacteribus supra enu- meratis valde differt.

Shrub 1.5-2.4 m hio.h, branched, the branches 2-6 mm in diameter, slightly hirsute, becoming glabrescent, s tr iate; leaves lanceolate, sometimes more or less elliptic-lanceolate, 40-88 mm long, 10-25 mm wide, acute, glabrescent, entire, attenuate at base, the costa prominulous beneath, with 6-8 pairs of lateral veins; petioles 2-5 mm long, concave above, convex beneath, hirsute, art iculate; racemes conical, acute, 8-10 mm wide, simple, terminal or axillary, sometimes paired, pedunculate (the peduncle 3-7 mm long), the axis 1.8-6 cm long, slightly hirsute, striate, bracteate, the bracts acute-triangular, 1.8-2.2 mm lon9', 1.2-1.5 mm wide,

18 BR, ITTONIA [voL 9

deciduous, ciliate, 1-nerved, hirsute beneath, inconspicuous; flowers 5-5.5 mm long, the pedicels 1-1.2 mm long, finely pubescent; outer sepals free, t r iangular , acute, ciliate, glabrous beneath, 5-nerved, rarely 3-nerved, the two lower 2.2-2.6 mm long, 1.8-2 mm wide, the upper 3-3.5 mm long, 2-2.2 mm wide; wings 4.8-5 mm long, 4-4.2 mm wide, obovate, obtuse at base, 3-nerved, glabrous, ciliate toward base; keel 5-5.8 mm long, 3-3.5 mm wide, orbicular, plicate, pubescent within, obtuse at base, 3-nerved, 3-lobed, the middle lobe obtuse-subemarginate; upper petals elongate-spatulate, pubescent; stamens 8, the filaments 3.2-3.8 mm long, almost entirely united, the free par t 0.8-1.2 mm long, glabrous; ovary ovoid, 1.5-2 mm long, 0.8-1 mm wide, glabrous ; style 2.2-2.6 mm long, geniculate

above the base, glabrous, thicker toward the apex; stigma with 2 lobes, the lower acute, the upper 1-tubercled, the tubercle papillose; drupe ellipsoid, 4.2-6 mm long, 2-2.5 mm wide, glabrous, reticulate.

Distr ibut ion: Northern Venezuela between 1800 and 2500 m altitude. Type : Julian A. Steyermark 61611, Herbar ium of the Chicago Natural His-

tory Museum, No. 1367265, collected on Cerro Peonia above Santa Cruz, head- waters of Rio Manantiales, State of Anzo~tegui, alt. 1800-2000 m, 20 March 1945.

Additional specimen examined: Sucre: Cerro Turumuquire, Steyermark 62597 (Ch). The new species suggest M. phytolaccaefolia H.B.K., from which it differs in

having smaller leaves (to 88 mm long), the axis of its inflorescence shorter (to 6 cm long), the flower-subtending bracts inconspicuous (to 2.2 mm long), the outer sepals completely free and acute, etc. I t is also related to M. pubescens H.B.K., but is quite distinct in its glabrescent habit, its acute, glabrescent, smaller leaves (to 88 mm long), the shorter axis of its racemes (to 6 cm long), its inconspicuous flower-subtending bracts, its acute outer sepals, etc.

SOME W E S T I N D I A N G E S N E R I A C E A E 1 C. V. MORTON

Department of Botany, Smithsonian Institution Washington, D. C.

At the invitation of Brother Alain, I have recently prepared a synopsis of Cuban Gesneriaeeae, for publication in LeSn and Alain 's Flora of Cuba. In connection with this work, I spent ten weeks in Cuba collecting and studying the Gesneriaccae in the field, a par t of the time in company with Brother Alain. The field and herbarium study did not bring to light many new species, only three definitely, which indicates that the Gesneriaceae of Cuba have mostly been dis- covered and described; this is scarcely surprising in view of the large size of the plants and the mostly conspicuous flowers. A few additional species, repre- sented by inadequate material, await description.

Although most of the Cuban species have been described, many of them are insufficiently known. In fact, several of the species are still known only from the original collections, some of them made by Charles Wr igh t about a century ago. Some of these may be extinct, for, as is well known, the Gesneriaeeae are usually destroyed when the forests in which they grow are cut; they do not come back in second growth. Still, it is likely that most of them will be rediscovered. The species of Gesneriaceae are highly local in their occurrence and also exces- sively rare (except Gesneria acuminata and some species of Rhytidophyllum), and some of the Wright localities, and Ekman 's also, have never been revisited, some not even located.

1Published by permission of the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution.