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A PRELIMINARY STUDY OF HAWAIIAN
SPECIES OF THE GENUS RAUVOLFIA
ADDITIONS TO THE GENERA SCALESIA
AND HIDALGOA
BY
EARL EDWARD SHERFF
RESEARCH ASSOCIATE, SYSTEMATIC BOTANY
BOTANICAL SERIES
FIELD MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY
VOLUME 23, NUMBER 7
DECEMBER 30, 1947
PUBLICATION 613
A PRELIMINARY STUDY OF HAWAIIAN
SPECIES OF THE GENUS RAUVOLFIA
ADDITIONS TO THE GENERA SCALESIA
AND HIDALGOA
BY
EARL EDWARD SHERFF
RESEARCH ASSOCIATE, SYSTEMATIC BOTANY
IS COPY No. OF A SPECIAL
EDITION LIMITED TO 107 COPIES
PRINTED FOR DR. EARL E. SHERFF
ON
PERMANENT PAPER
VOLUME 23, NUMBER 7
DECEMBER 30, 1947
6 ,348
Of
A PRELIMINARY STUDY OF HAWAIIAN
SPECIES OF THE GENUS RAUVOLFIA
BY
EARL EDWARD SHERFF
RESEARCH ASSOCIATE, SYSTEMATIC BOTANY
BOTANICAL SERIES
FIELD MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY
VOLUME 23, NUMBER 7
DECEMBER 30, 1947
613
OF
6
of ILUNOIK
PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
BY FIELD MUSEUM PRESS
Ft
A PRELIMINARY STUDY OF THE HAWAIIAN
SPECIES OF THE GENUS RAUVOLFIA1
[PLUM.] L.
(FAMILY APOCYNACEAE)
EARL EDWARD SHERFF
For many years, specimens of Rauvolfia collected in the Hawaiian
Islands have been indiscriminately referred to R. sandwicensis A.
DC., a species published by Alphonse DeCandolle (Prodr. 8: 339.
1844) from a Hawaiian plant of unspecified habitat and with all
too scanty a description. On careful examination, these specimens
are found to represent seven rather easily distinguishable species,
six of them new to science. Perhaps the chief obstacle to a taxonomic
study of the Hawaiian species has been the inadequacy of DeCan-
dolle's original description of his R. sandwicensis, coupled with the
comparative inaccessibility of the lone type specimen in the her-
barium representing the DeCandolles' Prodromus. It was difficult
to ascertain just which was the real R. sandwicensis of Alphonse
DeCandolle, and thus which six other species were actually new.
Recently, however, the authorities at the Museum of Natural History
in Paris and the Prodromus Herbarium in Geneva have cooperated
most generously in helping to settle the exact identity of the original
Gaudichaud plant used by DeCandolle as his type. At Paris, M.
1 Rauvolfia is the spelling given throughout his text by Plumier (Nov. PL Amer.
Gen. p. 19, tab. 40. 1703) and reinforced with his Latinized spelling, Leonardus
Rauvolfius, of Leonhart Rauwolf's name. Rauvolfia was accepted by Linnaeus
and so appears in his Gen. PI. ed. 5: 98 (gen. no. 59). 1754 et op. cit. ed. 6: 115
(gen. no. 293). 1764 and in his Sp. PI. ed. 2 (the genus was omitted in ed. 1), p. 303.
1762. Alphonse De Candolle (Prodr. 8: 336. 1844) called Rauvolfia an error and
spelled the name Rauwolfia. In this he has been followed by numerous authors.
The spelling Rauvolfia must be retained, however, according to our present Inter-
national Rules of Botanical Nomenclature (Jena. 1935); cf. arts. 20 and 70. In
the latter article, under "examples of retention of original spelling," comparable
examples are given, such as Valantia L. (not Vaillantia) and Clutia L. (not Cluytia).
In this connection it may be observed that Woodson (Ann. Missouri Bot.
Gard. 17: 10. 1930) has erected the new tribe Rauwolfieae (sic) under the sub-
family Plumeroideae of the family Apocynaceae. Since the International Rules
(Jena. 1935) advise (Recom. 42) that "new epithets should be written in con-
formity with the original spelling of the words from which they are derived . . . ,"
and since they require the spelling Rauvolfia for the generic name, Woodson's
spelling is here construed as an "unintentional orthographic error" (art. 70) and
altered to Rauvolfieae.
321
322 FIELD MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY— BOTANY, VOL. 23
Leandri, Vice-Director of the Laboratory of Phanerogamy, instituted
a detailed search but found no plant of Gaudichaud's type-collec-
tion.1 At Geneva, Dr. Charles Baehni made a careful examina-
tion of DeCandolle's type, a fruiting specimen entirely without
flowers, and supplied me with an excellent photograph of it. He
accompanied the latter with sketches of the calyces and fruits, also
with certain precise measurements drawn from the type. Because
of Dr. Baehni's invaluable assistance, it was possible to identify the
DeCandolle type positively with several suites of specimens collected
in recent years on the Island of Oahu (Degener 9794; Degener 9801;
Degener 17197; Degener 17651; Degener & Bush 5625; Degener &
Shear 3250; Degener et al. 3710; Fosberg & Duker 9213; Topping &
Bush 9804) and on the Island of Maui (Degener 17596; Forbes 475-M;
Forbes 2280-M, etc.).
Some years ago, Mr. Otto Degener gave special attention to this
genus in the Hawaiian Islands when collecting specimens preparatory
to writing his Flora Hawaiiensis. Recently he has most generously
turned his Rauvolfia collections, notes, and drawings over to me in
their entirety. With these to supplement the herbarium specimens
available elsewhere, the following somewhat tentative or preliminary
key and detailed treatments have been produced:
a. Leaves mostly narrow-oblong to elliptic-oblanceolate or -obovate.
6. Principal leaves mostly under 3 cm. broad and tapering or sub-
acuminate at each end, corolla under 7 mm. long; pedicels
scarcely exserted; native of southern Oahu. . .5. R. Forbesii.
b. Principal leaves mostly narrow-oblong and under 3 cm. broad,
at apex obtuse or obtusish (flowers unknown) ; native of East
Maui 7. R. mauiensis.
b. Principal leaves broader, tapering or subacuminate at each end,
at times 4 cm. broad, corolla reaching 10-11 mm.; pedicels
exserted and obvious; native of southern Kauai.6. R. Helleri.
a. Leaves mostly broader and obtuse to acute at each end, or in
R. sandwicensis var. subacuminata subacuminate at distal end,
blade seldom or but slightly broadening above middle.
6. Calyx 5-7 mm. long; native of Oahu and Lanai.
1. R. Degeneri.
b. Calyx commonly under 3 mm. long.
1 He did, however, locate an assortment of more recently collected Hawaiian
specimens of Rauvolfia and very kindly lent them to me for examination.
HAWAIIAN SPECIES OF THE GENUS RAUVOLFIA 323
c. Inflorescence open, pedicels slender and obvious (about 2 mm.
long), leaves acute at both ends; native of Hawaii.
4. R. remotiflora.
c. Inflorescence congested, pedicels stoutish and short or in-
conspicuous; leaves subacute to obtuse or at apex even
rounded.
d. Corollas (if fully developed) very slender, up to about 1 cm.
long; calyx about 1.5 mm. long; native of Molokai and
Lanai 3. R. molokaiensis vars. typica and parvifolia.
d. Corollas (if fully developed) swollen above, shorter; calyx
commonly 1.5-3 mm. long or even longer.
e. Leaves obtuse to acute at apex; native of Oahu.
2. R. sandwicensis var. typica.
e. Leaves mostly subacuminate at apex; native of Kauai.
2j8. R. sandwicensis var. subacuminata.
1. Rauvolfia Degeneri sp. nov. Plate 1.
Frutex vel arbuscula, glabra, 3-6 m. alta; ramis brevibus, rigidis,
albidis, striatis. Folia verticillata, plerumque 5 ad nodum, petiolata;
petiolo tenui, 1.5-3 cm. longo, axilla 5-12 glandules (stipitatos
forsitan lineares) subtendente; lamina utrinque obtusa vel acuta
vel raro subacuminata, moderate ad late elliptico-oblonga vel ellip-
tico-obovata, 7.5-13 cm. longa et 2.5-5 cm. lata, pallida, mem-
branacea, venis lateralibus parallelis subobscuris in lineam sub-
marginalem confluentibus. Flores fragrantes (fide Fosbergii), in
3 vel 4 cymis (his umbellate decompositis) congesti, inflorescentia
petiolos subaequante vel etiam superante, primum terminali mox
axillari; pedunculo 1-3.5 cm. longo, angulari; pedicellis 0.5-2 mm.
longis; bracteis ovatis ad lanceolatis, acutis, plerumque 1.5-3 mm.
longis, in axillis glandules stipitatos subtendentibus. Calyx viridis,
glaber, 5-partitus fere usque ad basim, 5-7 mm. longus; sepalis
3-5 mm. latis, imbricatis, obtusis ad abrupte acutis vel acuminatis.
Corolla nunc minima vel abortiva, stylo longe exserto; nunc amplior,
limbo albo, lobis 2-3 mm. longis et 3-4 mm. latis, marginibus
irregularibus basi plus minusve constrictis, circumambitu diverse
ovatis ad obovatis obcordatisve, tubo 10 mm. longo et 1-1.5 mm.
crasso extus glabro intus (supra medium) sparsim pubescenti apice
dilatato, gutture vix constricto, stylo filiformi incluso corollae
tubum aequante, stigmate complanato-prismatico circ. 0.6 mm.
longo et annulo angusto piloso subtento.
324 FIELD MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY— BOTANY, VOL. 23
Shrub or small tree, glabrous, 3-6 meters tall; branches short,
stiff, whitish, striate. Leaves verticillate mostly in fives, petiolate,
petiole slender and 1.5-3 cm. long, with 5-12 stipitate perhaps linear
glands in the axil; blade obtuse to acute or rarely subacuminate at
each end, moderately to broadly elliptic-oblong or -obovate, 7.5-
13 cm. long and 2.5-5 cm. wide, pale, thin-chartaceous, the faint
parallel lateral veins confluent into a submarginal line. Florets
fragrant (according to Fosberg), crowded into 3 or 4 umbellately
decompound cymes, these subequal to or even exceeding the petioles,
at first terminal but soon axillary (through innovations from tip of
branchlet); the common peduncle 1-3.5 cm. long, angular, pedicels
0.5-2 mm. long, the acute, lanceolate to ovate bracts mostly 1.5-
3 mm. long and with stipitate glands in their axils. Calyx green,
glabrous, 5-parted to near base, 5-7 mm. long, sepals 3-5 mm. wide,
imbricated, obtuse to abruptly acute or acuminate. Corolla in many
flowers diminutive or abortive, their style long-exserted, in some or
many flowers fully developed and then: limb white; its 5 lobes 2-3
mm. long and 3-4 mm. broad, irregular at edges, more or less con-
stricted at base, in outline variously ovate to obovate or obcordate;
tube 8-10 mm. long and 1-1.5 mm. thick, glabrous outside and
sparsely pubescent inside above middle, dilated for ±1.5 mm. below
the scarcely constricted throat; style filiform, included, as long as
corolla-tube, the flattish-prismatic stigma about 0.6 mm. long and
subtended by a narrow hairy ring.
Specimens examined :
Island of Oahu: Chamisso, Isl. Oahu (type, Chi.: isotype, Len.);
Erling Christophersen 3716, alt. 450 meters, ridge between valleys
10 and 11, below Kanehoa, central Lualualei, Waianae Mountains,
June 29, 1932 (N.Y.); Otto Degener 9798, in moderately dry ravine,
Honolulu side of Palikea, Waianae Range, October 23, 1932 (N.Y.);
Degener 9800, in dry, grassy region, west side of Pohakea Pass,
July 30, 1932 (N.Y.); Degener 17200, in open forest, middle ridge
east of Puu Kanehoa, May 1, 1940 (N.Y.); Degener 17748, in forest,
short spur just east of Puu Hapapa summit, June 20, 1939 (N.Y.);
Degener, K. K. Park, Y. Nitta, & Will Bush 9799, gulch north of
middle ridge between Puu Kamaohanui and Puu Pane, Waianae
Range, June 11, 1932 (N.Y.); F. R. Fosberg 13313, shrubby tree
4 meters tall, lactiferous, flowers white with greenish corolla-tube,
fragrant, rock ledges on cliff, alt. 200 meters, Kealia trail up cliff,
Waianae Mountains, November 8, 1936 (Chi.); Fosberg 14118, shrub
4 meters tall, flowers white and fragrant, in moist forest, alt. 400
Field Museum of Natural History
Botany, Vol. 23, Plate 1
RAUVOLFIA DEGENERI
From specimen collected on Honolulu side of Waianae Range, near Pohakea Pass,
Island of Oahu; flowering branch X 0.42; flower, both
views, X 3.36; fruit, X 0.84.
HAWAIIAN SPECIES OF THE GENUS RAUVOLFIA 325
meters, Woodlawn, Manoa, Honolulu, June 19, 1937 (Chi.); Horace
Mann, Jr., & William T. Brigham 113, Oahu (Chi., 2 sheets, one with
label giving the definite locality, Konahuanui; Gray, 2 sheets; N.Y.).
Island of Lanai: Mann & Brigham (similarly) 113, Lanai (Chi.).
This species is one of which Degener has distributed various speci-
mens determined as Rauvolfia sandwicensis A. DC. It is a pleasure
to commemorate here his indefatigable zeal in the collection and
scientific study of Hawaiian plants by naming this species in his
honor.
Besides the above-cited specimens, I have seen two fragments
at Gray Herbarium, from the Hawaiian Islands. One was collected
by George Barclay, the other by the United States South Pacific
Exploring Expedition under Captain Wilkes. Both are instantly
recognizable from the large calyces.
2. Rauvolfia sandwicensis A. DC. Prodr. 8: 339. 1844 and var.
typica var. nov.
Foliis habituque R. Degeneri valde similis, tamen floribus
differt: calice plerumque 1.5-3 (raro -4) mm. longo; lobis apice
nunc subacutis nunc obtusis vel rotundato-subtruncatis basi in-
terdum late cordato-auriculatis; corolla etiam si plene extensa
breviore (tubo 3-4 vel raro 5-6 mm. longo limbo guttureque tumidi-
oribus et cunctis 3-4 mm. longis) et stylum includente, si abortiva
stylo longe (±7 mm.) exserto multum superata, stigmate circ. 0.4
mm. stylo longe (±7 mm.) exserto multum superata, stigmate
circ. 0.4 mm. longo.
Strongly similar in foliage and habit to R. Degeneri but differ-
ing in its flowers. Calyx commonly 1.5-3 (rarely -4) mm. long;
lobes apically now subacute now obtuse or rotundate-subtruncate,
basally at times broadly cordate-auriculate. Corolla even when
well developed shorter (its tube 3-4 or rarely 5-6 mm. long, limb
and throat more swollen and together 3-4 mm. long) and including
the style; if abortive much surpassed by the much exserted (±7
mm.) style, stigma about 0.4 mm. long.
Specimens examined:
Oahu: Otto Degener 9794, on open, grassy slope, Paumalu Ridge,
Koolau Range, October 18, 1931 (N.Y.); Degener 9801, in grass-
andGleichenia-covered foothills, directly mauka [i.e., inland or toward
the mountains] of Kawela Bay, Koolau Range, March 30, 1933
(N.Y.); Degener 17197, in lower forest, Oio, Paumalu Trail, June 16,
326 FIELD MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY— BOTANY, VOL. 23
1940 (N.Y.); Degener 17651, Oahu, September 14, 1938 (type, N.Y.);
Degener & Will Bush 5625, Kawaihapai, January 27, 1927 (N.Y.);
Degener & C. L. Shear 3250, in open rain-forest near Kahuku side,
along Pupukea-Kahuku trail, February 15, 1928 (N.Y.); Degener,
Hamilton Rodrigues, & Noel Krauss 3710, a few small trees on dry,
grassy slope, west side of Kahana Valley, February 24, 1929 (N.Y.) ;
F. R. Fosberg & Katherine Duker 9213, tree 10 meters tall, in wet
forest, alt. 480 meters, Pupukea-Kahuku Trail, Kaunala, Koolau
Mountains, February 19, 1933 (Chi.) ; ex herb J. F. Rock, Tantalus,
November 30, 1912 (Gray) ; D. LeRoy Topping & Witt Bush (Degener
distrib. no.) 9804, Manakuli, June, 1933 (N.Y.)-
West Maui: Otto Degener 17596, near stream, Olowalu Valley,
August 28, 1939 (N.Y.); Charles Noyes Forbes 475-M, Honokahau
Drainage Basin, September 25-October 17, 1917 (N.Y.); Forbes
2280-M, Olowalu Valley, May 9, 1920 (N.Y.).
2/3. Rauvolfia sandwicensis var. subacuminata var. nov.
Folia saepe 5-6 cm. lata, apice subacuminata.
Leaves often 5-6 cm. wide, at apex subacuminate.
Specimens examined: Otto Degener & Henry Wiebke 3249, in light
woods on mountain, northeast of Kipu, Isl. Kauai, June 17, 1926
(N.Y.; without flowers or fruits); Jules Remy 368, Isl. Kauai, 1851-
1855 (2 type sheets, Par.: isotype, Gray)".
3. Rauvolfia molokaiensis sp. nov. and var. typica var. nov.
Foliis habituque R. Degeneri valde similis; petiolis foliorum
usque ad 3.5 cm. longis lamina saepe 10-13 cm. longa et 3.5-5 cm.
lata; pedunculo 3-5.5 cm. longo; floribus numerosis; bracteis lanceo-
lato-ovatis, acutis; pedicellis ad anthesin sub 1 mm. longis demum
usque ad 4 mm. longis; calice circ. 1.5 mm. longo, sepalis lato-
ovatis, basi saepe cordato-auriculatis, marginibus crispis irregulari-
busque; corolla nunc tenuissima, usque ad circ. 1 cm. longa, limbo
circ. 5 mm. lato, stylo incluso, nunc brevi abortivave stylo longe
exserto; fructibus immaturis visis.
Very similar in foliage and habit to R. Degeneri. Petioles up
to 3.5 cm. long, blade often 10-13 cm. long and 3.5-5 cm. wide.
Peduncle 3-5.5 cm. long; flowers numerous; bracts lanceolate-
ovate, acute; pedicels under 1 mm. long at anthesis, finally up to
4 mm. long. Calyx about 1.5 mm. long; sepals widely ovate, at base
often cordate-auriculate, at margins crisped and irregular. Corolla
now very slender, up to about 1 cm. long, its limb about 5 mm. across
HAWAIIAN SPECIES OF THE GENUS RAUVOLFIA 327
and its style included, now short or abortive and with a much
exserted style. Immature fruits seen.
Specimens examined: Island of Molokai: Otto Degener & Kazuto
Nitta 9795, Wailau Valley, August 12, 1928 (Chi.; N.Y.); Abbe
Urbain Faurie 453, Wailau, June, 1910 (Par.); Charles Noyes Forbes
23-Mo, Settlement Trail, June, 1912 (type, N.Y.).
Island of Lanai: Forbes 157-L, tree 30 feet tall, dry forests, west
end of island, June 9, 1913 (N.Y.); Mann & Brigham 336 (Gray);
J. F. Rock 8033, Mahana, July 24, 1910 (Gray; N.Y.; Par.).
3/3. Rauvolfia molokaiensis var. parvifolia Degener & Sherff
var. nov.
Folia minora lamina plerumque sub 10 cm. longa et sub 3 cm.
lata.
Leaves smaller, blade commonly under 10 cm. long and under
3 cm. wide.
Specimens examined: Otto Degener & Henri) Wiebke 3248, about
30 feet tall, hot arid rocky slope, ravine northwest of Puu Makuliilii
(where precipice makes further descent impossible), Isl. Molokai,
May 22, 1928 (type, N.Y.: isotypes, Chi.; N.Y.).
4. Rauvolfia remotiflora Degener & Sherff sp. nov.
Arbor glabra, ramis flavidis, internodiis brevissimis. Folia verti-
cillata, 4 vel 5 ad unicum nodum, pallida, petiolo tenui 2-3 cm. longo;
lamina pallida, membranacea, elliptico-oblonga, utrinque acuta,
plerumque sub 10 cm. longa et sub 3.5 cm. lata, venis lateralibus
parallelis in venam longitudinalem submarginalem confluentibus.
Habitu inflorescentiae R. Degeneri similis sed multo minus con-
gesta. Pedunculus circ. 2-3 cm. longus. Flores subnumerosi sed
distantes. Bracteae ovatae vel late lanceolatae, acutae, margine
irregulares, axillis nonnullos glandulos subtendentes. Pedicellus
manifestus tenuis, circ. 2 mm. longus. Calyx sub 2 mm. longus,
infra medium gamosepalus; sepalis nunc ovatis nunc rotundato-
cordatis basi saepe auriculatis, apice nunc acutis nunc rotundis,
marginibus eroso-denticulatis. Corolla ad anthesin circ. 9 mm.
longa, tubo inferne 1 mm. crasso superne lobos versus abrupte
dilatato et dimidio crassiore, limbo expanse circ. 5 mm. lato; stylo
incluso. Fructus nitidus, circ. 2 cm. latus et ±1.2 cm. altus.
A glabrous tree, branches yellowish, internodes very short.
Leaves whorled, 4 or 5 at a single node, pale, the slender petiole
2-3 cm. long; blade pallid, membranaceous, elliptic-oblong, acute
328 FIELD MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY— BOTANY, VOL. 23
at both ends, commonly under 10 cm. long and under 3.5 cm. wide,
the parallel lateral veins confluent into a lengthwise submarginal
vein. Similar in habit of inflorescence to R. Degeneri but florets
much less crowded. Peduncle about 2-3 cm. long. Flowers sub-
numerous but standing apart. Bracts ovate or widely lanceolate,
acute, irregular at the margin, the axils subtending some glands.
Pedicel conspicuous, slender, about 2 mm. long. Calyx under 2 mm.
long, gamosepalous below its middle; sepals now ovate now rounded-
cordate, at base often auriculate, at apex now acute now rounded,
the margins erose-denticulate. Corolla about 9 mm. long at anthesis,
its tube 1 mm. thick below but abruptly dilated above toward the
lobes and a half thicker, the expanded limb about 5 mm. across;
style included. Fruit shining, about 2 cm. wide and ±1.2 cm. tall.
Specimens examined: L. W. Bryan (distrib. Otto Degener no.)
9803, trees forming "quite a grove" makai1 of Waiohinu in Kau,
Isl. Hawaii, March, 1933 (N.Y.); Otto Degener 5624, in tree-covered,
dry aa kipuka,* half-way between Kaalualu and Waiohinu, Isl.
Hawaii, September 7, 1929 (type, N.Y.: isotype, N.Y.).
5. Rauvolfia Forbesii sp. nov.
Glabra, sine dubio arborescens. Folia verticillata, petiolo an-
gusto 1.5-3 cm. longo, cum multis glandulis linearibus stipitatisque
in axillis; lamina anguste elliptico-oblonga vel -oblanceolata, utrinque
plus minusve acuminata, 6-11 cm. longa et 2-3 cm. lata, venis later-
alibus in lineam submarginalem confluentibus. Flores numerosis-
simi, minimi, in 3 vel 4 cymis (his umbellate decompositis, tenuiter
pedunculatis pedunculo 1-3.4 cm. longo) dispositi, bracteis ovatis vel
lanceolato-deltoideis apice plerumque acribus vel etiam subulatis,
1.5-2.5 mm. longis. Calyx sub 2 mm. longus, sepalis basim versus
connatis, margine irregularibus, apice obtusis acutis acuminatisve,
lamina saepe cordata et basaliter obtuso-auriculata. Corolla sub
7 mm. longa et sub 1 mm. crassa; stylo incluso vel interdum corolla
abortiva longe exserto. Fructus ignotus.
Doubtless arborescent. Leaves whorled; petiole narrow, 1.5-3
cm. long, many linear, stipitate glands in the axil; blade narrowly
elliptic-oblong or -oblanceolate, at both ends more or less acuminate,
6-11 cm. long and 2-3 cm. wide, the lateral veins confluent into a
submarginal line. Florets very numerous, very small, disposed in
1 At or towards the sea from.
* Aa, a certain rough, broken form of lava; kipuka, a fertile, open place in a
forest or on a lava-flow.
HAWAIIAN SPECIES OF THE GENUS RAUVOLFIA 329
3 or 4 cymes (these umbellately decompound, slenderly pedunculate
with a peduncle 1-3.4 cm. long) at end of a branchlet; bracts ovate
or lanceolate-deltoid, at apex commonly sharp or even subulate,
1.5-2.5 mm. long. Calyx under 2 mm. long; sepals connate toward
base, irregular at margin, obtuse or acute or acuminate at apex,
often cordate and basally obtuse-auriculate. Corolla under 7 mm.
long and under 1 mm. thick, lobes about 1-1.2 mm. long; style
included or at times (from an abortive corolla) long-exserted. Fruit
unknown.
Specimens examined: Charles Noyes Forbes 1429-0, west side of
Nuuanu Valley, Isl. Oahu, January 7, 1910 (type, Chi.: isotype,
N.Y.).
The tiny florets are especially numerous, a single peduncle at
times supporting 50-100 or more. The leaves are distinctly narrower
and sharper at both ends than in R. sandwicensis and R. Degeneri.
Hillebrand (Fl. Haw. Isls.295. 1888) cited "the west side of Nuuanu!"
for his first locality for R. sandwicensis DC. and doubtless molded
his detailed description of that species partly on the present Nuuanu
species.1
6. Rauvolfia Helleri sp. nov.
Arbor parva, glabra, cortice laevi flavidoque, ramis rigidis
patentibusque. Habitu R. Forbesii similis. Folia verticillata,
petiolata petiolis angustis 1.5-3 cm. longis; lamina elliptico-oblonga
vel anguste oblongo-obovata, utrinque acuminata vel acuta, 7-11 cm.
longa et 2-4 cm. lata. Inflorescentia primum terminalis demum
lateralis, pedunculis angulatis tenuibus 1-3 vel etiam -6 cm. longis,
multifloris. Bracteae ovato-triangulatae vel lanceolatae sed apice
plerumque acriter et plus minusve abrupte acuminatae, plerumque
1-2 mm. longae. Calyx 2-3 mm. longus, manifeste et saepe tenuiter
pedicellatus pedicello 1.5-2 mm. longo, sepalis ovatis vel ovato-
cordatis et basi interdum subauriculatis, apice obtusis vel saepe
abrupte apiculatis. Corolla nunc absens vel abortiva (et stylus
manifeste exsertus stigmate tenui circ. 0.4 mm. longo) nunc saepis-
sime praesens, tubo sub 8 mm. longo et 1.7 mm. crasso, lobis ovatis
vel ovato-cordatis sub 1.6 mm. longis. Fructus ignotus.
1 Thus, cf, his "leaves . . . acuminate at both ends," a description fitting
well R. Forbesii, whereas R. sandwicensis DC. was described as having acute leaves.
Indeed, from Dr. Baehni's superb photograph (now before me) of the type of
R. sandwicensis, the leaves are seen to have blades acute or subacute at their
base but subobtuse at their apex.
330 FIELD MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY— BOTANY, VOL. 23
Small tree, glabrous, bark smooth and yellowish, branches rigid
and spreading. Similar in habit to R. Forbesii. Leaves verticillate,
petiolate, the narrow petioles 1.5-3 cm. long; blade elliptic-oblong
or narrowly oblong-obovate, acuminate or acute at both ends, 7-11
cm. long and 2-4 cm. wide. Inflorescence at first terminal finally
lateral; peduncles angulate, slender, 1-3 or even to 6 cm. long, many-
flowered. Bracts ovate-triangulate or lanceolate but at apex as a
rule sharply and more or less abruptly acuminate, commonly 1-2 mm.
long. Calyx 2-3 mm. long, manifestly and often slenderly pedicellate
with a pedicel 1.5-2 mm. long, sepals ovate or ovate-cordate and
at base sometimes subauriculate, at apex obtuse or often abruptly
apiculate. Corolla now lacking or abortive (and style manifestly
exserted, its stigma slender and about 0.4 mm. long) now very
often well developed, its tube under 8 mm. long and 1.7 mm. thick,
its lobes ovate or ovate-cordate and under 1.6 mm. long. Fruit
unknown.
Specimens examined: Amos Arthur Heller 2582, on the ridge west
of the Hanapepe River, Isl. Kauai, July 17, 1895 (type, N.Y.:
isotypes, Chi.; Gray; N.Y.; Par.).
7. Rauvolfia mauiensis sp. nov.
Frutex forsitan rarius subarborescens, suco lacteo, internodiis
saepissime 3-9 mm. longis. Folia verticillata, nodum quodque 5,
petiolata petiolis tenuibus 1.5-3 cm. longis, axilla quaque 5-12
stipitatos glandules subtendente; laminis elliptico-oblongis, apice
saepius subobtusis, basi acutis vel acuminatis, membranaceis, glabris,
6-8 (rarius -10) cm. longis et 1.5-3 cm. latis. Flores (ex inflores-
centibus veteribus sine dubio subnumerosi) non visi. Inflorescentia
4-partita, primum terminalis demum lateralis, 4 pedunculis circ.
1.5-3 cm. longis, glabris, pedicellis demum 3-4 mm. longis. Fructus
demum ±1.8 cm. lati et ±1.3 cm. alti, glabri, in herbario nigri.
Shrub or perhaps rather rarely subarborescent; sap milky,
internodes most often 3-9 mm. long. Leaves whorled, 5 to each node,
petiolate (petioles slender, 1.5-3 cm. long), each axil subtending
5-12 stipitate glands; blades elliptic-oblong, at apex more often sub-
obtuse, at base acute or acuminate, membranaceous, glabrous, 6-8
(more rarely -10) cm. long and 1.5-3 cm. wide. Florets (without
doubt numerous as seen from the old inflorescences) not observed.
Inflorescence 4-parted, at first terminal but finally lateral, the 4
peduncles about 1.5-3 cm. long, glabrous, the pedicels finally 3-4 mm.
long. Fruits finally ±1.8 cm. wide and ±1.3 cm. tall, glabrous, in
the herbarium black.
HAWAIIAN SPECIES OF THE GENUS RAUVOLFIA 331
Specimens examined: Joseph F. Rock 8660, lava fields along the
government road, Kahikinui, East Maui, November, 1910 (type,
Gray: isotypes, N.Y.; Par.).
At once distinguished from the other Hawaiian species of Rauvolfia
by its characteristic elliptic-oblong leaf-blades. This is the species
pictured by Rock (Indigenous Trees of the Hawaiian Islands 408,
pi. 166. 1913, excluding the misapplied name R. sandwicensis A.
DC.). Rock speaks of plants "growing on the rough aa lava flows
on the leeward sides of the Hawaiian Islands, as on Auahi, Maui,
on the southern slopes of Mt. Haleakala," where, he says, "it is a
more or less stunted shrub." It may be noted here that the "Auahi"
(Auwahi) mentioned by him in his Indigenous Trees is in the south-
western part of the District of Kahikinui referred to by him on the
type label of R. mauiensis.
ADDITIONS TO THE GENERA SCALESIA ARN.
AND HIDALGOA LLAVE AND LEX.
(FAMILY COMPOSITAE)
EARL EDWARD SHERFF
Scalesia Menziesii Degener & Sherff comb. nov. Zemisne
Menziesii Deg. & Sherff ex Sherff, Amer. Journ. Bot. 22: 708, pi. 1.
1935.
Stated on type sheet to have been collected by Menzies, on the
Vancouver Voyage, in the Hawaiian Islands. Whether this was true
I cannot say, but the type is seen to be too close to the Galapagean
Scalesia Arn. to permit retaining for it the monotypic genus Zemisne.
It is not impossible that the Menzies plant could have come from
the Hawaiian Islands while the other species of Scalesia were endemic
in the Galapagos Islands. The affinity, slight to be sure, between the
floras of these two archipelagoes has already been noted elsewhere
(vide Sherff, Amer. Journ. Bot. 32: 207. 1945). Still we have the
possibility that, since the Vancouver Expedition visited both island
groups, a confusion occurred as to habitat data,1 and that Menzies
really collected the plant on one of the Galapagos Islands.
The achenes on the Menzies plant were submature and originally
construed as obcompressed. They should be reexamined to see if
they are not better described as laterally compressed (as suspected
by Dr. S. F. Blake some years ago, in litt.).2 The leaves closely re-
semble those of Scalesia aspera Anderss. but are denser- and longer-
hispid, and the branchlets are densely and conspicuously hispid (as
seen in a type photograph of S. Menziesii before me, Sherff no. 2527),
1 If S. Menziesii is to be sought for in the Galapagos group, it might be well
to search especially on the northwest coast of Albemarle Island, since we read
(Vancouver, Voy. 3: 381. 1798) that Menzies accompanied a Mr. Whidbey on a
reconnoitering trip to that locality immediately after breakfast one morning early
in February, 1795. They had been dispatched from their ship with orders to land
somewhere to the southward of the western extremity of the land then in sight,
which had been named Cape Berkeley, a small projection of land at the northwest
tip of Albemarle Island. They returned "about five in the afternoon."
2 Unfortunately, the Menzies type in some unaccountable way has become
misplaced at the British Museum of Natural History, according to word kindly
sent me by the Keeper of Botany at that institution, Dr. John Ramsbottom, and
cannot be found at present.
333
334 FIELD MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY— BOTANY, VOL. 23
not merely "scabrous with short scattered upwardly appressed
hairs" (as stated by Howell, Proc. Calif. Acad. Sci. 4th ser., 22:
248. 1941 and as seen in Stewart 664 now before me). Moreover,
S. Menziesii has its involucral bracts uni- or subbiseriate, while
S. aspera has them in 2 to 4 series.1
Hidalgoa pentamera sp. nov.
Habitu Hidalgoae ternatae valde similis sed aliter satis diversa.
Petioli tenues usque ad ±1 dm. longi; lamina membranaceissima
plus minusve perfecte palmatimque 5-partita; stipulis deficientibus;
foliolis rhomboideo-ovatis inferne cuneato-angustatis sed vix bre-
viterve petiolulatis, grosse crenatimque pauci-serratis (dentibus
mucronatis), apice obtusis rarius subacutis, punctulatis, non nisi
secundum venas marginesque puberulis mediano usque ad 6.5 cm.
longo et ad 4.5 cm. lato, aliis minoribus; axillis plerumque gemmam
minimam abortivam tenuem subtendentibus. Capitula radiata,
pansa ad anthesin tantum circ. 2-2.8 cm. lata et ±1.2 cm. alta;
pedunculo tenui usque ad ±1.5 dm. longo. Involucrum moderate
pubescens; bracteis exterioribus 3 vel 4, patentibus reflexisve, subu-
lato-linearibus, apice acribus, 4-5 mm. longis; interioribus late
ovato-oblongis, ±8 mm. longis et 4-5 mm. latis, erectis. Flores
ligulati circ. 5; ligula (sicca) flava, oblonga vel latiore, apice biden-
tata, sub 1 cm. longa, stylo glabrato profunde bifurcate. Achaenia
atra circumambitu elliptico-oblonga, perspicue subtiliterque longi-
tudinali-strigosa, dorso longitudinaliter secundum medium valde
turgida, ventre plana, corpore circ. 8 mm. longa et 4-5 mm. lata,
apice saepius bicornuta cornibus robustis acribus plus minusve valde
inflexis usque ad 3.5 mm. longis, demum paleas ovato-oblongas facile
superantia. Flores disci flavi, tenues, limbo 5-dentati dentibus
erectis; stylo flavo, hispidulo, simplici, saepe longe exserto.
Strongly similar in habit to Hidalgoa ternata but otherwise
sufficiently different. Petioles slender, up to ±1 dm. long; stipules
lacking; blade very thin-membranaceous, more or less perfectly and
palmately 5-parted; leaflets rhomboid-ovate, cuneate-narrowed below
but scarcely or shortly petiolulate, coarsely and crenately few-serrate
(teeth mucronate), at apex obtuse or more rarely subacute, punctu-
late, not puberulous unless along veins and edges, the median one
up to 6.5 cm. long and to 4.5 cm. wide, the others smaller; axils
1 For the lending of valuable herbarium materials of Scalesia, I am greatly
indebted to Dr. H. K. Svenson, until recently of the Brooklyn Botanic Garden,
to Miss Alice Eastwood, Curator, and to Mr. John Thomas Howell, Assistant
Curator, of the Department of Botany, California Academy of Sciences.
ADDITIONS TO GENERA SCALESIA AND HIDALGOA 335
commonly subtending a very small abortive slender bud. Heads
radiate, at anthesis only about 2-2.8 cm. wide and ±1.2 cm. tall;
peduncle slender, up to ±1.5 dm. long. Involucre moderately pubes-
cent; outer bracts 3 or 4, spreading or reflexed, subulate-linear, at
apex sharp, 4-5 mm. long; inner ones broadly ovate-oblong, ±8 mm.
long and 4-5 mm. wide, erect. Ligulate florets about 5; ligule
(in dry state) yellow, oblong or broader, at apex bidentate, under
1 cm. long, the glabrate style deeply 2-branched; achenes black, in
outline elliptic-oblong, conspicuously and delicately lengthwise-
strigose, much swollen lengthwise along middle of dorsal surface,
flat on ventral surface; body about 8 mm. long and 4-5 mm. wide,
at apex more often 2-horned (horns robust, sharp, more or less
strongly inflexed, up to 3.5 mm. long, at last easily surpassing the
ovate-oblong paleae). Disk-florets yellow, slender, corolla-limb
erectly 5-dentate; style yellow, hispidulous, simple, often long-
exserted.
Specimens examined: C. A. Pur pus 5897, Misantla, State of
Veracruz, Mexico, August, 1912 (type, Chi. : isotype, N.Y.) ; Sess6,
Mocino, Castillo, & Maldonado 3961, Mexico, 1787-1804 (Chi.).
At least ten good leaves still remain on the old Sesst et al. speci-
men, collected perhaps more than a century and a half ago. All
have blades definitely 5-parted, in fact almost perfectly palmate.
The original label bears the inscription, Silphium pentaphyllum.
This name appears lacking in the published works of Sesse" &
Mocino, but indicates nevertheless that they had been impressed
with the uniqueness of the foliage.1
Hidalgoa Steyermarkii sp. nov.
Habitu Hidalgoae ternatae similis sed foliis capitulisque minor.
Caulis subtilis, acerrime sulculatus, prope nodos plus minusve hispi-
dus setis pluriloculatis, internodiis brevibus sub 1 dm. longis. Folia
estipulata, glabrata, petiolo tenui 2-4 cm. longo basi forsitan rarius
1 They were familiar with the commoner H. ternata, having tripartite leaves,
exemplified by two sheets of their material (Chi.) now before me. One is their
no. 2918, labeled by them (on the duplicate at Madrid), "Coreopsis triphylla." The
other is their no. 3963, labeled by them (on the duplicate at Madrid), "Sylphium
trifoliatum." Thus their faith in the reliability of the leaf-character is indicated
by their use of the names triphylla and trifoliatum, versus pentaphylla. Their faith
seems indeed confirmed by the fact that the excellent specimens collected by Pur-
pus more than a century later were likewise consistently 5-partite-leaved.
We may note here an additional name used by Sesse & Mocino (Fl. Mex. edit.
2. 195. 1894). This was their Silphium ternatum for a plant from the mountains
of Tuxtla, in southern Mexico. I have not seen an authentic specimen, hence
have omitted this published name from my synonymy.
336 FIELD MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY— BOTANY, VOL. 23
torto; lamina ternata, foliolis petiolulatis, ovatis vel subrhomboideis,
fere eciliatis, tantum 1-4 cm. longis et circ. 1-2.8 cm. latis, parce
membranaceis, acriter serratis dentibus saepius 1-4 pro utroque
latere. Capitula solitaria ad pedunculi tenuissimi 4-7 cm. longi
apicem disposita, radiata, pansa ad anthesin ±4 cm. lata et ±1 cm.
alta. Involucrum glabratum, bracteis exterioribus circ. 4 vel 5,
lineari-lanceolatis vel ovato-deltoideis, apice acutis vel subacutis,
circ. 4-5 mm. longis, demum interdum reflexis; interioribus oblongis,
erectis, usque ad 7.5 mm. longis. Flores ligulati ±5, ligula auran-
tiaca lineari-oblonga usque ad 1.8 cm. longa apice acriter 2-4-
dentata dentibus fimbriatulo-ciliatis; stylo glabrato profunde
2-ramoso. Flores tubulosi aurantiaci, corollae limbo 5-dentati,
extus sparsissime hispiduli, stylo dense hispidulo saepissime simplici.
Achaenia matura non visa.
Similar in habit to Hidalgoa ternata but with smaller leaves
and heads. Stem slender, very sharply sulculate, more or less hispid
near nodes with several-celled hairs, internodes short and under 1 dm.
long. Leaves estipulate, glabrate, petiole slender and 2-4 cm. long,
perhaps rather rarely coiled at base; blade ternate; leaflets petiolulate,
ovate or subrhomboid, almost eciliate, only 1-4 cm. long and about
1-2.8 cm. wide, hardly membranaceous, sharply serrate with teeth
more often 1-4 to each edge. Heads solitary at end of a very slender
peduncle (this 4-7 cm. long), radiate, ±4 cm. wide at anthesis and
±1 cm. tall. Involucre glabrate, exterior bracts about 4 or 5,
linear-lanceolate or ovate-deltoid, at apex acute or subacute, about
4-5 mm. long, sometimes finally reflexed; interior bracts oblong,
erect, up to 7.5 mm. long. Ligulate florets ±5; ligule orange, linear-
oblong, up to 1.8 cm. long, at apex sharply 2-4-dentate with fimbria-
tulous-ciliate teeth; style glabrate, deeply 2-branched. Tubular
florets orange, 5-toothed at limb of corolla, outwardly very sparse-
hispidulous, style densely hispidulous and very commonly simple.
Mature achenes not seen.
Specimens examined: Julian A. Steyermark 48814, rays and disk
orange, around lake southeast of Maxbal, about 17 miles north of
Barillas, alt. 1,500 meters, Sierra de los Cuchumatanes, Dept.
Huehuetenango, Guatemala, July 15-16, 1942 (type, Chi.).