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332 DESCRIPTION OF TWO NEW SPECIES OF VITIS.
Clutha, ill the interior of the province ; probably what Dr. Hooker
subsequently called in honour of that active local botanist A. Buchunani,
though it may be A. adsceudens, Vahl, or A. micropht/lla, Hook, f.,
both of which also occur in the central lake districts of Otago.
DESCRIPTION OF TWO NEW SPECIES OF VITIS FROM
CENTRAL AMERICA.
By Berthold Seemann, Ph.D., F.L.S.
Vitis (Cissus) CJiontalensis, sp. n., Seem. mss. ; glabra, ramulis an-
gulatis; foliis 3-foliolatis, foliolis lateralibus oblique ovato-acuminatis,
terminal! elliptico, omnibus dentatis ;
cymis compositis, cymulis 10-12-
floris, pedicellis calycibus coroUisque coccineis, petalis 4 triangulari-
ovatis acuminatis (deciduis) ; staminibus 4, antheris ovatis (filamen-
tisque flavis) ; ovario ovato-acuminato (viridi), stylo elongato (coc-
cineo), stigmate punctiformi.
This elegant climber is very abundant in the wooded mountains of
Chontales, Republic of Nicaragua, Central America, where it covers
rocks and trees, and by its graceful habit, lovely green foliage, and
bright scarlet flowers (which appear about Christmas), forms a con-
spicuous object of the scenery of that region. It was introduced by
me, together with two other species of Vitis, and handed over to Mr.
William Bull, of King's Road, Chelsea,
Vitis (Cissus) Javalensis, n. sp., Seem. mss. ; ramulis teretibus striatis
petiolisque glabris ; foliis simplicibus cordatis acuminatis mucronato-
dentatis, supra pulchre pubesceute-velutinis viridibus, costa venisque
purpurascentibus, subtus glabris purpurascentibus ; cymis compositis
(coccineis)
.
This is another apparently undescribed Vitis from the Chontales
mountains, where it grows about the Javali gold and silver Mine, but
it is not so abuiulant as V. Chontalensis, nor does it flower so freely.
The flowers, however, are of as bright or even brighter scarlet than
Maoris— as occurring in Otago, where its wood is said to be commonly used
lor fencing. The flower, he says, is like that of our Honeysuckle. But, according
to the ' Handbook ' (p. 241), this is exclusively a North Island tree.
If so, Martin is in error as to tlie genus and species. It does not however
follow that the ' Handbook ' is right and he wrong ; for I have shown in the
present paper at least one conspicuous instance of error—in citing a common
New Zealand plant, the Typha angustifolia, as exclusively restricted in its
distribution to the North Island ! ( Vide also Pimelea prostrata.)