JOURNAL OF THE ARNOLD ARBORETUM NOTES ON ASIATIC-POLYNESIAN-AUSTRALIAN SPECIES OF ERYTHRINA, II B. A. KRUKOFF 1 MY FIRST PAPER on this subject was published in 1939 (PreliminaryNotes on Asiatic-Polynesian Species of Erytkrina. Jour. Arnold Arb. 20:225-233. 1939) without the benefit of having studied specimens in Euro-pean and Asiatic herbaria because of the war. Previously there was nocompact treatment of the Asiatic-Polynesian-Australian species. Since thattime I have examined specimens in several major European herbaria (BM,BR, E, G, K, L, P, S, U, z) and as a result have made considerable progressin the understanding of several species. Six species (namely E. glaucaWilldenow, E. boninensis Tuyama, E. phlebocarpa F. M. Bailey, E. ros-trata Ridley, E. sandwicensis Degener, and E. stipitata Merrill) are herereduced to synonymy for the first time. A conspectus of the species of Erythrina worldwide is in the course ofpreparation; in it I plan to give complete synonymy and type localitiesof valid species and synonyms, cite the type collections, give carefullycompiled distribution, and discuss habit and habitat. In the present paperI am giving largely the information which I consider important or inter-esting and which it is not possible to include in the conspectus. Completesynonymy is given only for E. variegata L., but I am citing, of course,under other species those which are reduced to synonymy for the firsttime. Specimens are cited only for E. microcarpa Koorders & Valeton, B.euodiphylla Hasskarl, E. merrilliana Krukoff, and E. insularis F. M.Bailey which are very poorly represented in herbaria. Of 13 species reviewed in this paper the chromosome numbers werepublished for seven (Phytologia 19: 162, 163. 1969; Taxon 18(3): 314.1969; and Ann. Missouri Bot. Gard. 56: 474. 1969). No counts havebeen published for Erythrina microcarpa, E. resupinata, E. euodipkylla,E. merrilliana, and E. insularis. A 2n number of 42 chromosomes wasfound in all Asiatic-Polynesian-Australian species sampled. Three of the arboreous species under review (namely E. arborescens,E. suberosa, and E. stricta) and the herbaceous E. resupinata probablywill prove to be frost tolerant in the Los Angeles area. It is kept in mindthat by a formal proclamation on March 7, 1966, Erythrina was selectedas the "Los Angeles official tree." E. resupinata will doubtless prove tobe an excellent addition to rock gardens. I wish to express obligation to Prof. Dr. C. G. G. J. van Steenis for his suggestions and help in obtaining certain critical type material. I am es-SConsulting Botanist of Merck Sharp & Dohme Research Laboratories, Rahway, New Jersey.[VOL. 53
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