Gymnostachyum verschaffeltii Lem. Illustr. Hort. 10: pl. $72. 1863. Based on cultivated material originally from Perú or Colombia.
Fittonia verschaffeltii E. Coem, Fl. des Serres 15: 186. 1865. Based on Gymno- stachyum verschaffellii Lem.
Repent or ascending herb up to 30 cm. long; stems pilose to sub- tomentose; leaf blades ovate to elliptic, up to 10 cm. long and 7 cm. wide, rounded or obtuse at tip, cordate at base, the upper surface dull green, the costa and conspicuously reticulated veins purple; spikes up to 8 cm. long and 1.5 cm. wide; peduncles up to 12 cm. long, pilose or subtomentose, the hairs disposed more or less in two rows; bracts oval, up to 13 mm. long and 8 mm. wide; corolla white or yellow. Herbarium specimens of Fittonia argyroneura and F. verschaffeltii are very similar and dried specimens are extremely difficult to separate, especially since the purple coloring of the veins invariably fades. The habit of growth, pubescence, inflorescence, and corollas of the two species are practically identical. The upper surface of the leaf blades of F. verschaffeltii has been described as duller, the epi- dermis composed of more densely placed conical cells so as to present a velvety appearance in fresh plants. In contrast, the leaves of F. argyroneura are smoother and of a nitid green color. This contrast, strong as it may be in live plants, is weak indeed if herbarium material is studied and unless there yet remains a slight trace of the purple coloration in the veins, or the specimen is accompanied by proper field notes, it is practically impossible to decide to which of the two species any given specimen might belong.
In the Putumayo region, according to Schultes, the plant is called "Mee-ná-ku-ru" by the Kofán natives and is used medicinally. The two species treated here, as well as the suffrutescent F. gigantea Linden of Perú, are found in cultivation.
CAUCA: Between Juntas and La Peñita, Dagua Valley, Pittier 1506 (US). CAQUETA: Florencia, Pérez-Arbeláez 733 (US)
PUTUMAYO: Quebrada Conejo, Schultes 3480 (GH).