BLAKE: REVISION OF THE AVOCADOS 1 9 



wide, obtusish, the outer i to 1.5 mm. shorter than the inner; stamens 

 of series I 4.8 mm. long, the densely pilose filaments 3 mm. long, the 

 slightly broader anthers 1.8 mm. long; stamens of series II similar, 

 4.5 mm. long; stamens of series III 5.2 mm. long, the densely pilose 

 filament 3.4 mm. long, bearing 0.7 mm. above base two sessile ovoid 

 pilosulous glands 0.7 mm. long, the anther 1.8 mm. long, the lower 

 cells subextrorsely dehiscent, the upper lateral-introrse ; staminodes 

 3 mm. long, the densely pilose filament 1.7 mm. long, the cordate- 

 sagittate apiculate gland 1.3 mm. long, glabrous on inner face, dorsally 

 pilose and barbate at apex; ovary ellipsoid, glabrous, 1.5 mm. long; 

 style slender, glabrous, 3.5 mm. long; extreme base of calyx segments 

 thickened and persistent in fruit, forming a saucer i mm. high, 4.5 mm, 

 wide; berry subglobose, glaucous-blue, about 12 mm. long and thick; 

 seed globular, 8 mm. thick. 



Type in the U. S. National Herbarium, No. 884613, collected at 

 Zacuapan, Vera Cruz, Mexico, June, 191 6, by C. A. Purpus (No. 7671). 

 Duplicates in the Gray Herbarium. Also collected in fruit at the same 

 locality at a later date by Purpus (No. 8144). 



This species is readily distinguished by its glabrous ovary, sessile 

 staminal glands, narrow panicle, and by the pubescence of its leaves. 

 In Mez's treatment of Persea it seems to come nearest to P. liehnianni 

 Mez, from the description of which it differs in its larger flowers, longer 

 anthers, staminodal glands glabrous inside, and larger berry. It is 

 evidently of no importance as a food plant. 



The sheet in the National Herbarium is in bud only, and the complete 

 description of the species has been made possible through the kindness 

 of the Gray Herbarium in loaning two sheets of the same number 

 bearing a few opened flowers, and of Mr. T. S. Brandegee in sending 

 fruiting material of a later collection by Purpus from the same locality. 



5. Persea leiogyna Blake, sp. nov. Trapp Avocado. 



Tree about 10 meters high, with broad low head; branchlets stout, 

 glabrous, glaucous; leaves alternate, the blades 7.5 to 16 cm. long, 

 4.5 to 8 cm. wide, ovate or elliptic-ovate to oval, acute or short -pointed, 

 the apex usually blunt, at base unequal, rounded to cuneate-rounded, 

 pergamentaceous, pinnate-veined (veins 4 to 9 pairs, prominulous- 

 reticulate beneath), above deep green, glabrous, beneath somewhat 

 glaucous, glabrous or with very sparse short incurved hairs along costa 

 and toward base of primary veins; petioles glabrous, 2 to 3.5 cm. long; 

 panicles axillary, 5.5 to 10 cm. long (including peduncle, this 2 to 4 

 cm. long), crowded toward tips of branchlets, about twice as long as the 

 petioles, rather sparsely puberulous with loose curved hairs, not at all 

 canescent; pedicels 2 to 4 mm. long; perianth yellowish green, 5.3 

 to 6 mm. long, short-ciliate above middle and sparsely pilosulous out- 

 side with loosely spreading curved hairs, essentially glabrous inside, 

 punctate, the segments elliptic-oblong, obtuse to rounded, the outer 



