Mexico: Oaxaca, District of Choapam, San Juan Lalana, growing 
in rain-forests on the slopes of Cerro Lalana, long. 95°45’, lat. 17° 
25’, alt. 550 m., May 8, 1939, Richard Evans Schultes & Blas Pablo 
Reko 827 (Tyrer in Econ. Herb. Oakes Ames No. 7111; Isoryprs in 
Herb. Gray; Herb. Inst. Biol. [Mexico]; Herb. Univ. Michigan; 
Herb. Field Mus. Nat. Hist.; Herb. U.S. Nat. Mus.; Herb. Bot. 
Gard. Buitenzorg. ) 
Phoebe chinantecorum appears to be most closely re- 
lated to P.nectandrioides Mez and P.betazenis Mez (the 
type of which was collected in northeastern Oaxaca) 
which occur in southern Mexico and adjacent Central 
America. It is also apparently allied to Phoebe helicteri- 
folia (Meissn.) Mez of Chiapas and Guatemala. Vegeta- 
tive characters in the shape and indument of the leaves 
as well as floral characters, especially in the shape of the 
anthers, serve to distinguish between these species. 
Phoebe chinantecorum is strikingly similar in habit to 
some species of Nectandra, especially to some of those 
in the subgenus Munectandra Nees, section Pomatiuwm 
(Nees) Mez. 
In the forests around San Juan Lalana, Phoebe chinan- 
tecorum is abundant and is closely associated with the 
following trees: Alibertia edulis (L. Rich.) A. Rich., An- 
dira Galeottiana Standl., Beilschmiedia mexicana (Mez) 
Kosterm., Conostegia mevicana Cogn., Hrythroxylon 
lucidum HBK., Guatteria spp., Hamelia nodosa Mart. 
& Gal., Hirtella americana Aubl., Laplacea semiserrata 
(Mart. & Zuce.) Cambess., Miconia spp., Ormosia isth- 
mensis Standl., Ternstroemia Tepezapote Schlecht. & 
Cham., and many other species. 
The Chinantee Indians of the District of Choapam 
are accustomed to use the reputedly small and rather 
aromatic fruits of Phoebe chinantecorum for food, and call 
the plant mo-gzwu. 
