l05 



blades broadly ovate, rounded or subacute at the base, acu- 

 minate, 3.5 to 9 cm. long, 2,5 to 4 cm. broad, reticulate, the 

 margin sinuate-toothed and often sublobate; josta dari: co- 

 lored and ijrominate on the lower face; veins 12 to 13, se- 

 veral times anastomosed along the margin. Inflorescence not 

 known. Pyxidium large and ample (20 cm. long, 15 cm. in 

 diameter), urnsha^jed, the persistent calyx lobes forming 6 

 broad, sharp protuberances; operculum convex and more or 

 less urabonate.) 



Description of the wood 



Sapwood thick, nearly white; heartwood light brown tinged 

 with red, wood hard, heavy, tough, very close and even 

 grained; and susceptible to good polish. Annual rings of 

 growth very narrow and only faintly visible under hand lens. 



( Pores i-trattsverse-aeetl&n):^ ew, ( ,210 nim. in diameter) 

 round, usually open in sapwood, closed in heartwood, and 

 arx-anged singly or in pairs. Vessel walls f l o ng -ttudlnsri 

 ^exj-tLijan) with numerous small oordered x^its, occasionally large 

 simple pits present; end walls of vessel segment usually 

 nearly horizontal and completely absorbed. ,7ood fibers 

 about 1,74 mm. long, \7ith very thick walls and totally obs- 

 cured cell cavities; pits very small, si.-aple and obliquely 

 slit-like. ',7ood-parenchyma fibers abundantly developed and 

 arranged in regular tangential lines of from 1 to 3 cells 

 wide which alternate v/ith tangential lines of v/ood fibers 

 which are only slightly wider. ..'ood-parenchyma lines 

 easily visible u:ider hand lens. Pith rays very numerous, 

 barely visible under the hand lens. on a smooth transverse 

 section, from 1 to 3 cells v/ide and from a few to 10 or 12 

 high . \ 



Distribution, common names and uses 



2he real identity of this s^jecies is not established, 

 but the fruits are very similar to those of L. amp la , des- 

 cribed from specimens collected in the neighboring Colombian 

 state of Antioquia. It is knov/n as olleto , i.e., pot-tree, 

 and the fruits as o llss de mono ( monkey- jjo t s) ; but it should 

 be remembered that these names apply to everyone of the 

 numerous species of neotropical genus. The wood is very 



