Peraea LAURACE^E 207 



perianth-segments spreading, not enlarged in fruit ; the pedicel 

 not thickened, or only slightly, in fruit. 



Species 63, widely dispersed through N. and S. America, 

 6 species occurring in the West Indies, 2 or 3 in temperate 



Fig. 85. — Persea americaiia Mill. 



A, Leaf and inflorescence X 5. D, One-third of the lower portion of the 



B, Flower X 3. fruit with the stone X J. 



C, Pistil cut lengthwise X 3. 



N. America, 2 in Chile, 1 in the Canary Isles, 3 in China and 

 1 in Australia. 



Inflorescence much shorter than the leaves. 



[Flowers 6-7 mm. 1. Perianth-segments subequal P. mnericana.] 



Flowers 3-4 mm. 1.' Outer perianth-segments one- 

 third as long as inner 3. P. Urbaniana. 



Inflorescence long-stalked, longer than or subequal to 

 the leaves. 



Inflorescence paniculate 1. P. alpigena. 



Inflorescence subcorymbose 2. P. Harrisii. 



[P. amerieana Mill. Gard. Diet. ed. 8 (1768) ; inflorescence 

 many-flowered, much shorter than the leaves ; flowers 6-7 mm. 1.; 

 perianth-segments equal, filaments 2 or 3 times as long as the 

 anthers ; anthers all 4-celled ; fruit large, edible. — Urh. Symh. 

 Ant. iv. 244. P. gratissima Gaertn.f. Fruct. Hi. 222, t. 221 (1807) ; 

 Griseb. Fl. Br. W. Ind. 280 ; Meisn. in DC. Prodr. xv. pt. 1, 52 ; 

 Bot Mag. t. 4580; Mez in Jahrb. Bot. Gart. Berl. v. 145. 

 Laurus Persea L. Sp. PI. 370 (1753) ; Buiz d Pav. Fl. Peru, dt 



