44 



MEMOIRS OF THE NEW YORK BOTANICAL GARDEN 



[vol. 10 



long, the peduncle about 5 mm long, glabrous, the bracts round-peltate, the fruit 

 about 1 mm long, basally immersed, subturbinate-cylindrical, apically mammi- 

 form with apical stigma. 



Type. Cerro de la Neblina, Rio Yatua, Amazonas, Venezuela, locally abundant 

 on fallen logs on escarpment slopes above Camp 3, alt. 1600-1700 m, 17 Nov 1957, 

 B. Maguire, J. J. Wurdack & Celia Maguire 42050 (holotype, NY). 



This species appears to be closely related to P. panamensis C. de Candolle, 

 but differs in its mostly larger and broadly ovate leaves which are membranous 

 when dry. 



LAURACEAE 10 



A portion of the tropical American representatives of the family has been 

 revised in minute detail by Dr A. J. G. H. Kostermans. 11 The two largest genera, 

 Nectandra and Ocotea, have not had monographic consideration since the publi- 

 cation by Mez 12 in 1889. Doctor Kostermans' revisions were followed by an 

 historical survey of the family 11 and later a summary. 11 The latter is extremely 

 valuable in that the literature pertinent to the subgeneric rank is brought to- 

 gether for the first time in seventy years. He has examined generic characters 

 in the light of his decades of field work in Malaysia and attempted a re-evaluation 

 of their importance. In spite of this, however, it is apparent that further anatom- 

 ical and ecological surveys are essential before we can accept without reservation 

 Kostermans ' conclusions in their entirety. 



Because of this reservation, I have maintained as separate taxa the two con- 

 troversial genera, Nectandra and Ocotea, combined by Dr. Kostermans under 

 the single genus, Ocotea. Eventually, a detailed, monographic study will be made 

 of this group. Possibly future examination of herbarium material not now avail- 

 able, together with field observations and anatomical study, may show them to 

 represent opposite extremes of a single, variable genus. Until such time, despite 

 an overlapping of characteristics in some plants, i.e., the occasional indeterminate 

 position of the anther cells which appear to be in obscure arc-formation, or 

 approach superposition in two distinct planes, they are considered as separate 

 genera. I am maintaining also for the present the generic status of Pleurothyrium, 

 which Kostermans has reduced, as well as Nectandra, to subgeneric rank under 

 Ocotea. The always present glands at the base of all three outer cycles of stamens, 

 the consistent shape of the anthers, and the location of their cells present more 

 clear-cut and recognizable distinctions than some of the rather more obscure 

 characteristics used for separating other genera of the family. Lucille E. Kopp 13 

 has not accepted the American species of Phoebe with cylindric fruiting pedicel 

 as congeneric with Persea, a reduction suggested by Kostermans. To date, I do 

 not see the wisdom of incorporating those species of Phoebe, with thickened 

 fruiting pedicels, with the genus Cinnamomum, bearing fruit subtended by 

 disklike cupules, which is confined wholly to the tropics of eastern Asia. 



In the main, only Guayana Highland collections are cited in the present 



10 By Caroline K. Allen (under National Science Foundation Grant NSF GB2). 



11 Kostermans, A. J. G. H. Bevision of the Lauraceae I. Meded. Bot. Mus. Utrecht 37 : 

 719-757. 1936. II. 42: 500-609. 1937. III. 46: 56-129. 1938. V. 48: 834-931. 1938. 



. A historical survey of Lauraceae. Jour. Sci. Bes. Indonesia 1: 83-95; 113-127; 



141-159. 1952. 



. Lauraceae. Communication (Pengumuman) of the Forest Besearch Institute, Indo- 

 nesia 57: 1-64. 1957. 



12 Mez, C. Lauraceae americanae. Jahrb. Bot. Gart. Berlin 5 : 1-556. 1889. 

 is See the genus Persea, below. 



