1963] 



BOTANY OF THE GUAYANA HIGHLANDS PART V 



53 



Type. Arbol de tamano mediano o alto, de 15-20 m de alto, copa tendida y las 

 ramas algo delgadas, tronco derecho, redondo sin ramas por 2/3 partes de la 

 altura entera, sin aletones, hasta de 50 em de diametro, corteza de color gris 

 claro, algo lisa, corteza interna rojiza, madera amarillenta, exportada para 

 Ciudad Bolivar para tablas, frs. azulejos en su madurez, en el margen de la 

 selva no inundada de Guayapo, Bajo Caura, Bolivar, Venezuela, 100 m, 12 Apr 

 1939, Llewelyn Williams 11764 (holotype, fl., fr. A, US). 



Distribution. Tree with verticillate or subverticillate, elliptic or obovate 

 leaves at branchlet-tips, occurring in damp forests along the lower Caura River 

 Basin at low altitudes and on the neighboring Guayana Highlands up to 1220 m, 

 in Bolivar, Venezuela. VENEZUELA. Bolivar: crece en selva higrofitica macro- 

 termica, Escaso, 90 km de El Dorado hacia Sta. Elena, Foldats 2706 (fr. NY) ; 

 wooded slopes of Quebrada O-paru-ma, between Santa Teresita de Kavanayen 

 and Rio Pacairao (tributary of Rio Mouak), 1065-1220 m, Steyermark 60394 

 (y. fr. NY), Ptari-tepui, dense forest at base of Cerro along Rio Karuai, 60638 

 (st.F). 



The coarse, densely clustered leaves bearing axillary or subterminal inflores- 

 cences recall in habit several species of Mezilaurus, but the floral structures are 

 typical of Aniba. When the bark of the twigs is cut or bruised, a fragrance 

 characteristic of the genus is apparent. The second-year growth branchlets, 

 roughened by scars of deciduous leaves and overlaid with a greyish, corklike 

 layer, are distinctive in the dried state. 



Licaria puchury-major (Martius) Kostermans, Meded. Bot. Mus. Utrecht 42: 

 583. 1937. 



Ocotea puchury-major Martius in Buchner, Repert. 35: 171. 1830. 



Type. In sylvis ad Tabatinga, Provincial Rio Negro, Brasil., Martius (holo- 

 type, fr., photo F, GH). 



Distribution. Tree reported, in addition to the type locality (Rio Solimoes, 

 Amazonas), to occur along Rio Negro and in cultivation in Para; possibly in the 

 sandstone areas of southern Venezuela. VENEZUELA. Amazonas: much- 

 branched tree to 8 m, cupule red-brown, fruit green, along Rio Guainia between 

 Cano San Miguel and Maroa, Wurdack & Adderley 43258 (fr. NY). 



A little-collected tree with very rigid, coriaceous leaves, pale green (in the 

 dried state), shining above, with a prominent midrib and undulate margin, the 

 reticulation conspicuous in varying degrees throughout. The large fruit, up to 

 5 cm long, enclosed for less than one-third the entire length in a thick, woody 

 cupule often more than 4 cm in diameter and 4-7 mm thick, with the outer 

 margin flaring and undulate, is unusual in the genus. 



The Venezuelan material shows leaves consistently narrower and with retic- 

 ulation on the upper surface inconspicuous, as compared with those of the type. 



Allied to this species is the following number : COLOMBIA. Intendencia del 

 Meta : tree up to 15 m, dense forest, Central Mountains Entrada Ridge, Philipson, 

 Idrobo & Jaramillo 2272 (fr. BM, NY). 



This is very probably a new species, but without flowering material I hesitate 

 to describe it. The leaves closely approach the description of the type of Licaria 

 puchury-major, in width and reticulation, but both surfaces are shining and the 

 large, ellipsoid, acuminate buds are greyish-sericeous. 



There has been much speculation concerning this species, heretofore known 

 only from the type collection. Kostermans cites several numbers of which I have 



