1963] 



BOTANY OF THE GUAYANA HIGHLANDS PART V 



73 



Distribution. Found on sandstone, Cerro Xeblina in Venezuela and Cerro de 

 Circasia in Colombia. COLOMBIA. Vaupes: Cerro de Circasia, tree 10 m, 300- 

 500m, Cuatrecasas 7194 (US). 



The longer leaves, more numerous pairs of lateral nerves, shorter pedicels, 

 and smaller flowers are the characteristics that distinguish P. fastigiata from 

 P. hexanthera, a closely related species. The stiff, erect, numerous branches of 

 the inflorescence are characteristic of this species and distinguish it from the 

 other members of this group. 



Persea maguirei Kopp, sp. nov. 



Frutex compactus ad 2 m alt. ; ramuli non aromatici, teretes, cupreo-sericei, 

 demum fusci; petioli 7-12 mm long., striati, cupreo-sericei; foliorum laminae 

 4.5-2.5 cm long., 1.5-2.5 cm lat., subchartaceae, ellipticae vel rare obovatae, 

 apicibus plerumque acutis interdum ex obtusis ad rotundos, basibus acutis, 

 superficie superiore glabra inferiore cupreo-sericea, costa supra plana infra 

 prominenti, nervorum primariorum 7-9 jugis utrimque obscurorum, ex angulo 

 50-55° divergentium, reticulo utrimque obscuro. Inflorescentiae pauciflorae, 

 graciles, axillares subterminalesque, dichasiales simpliciter compositeve, quam 

 folium subtendens paullo longior breviores ; pedunculus 3-4 cm long., gracilis, 

 cupreo-sericeus ; pedicelli 5-6 mm long., cupreo-sericei ; flores 5 mm long. ; 

 perianthii segmenta exteriora 2 mm long., 2 mm lat., ovata, extra cupreo-sericea, 

 intra glabra ; segmenta interiora 4 mm long., 2.5 mm lat., cupreo-sericea extra 

 intraque ; stamina prope 3.2 mm long., filamentis circiter 1.8 mm long., antheris 

 1.5 mm long.; serierum I et II filamenta dense strigosa, antheris oblongo-ovatis, 

 quadrilocularibus ; seriei III filamenta dense cupreo-strigosa, glandulis sessilibus, 

 stipitibus ad partem quartam basilarem filamentorum adnatis, antheris oblongis, 

 lateraliter debiscentibus, <|iia<lrilocularibus ; seriei IV staminodia valida, setis 

 terminalibus instructa; gynoecium ex parte pubescens, ovario 1 mm long., el- 

 lipsoideo, in parte superiore strigoso; stylo 2 mm long., gracili, stigmate peltato. 

 Infructescentia non visa. 



Type. Compact shrub 2 m, flowers brownish, along north escarpment above 

 Culebra, Cerro Duida, Rio Cuniicunuma, Amazonas, Venezuela, 1400 m, 20 Nov 

 1950, Basseit Maguire, B. S. Cowan, <& John J. Wurdack 29599 (holotype NY). 



Distribution. Known only from the type collection. 



The combination of the pubescent ovary, quadrilocular stamens, and subsessile 

 glands on the third series of stamens indicates a relationship with P. jenmani. 

 The much smaller leaves and flowers, the more delicate general appearance, and 

 the lighter-colored pubescence of P. maguirei will eliminate the possibility of con- 

 fusion with P. jenmani. 



Persea grandiflora Kopp, sp. nov. 



Arbor ad 15 m alt. ; ramuli crassi, dense fulvo-sericei ; petioli 2.5-5 cm long., 

 crassi, striati, dense fulvo-sericei ; foliorum laminae 8-20 cm long., 3.5-10 cm lat., 

 late ellipticae vel late ovatae, apicibus acutis, basibus acutis obtusisve, superficie 

 superiore glabrescenti, interdum nitida, inferiore fulvo-sericea, costa supra leviter 

 impressa, nervorum primariorum 7-9 jugis ex angulo 45-50° divergentium, supra 

 planorum, infra prominentium, venulis obscuris. Inflorescentiae axillares sub- 

 terminalesque, angustae, quam folium subtendens longiores; pedunculi 0-2 (-6) 

 cm long., fulvo-sericei ; pedicelli 1-4 mm long., dense fulvo-sericei ; flores 9-10 mm 



