1963] 



BOTANY OF THE GUAYAXA HIGHLANDS PART V 



75 



branch of headwaters of Rio Tirica, Chimanta Massif, Bolivar, Venezuela, 2150 m, 

 17 Feb 1955, Julian A. Steyermark & John J. Wurdack 921 (holotype, fl. NY). 



Distribution. Small tree or occasionally depressed shrub of the drainages 

 bordering rocky savannas or cumbres on slopes of sandstone mountains of 

 Bolivar, Venezuela, from 2000 to 2400 m; and possibly in the high elevations 

 in the Caroni. VENEZUELA. Bolivar : at base of upper escarpment, northwest 

 cumbres, Churi-tepui (Muru-tepui), Wurdack 34234 (fr. NY) ; on densely 

 forested steep, south-facing slopes overlying sandstone, between "Cave Rock" 

 and base of high sandstone bluffs, Ptari-tepui, Steyermark 59571 (fl. F) ; locally 

 frequent along flat rocky stretches on north part of summit of Torono-tepui, 

 Steyermark d' Wurdack 1201 (y. fr. NY) ; cumbre del Cerro Acopan, Caroni, 

 Car dona 2275 (fl. US). 



Superficially, this striking species resembles Ocotea caesia (Meissner) Mez 

 from Brazil in the erect, cordate leaves with peduncles swollen at the base. The 

 resemblance ends there, however, for the O. caesia is glabrous, the leaves are 

 more elliptic, and the inflorescences are much longer than the leaves. The rela- 

 tionship of P. steyermarkiana within the genus is probably with P. tetragona 

 (Meissner) Mez, with inflorescences longer than the glaucous leaves. 



The species is named for Dr. Julian A. Steyermark, who has contributed much 

 to the collections of Lauraceae from Venezuela, and indeed to a greater under- 

 standing of the flora as a whole of that region. 



Phoebe areolatocostae C. K. Allen, sp. now Fig. 49. 



Arbor ad 15 m alta, gemmis anguste ovoideis acuminatis fulvo- vel pallide 

 ferrugineo-pubescentibus, ramulis juventute dense adpresseque fulvo-tomentosis, 

 mox glabrescentibus, glabris, atratis teretibus striatis. Folia alternata, petiolis 

 atratis gracilibus minute pubescentibns mox satis crassis glabrescentibus, ad 2 

 mm longis, laminis utrinque juventute supra sparse cinereo-pubescentibus subtus 

 minute denseque cinereo-pubescentibus, mox glabrescentibus, supra minute papil- 

 losis in sicco olivaceo-viridiscentibus subtus pallide brunneis, ellipticis vel ob- 

 lanceolato-ellipticis, (7-) 12-14 cm longis et (2.5-) 5-7 cm latis, ad basim acutis 

 vel longo-acutis, ad apicem abrupte obtuseque acuminatis, acumine ad 8 (-10) 

 mm longa, penninerviis, costa supra plus minusve atro-rubescenti gracili valde 

 impressa, subtus crassa elevata, nervis ad 8-paribus rubescentibus arcuato- 

 adscentibus, ad angulo 56-68° divergentibus, rete venularum supra laxo incon- 

 spicuo, subtus obscuro, utrinque ± minute areolato areolae ad costam praecipue 

 maiora distinctae conspicuaeque. Inflorescentia axillaris aliquantum laxe panic- 

 ulata, ad 8 cm longa, pedunculo 2.5-3.5 cm longa. Flores hermaphroditi ad 5 mm 

 longi, dense fulvo-pubescentes, perianthio campanulato dense fulvo-pubescenti, 

 eburneo fide coll., lobis ovatis acutis, exterioribus interioribusque subaequantibus, 

 ad ±2 mm longis, tubo ad ±2 mm longo ; staminibus ser I & II 1.5 mm longis, 

 antheris attenuato-ovatis quam filamentis satis crassis pubescentibus leviter 

 brevioribus, ser III ad 1.5 mm longis antheris quadrangularibus vel ovatis 

 filamentis pubescentibus aequantibus, biglandulosis, glandulis satis magnis quam 

 filamentis dimidium brevioribus, ser IV cordatis 0.6-0.7 mm longis pubescentibus 

 stipitatis, gynoecio glabro ad 1.3 mm longo, ovario subobovoideo vel late ellip- 

 soideo quam stylo gracili duplo longiori, stigmate ± lobato. Infructescentia 

 immatura ad 8 cm longa satis gracilis atro-rubescens, glabrescens. Fructus im- 

 maturus viridis fide coll., ut videtur oblongus? cupula cyathiformi glabrescenti 



