90 



MEMOIRS OF THE NEW YORK BOTANICAL GARDEN 



[VOL. 10 



assigned to another genus. Further collections may throw light on its relationship 

 and correct placement. 



Ocotea crassifolia (Noes) Mez, Jahrb. Bot. Gart. Berlin 5 : 336. 1889. 

 Oreodaphne crassifolia Nees, Linnaea 21: 520. 1848. 



Type. Im Brittischen Guiana bei Roraima, Rich. Schomburgk 934 (isotype, 

 c? fl., photo & leaf fragm. F) . 



Distribution. A small tree with dioecious flowers on slopes of Mount Roraima 

 and neighboring Sarven-tepui, Bolivar, Venezuela, 1400 m alt. VENEZUELA. 

 Bolivar: along Rio Sarven between Camps 3 and 4, Wurdack 34076 (J 1 fl. NY). 



A species striking because of the large, leathery, densely reticulate leaves 

 borne on stout, dark, reddish-brown petioles which contrast with the mature 

 branchlets early changing from dark red to grey. Here may belong the Tate 246 

 (st. NY) collected in 1928. In habit the branchlets appear to simulate those of 

 Ocotea sprncei (Meissner) Mez, which, however, bear smaller, more orbicular 

 leaves without prominent reticulation. 



Ocotea lasseriana C. K. Allen, sp. nov. Fig. 40. 



Arbor parva vel arbustum, gemmis ellipsoideis acuminatis dense ferrugineo- 

 tomentellis, ramulis atratis ± crassis eonspicue angulatis ferrugineo-tomentellis, 

 mox glabrescentibus. Folia alternata, petiolis satis crassis pubescentibus manifeste 

 canaliculars ad 15 mm longis et 2-3 mm latis, laminis supra glabris (costa 

 excepta) ad basim glabrescentibus, subtus minute ferrugineo-tomentellis prae- 

 cipue costa venisque, mox glabrescentibus, coriaceis ellipticis vel ovato-ellipticis, 

 (8-10-) 15-20 cm longis et (2.5-) 4—5 cm latis, ad basim ± rotundatis, ad apicem 

 longe attenuateque acuminatis, acumine ad 2.5 mm longo, margine ad basim 

 leviter recurvatis, penninerviis, costa supra leviter impressa, subtus prominenter 

 elevata, nervis (5-) 8-10-paribus supra inconspicue leviterque impressis, subtus 

 utrinque elevatis, ad angulo 45° divergentibus, rete venularum inconspicuo. 

 Inflorescentia axillaris subterminalisque, multiflora, aliquantum crassa, minute 

 ferrugineo-tomentella, ± gracilis pyramidato-paniculata, ad 14 cm longa, pedun- 

 culo rachideque crassis eonspicue angulatis. Flores dioici, eburnei vel viridi- 

 flavescentes fide coll., ^ ad 4 longi, pedicello ad 2 mm longo ; perianthio 

 campanulato gracili, lobis ovatis ad 1.7 mm longis, tubo ad 0.5 mm longo; 

 stamisibus ser I & II ad 1 mm longis antheris ± ovatis quam filamentis brevibus 

 triplo longioribus, ser III antheris subrectangularibus quam filamentis duplo 

 longioribus, biglandulosis, glandulis subcordatis, stipitatis, ser IV O ; gynoecio 

 abortivo gracili; flores J, simili, staminibus ser I, II, & III immaturis, ser IV 

 O ; gynoecio glabro ad 1 mm longo ovario eonspicue subtriangulari. Infructes- 

 centia incrassata, ad 15 cm longa. Fructus maturus? atratus, ellipsoideus, 

 apiculatus, 10 X 8 mm, cupula tenui cyathiformi, margine ± plana ad 6 mm 

 longa, 5 mm diam. et 3 mm alta, rubra fide coll., pedicello brevi satis incrassato 

 subtenta. 



Type. Arbol de mediano tamano, flores crema, selva de Oparuma Kavanayen, 

 Bolivar, Venezuela, 30 May 1946, T. Lasser 1868 (holotype, $ fl. F., isotype, US). 



Vernacular Names. Muneu-yek, Manau-yek (Steyermark) . 



Distribution. Shrub or small tree with unusual 4— 5-angled branchlets, the 

 full-flowered inflorescence, axillary and subterminal, known only from the sand- 

 stone region in Bolivar, Venezuela, from 900 to 1300 m, with one collection 



