94 



MEMOIRS OF THE NEW YORK BOTANICAL GARDEN 



[VOL. 10 



rangularibus quam ser I & II longioribus, biglandulosis, glandulis magnis; 

 gynoecio abortivo, substipitato gracili, ovario anguste ellipsoideo, stigmate sub- 

 sessili valde 2-lobata. Flores $? ignoti. Infructescentia aliquantum robusta, minute 

 pubescens, ad 6 cm longa, rubescens. Fructus immaturus? viridis fide coll., sub- 

 globosus, apiculatus, 7-8 mm diam., cupula vadose pateriformi, 1.5-2 mm longa 

 et 5-7 mm diam., leviter lobata, tepalis persistentibus expansis, pedicello ad 5 

 mm longo subobconico glabrescenti ad apicem ad 2 mm lato subtenta. 



Type. Tree 15 m, leaves coriaceous, deep, dark green above, pale green beneath 

 with brownish midrib and nerves, flowering rachis ferruginous, flower buds pale 

 green, vicinity of campamento 125, vicinity of Cerro Uei, between Luepa and 

 Cerro Venamo, Bolivar, Venezuela, 1100 m, 22 Apr 1960, J. A. Steyermark & 

 S. Nilsson 461 (holotype ? g fl. NY). 



Distribution. Small tree with dioecious flowers from the sandstone area of 

 Bolivar, Venezuela, occurring on Chimanta and westward in the Caroni region, 

 besides in the type locality. VENEZUELA. Bolivar : along southwest-facing sand- 

 stone bluffs of Chimanta-tepui (Torono-tepui), near southern corner, Steyermark 

 75477 (fr. NY) ; bosques del Cerro Acopan, Caroni, Car dona 2259 (fr. US.) 



The very coarse, leathery leaves of this species, with obscure venation except 

 for the prominent and thick midrib, appear at first glance to resemble those of 

 0. adenotrachelium described by Nees from the Solimoes and later reported by 

 Mez from Rio Negro as well. The latter, however, is distinguished by the very 

 short petioles and the cordate leaf-blades which are usually more attenuately 

 acuminate. The young, unexpanded inflorescences of 0. nilssonii (which may be 

 pistillate, though at this stage it is difficult to be certain) would at maturity 

 very probably reach a greater length and breadth. The blackish-red branchlets, 

 angled towards the tips, maintain pubescence at maturity, though this is more 

 scattered and more fulvous than ferruginous. At first glance, the fruiting material 

 seems very different from the type, the leaves being much smaller. The general 

 character of the branchlets, with the minute, fulvous, persistent pubescence not 

 obscuring the dark reddish color, and the texture, shape, and venation of the 

 leaves of both type and fruiting material are essentially the same. It is possible 

 that the flowers are hermaphrodite, but more mature specimens are necessary for 

 complete certainty on this point. 



The leaf-texture and color in the dried state call to mind Ocotea rodiei 

 (Schomburgk) Mez, described from British Guiana, the type material of which 

 is in late flowering stage. The leaves of the latter are acute at the base and the 

 subtewninal inflorescence much shorter than those of the above-described species. 

 The branching of O. rodiei is characteristically more horizontal than is usually 

 noted in the Lauraceae. 



Ocotea cowaniana C. K. Allen, sp. nov. Fig. 48. 



Frutex parva vel arbor depauperata fide coll., gemmis ovoideis longe 

 acuminatis minute papillosis, ramulis robustis, brunnescentibus mox cinereis 

 rimosis, longitudinaliter conspicueque lenticellatis striatis teretibus petiolorum 

 cicatricibus numerosis. Folia alternata, saepe ad summam dense aggregata, 

 petiolis crassis glabris viridescentibus planis vel leviter canaliculars ad 10 mm 

 longis et ad 3 (-5) mm latis saepe subtus ad basim gibbosis, laminis utrinque 

 glabris coriaceis et flavo-viridescentibus, ellipticis, (8-) 13-15 cm longis et (3-) 

 4^6 cm latis, ad basim acutis, saepe attenuate decurrentibus, ad apicem variabil- 

 ibus ± abrupte acuminatis acutisve raro obtusis vel subemarginatis, penninerviis, 



