1963] 



BOTANY OF THE GUAYANA HIGHLANDS PART V 



95 



costa crassa flava, in sicco ad basim lata ad 3 mm et supra ± ad basim plana 

 vel leviter impressa ad basim leviter subtus conspicue elevata striataque, nervis 

 8-10-paribus flavis graeillimis utrinque ± obscuris supra obscure subtus con- 

 spicue leviterque elevatis, ad angulo 56-45° divergentibus, rete venularum supra 

 obscuro subtus conspicuo saepe subtus minute areolato. Inflorescentia axillaris 

 subterminalisque, satis robusta, utrinque glabra, pallide rubescens, pauciflora, 

 anguste racemoso-paniculata, 7-8 cm longa, pedunculo 4—5 cm longo. Flores 

 dioici ! J 3-4 mm longi, pedicello ad 4 mm longo ; perianthio flavescenti fide coll., 

 subcampanulato tenui glabro, lobis exterioribus oblongis ad 2 mm longis et 14 

 mm latis, interioribus ad 1.7 mm longis et 1.2 mm latis, tubo ad 1 mm longo; 

 staminibus ad 0.9 mm longis, antheris ser I & II ovatis filamenta satis crassa 

 subaequantibus, ser III antheris subquadrangularibus quam filamentis biglandu- 

 losis, glandulis magnis brevistipitatis robustis brevioribus, ser IV ? ; gynoecio 

 ad 1.6 mm longo, ovario ± subgloboso quam stylo crasso duplo longiore, stigmate 

 triangulari-discoideo. Infructescentia immatura, robusta, glabra, brunnescens, ad 

 10.5 cm longa. Fructus immaturus, viridis fide coll., ut videtur ellipsoideus, 

 apiculatus, cupula cyathiformi, 6-dentata, perianthii lobis persistentibus mox 

 deciduis?, pedicello obconico subtenta. Flores J* et fructus maturus ignoti. 



Type. Shrub 1 m, flowers yellowish, occasional in cumbre about 6 km south 

 of Camp Cano head along west rim, Serrania, Paru, Rio Paru, Cario Asisa, Rio 

 Ventuari, Amazonas, Venezuela, 2000 m, 7 Feb 1951, R. S. Cowan cf- John J. 

 Wurdack 31303 (holotype, ? ? fl. NY). 



Distribution. Shrub or spare tree 1-2 m with dioecious? flowers, known only 

 occasionally in sabanita in cumbre of the type locality, at 2000 m. VENEZUELA. 

 Amazonas: occasional in cumbre about 6 km north of Camp Cano head along 

 west rim, Cowan & Wurdack 31247 (y. fr. NY), in sabanita in cumbre just north 

 of head of Camp Cano, 31106 (y. fr. NY) . 



The yellowish-green leaves, with prominent yellowish midribs and dense, more 

 or less yellowish reticulation rather obscure above but conspicuous below, set 

 this apart from other ocoteas. Associated with 31247 is a branchlet with mature 

 fruit which, however, does not belong to this species. It may be allied with Ocotea 

 complicata (Meissner) Mez from Bahia, the flowering type of which it resembles, 

 although the branchlets of the latter are clothed with more or less dense, closely 

 appressed pubescence, the petioles terete rather than flat at the apex, and the 

 leaf-blades complicate and less conspicuously reticulate. The material of O. 

 cowaniana is infected with a fungus, the blackish mycelium of which is visible 

 on the stems and leaves. 



The alliance of the species is not too readily discernible from the material 

 at hand. The leaf-texture and general habit recall ocoteas of Central America. 

 In general habit it resembles Weberbauer 6428 (syntype of O. piurensis Mez, 

 isotype, fl. GH), but differs in the much broader, more plane petiole and midrib 

 of the leaves, and the brownish, sulcate branchlets. Weberbauer 6352 (syntype of 

 O. piurensis Mez. isotype, GH) more nearly approaches the type of Ocotea. 

 obtusifolia H. B. K., based on a fruiting branch of Humboldt's specimen from 

 Quindi, Colombia. I have seen only a photograph of the latter type, however. 



Ocotea canaliculata (Richard) Mez, Jahrb. Bot. Gart. Berlin 5: 361. 1889. 

 Laurus canaliculata Richard, Act. Soc. Hist. Nat. Paris 1: 108. 1792. 



Oreodaphne cayennensis Meissner in DC. Prodr. VP: 133. 1864. (holotype, ,^fl, Patris?) 

 Type. Batava ad flumen Para, Richard (holotype $ fl.). 



