1963] 



BOTANY OF THE GUAYAXA HIGHLANDS PART V 



107 



glabrescentibus et flavo-viridescentibus, ad angulo 55-80° arcuato-divergentibus, 

 rete venularum supra laxo conspicuoque subtus pubescenti ± obscuro mox con- 

 spicuore. Inflorescentia debilis axillaris utrinque dense minuteque cupreo- vel 

 brunneo-tonientosa, laxe paniculata, 7-13 em longa, bracteis caducis, pedunculo 

 debili, 2-4 cm longo. Flores dioici 3-4 mm longi, pedicello ad 5 mm longo, 

 perianthio campanulato flavescenti carnoso, cupreo- vel brunneo-tomentoso, lobis 

 late ovatis extus dense intus sparse pubescentibus, vel glabrescentibus, exterior- 

 ibus ad 3 mm longis, interiores subaequantibus, tubo ad 0.7 mm longo ; staminibus 

 omnibus ut videtur biglandulosis, ser I & II saepe petalloideis sterilibus? ad 

 1.6 mm longis, antheris subrotundatis, sessilibus, glandulis adpressarum lacin- 

 iarum consimilibus, ser III ad 1.7 mm longis antheris truncato-ovatis saepe 

 antherarum locellis ut videtur abortivis quam filamentis robustis sublongioribus, 

 ser IV subcordatis quam stipite pubescenti satis gracili brevioribus; gynoecio 

 abortivo ; 2 florum staminibus ser I, II & III eis riorum ± similibus, ser IV ; 

 gynoecio ad 2.3 mm longo, ovario ovoideo quam stylo robusto longiore, stigmate 

 magno conspicuo patenti-lobato. Infructescentia satis gracilis, ferrugineo-pubes- 

 eens, glabrescens, 10-12 cm longa. Fructus in sicco atro-purpureus vel viridescens, 

 ± glaucus, ovatus, apiculatus, ad 15 X 10 mm, cupula campanulata, 5-6 mm 

 longa, 8-10 mm diam., et 2-3 mm alt., 6-dentata mox perianthii lobis deciduis et 

 margine ± piano, pedicello obconico rubro fide coll., in sicco saepe glauco, 6-8 

 mm longo, subtenta, vel subsessili. 



Type. Weak shrub 1-2 m high, fruit-cup red, occasional in rocky places, Cerro 

 Coro-Coro, Serrania Yutaje, Rio Manapiare, Amazonas, Venezuela, 1500 m, 2 

 Mar 1953, Bassett Maguire & Celia K. Maguire 35450 (holotype, £ fl., fr. NY). 



Distribution. Weak shrub to 2 m known only from the type locality on rocky 

 slopes or cliffs on or near summit in the Serrania Yatuje range in Amazonas, 

 Venezuela, from 1500-2200 m. VENEZUELA. Amazonas: frequent on rocky 

 summit, Cerro Yutaje, Maguire & Maguire 35340 (J fl., fr. NY), occasional on 

 rocky slopes and cliffs below summit, 35290 (J fl., fr. NY), occasional on summit, 

 35320 (? fl. NY). 



One of the most striking species found in this area because of the leathery, 

 sub-bullate, often subcordate, lanceolate-acuminate leaves, the lower surface of 

 which bears a dense, coppery-brown tomentum in sharp contrast to the pale, 

 yellowish-green upper surface. The weak habit of the shrub as a whole as well 

 as the tomentose inflorescences also sets this apart. A microscopic examination of 

 the flowers discloses two features that recall the floral structure of Dicypellium, 

 a monotypic genus (with hermaphrodite flowers however), based on a collection 

 by Martius from Mandiocca, Brazil, and cultivated in Para and probably else- 

 where for its fruit. The stamens of the two outer series are seemingly sterile, 

 more or less petaloid, bearing flaplike appendages on the expanded filaments 

 which appear to have a different origin from those glands of the third series. 

 The latter are typical of those usually found in lauraceous genera, which arise 

 from more or less well differentiated filaments. Although biglandular in a sense, 

 the structure of the two outer stamens is not comparable to that found in the 

 genus Pleurothyrium, which has stamens of the three outer cycles all bearing 

 typical glands. In addition to the floral structure, the present species shows fruit 

 characteristics also reminiscent of Dicypellium, the fruit being almost wholly 

 exserted and seated in a shallow, somewhat campanulate cupule with persistent 

 lobes. Until adequate material of the latter genus is available, the above-described 

 taxon will be associated with Ocotea. 



