1963] 



BOTANY OF THE GUAYANA HIGHLANDS PART V 



109 



Ocotea revoluta Moldenke iu Gleason, Bull. Torrey Club 58 : 365. 1931. 



Type. Shrub on slopes of the Savanna Hills of Mount Duida, Amazonas, 

 Venezuela, 4400 ft, Aug 1928-Apr 1929, G. H. H. Tate 821 (holotype, fr. NY). 



Distribution. Known only from Cerro Duida, the type locality, Venezuela, 

 this shrub bearing leathery, shining leaves which are ovate-oblong or ovate- 

 lanceolate, 4-7 cm long and 1.5-3.5 cm broad, is occasional on the upper slopes 

 of the mountains. VENEZUELA. Amazonas: occasional on upper slopes of 

 Culebra Peak, above Indian village of Culebra. Maguire <.(• Maguire, Jr. 29131 

 (fr. NY) ; t Tate 610 (st. NY). 



So far collected in only the fruiting stage, but not to be confused with any 

 other known species because of the distinctive leaves which are smooth, leathery, 

 with revolute margins, and the short, stout infructescences bearing fruits sub- 

 tended by sturdy, somewhat eyathiform cupules. 



The placement of the species with certainty at this time is not possible. There 

 is nothing against its inclusion in the genus Ocotea, although eventually flowering 

 material will establish this point, as well as its relationship within the genus, 

 to which it will then be definitely assigned. 



Ocotea perseiphylla C. K. Allen, sp. nov. Fig. 54. 



Frutex, gemmis parvis ovoideis griseo-pubescentibus ramulis teretibus juven- 

 tute dense cupreo-pubescentibus, mox atro-pubescentibus curvo-adscendentibus, 

 foliis plus minusve ad apicem congestis, ramulis floriferis jiwentute gracilibus. 

 Folia alternata, petiolis satis robustis atro-pubescentibus canaliculatis, ad 12 mm 

 longis et 2-3 mm latis, laminis coriaceis supra glabris, costa ad basim excepta 

 pallida, griseo-virescentibus ± nitidis supra cupreo-sericeis, lanceolato-ellipticis 

 vel leviter oblanceolato-ellipticis, (4-) 7-11.5 cm longis et (1.3-) 2-3.5 cm latis, 

 ad basim acutis, ad apicem acutis vel obtusis, penninerviis, costa supra immersa 

 ad basim pubescenti, subtus elevata. pubescenti, plicata, nervis J— 6-paribus supra 

 obscurissimis subtus gracilibus pubescentibus adscendentibus ad angulo 35° 

 divergentibus, rete venularum non manifesto. Inflorescentia axillaris subter- 

 minalisque juventute gracilis, cupreo-sericea ± stricte racemoso-paniculata, 7-9 

 cm longa, brevipedunculata. Flores hermaphroditi ? ante anthesin, ut videtur 

 lobis ovatis extus pubescentibus, staminibus ser I & II subovatis filamentis satis 

 brevibus, s^r III antheris subrectangularibus biglandulosis, glandulis antherarum 

 tertiam partem aequantibus subsessilibus, ser IV ; gynoecio glabro. ovario 

 subrotundo quam stylo crasso duplo longiore, stigmate plana obscure triangulari. 

 Infructescentia f ructusque ignoti. 



Type. Bush with under leaf-surface rich, copper-pubescent, growing on side 

 of mountain, in vicinity of Cerro Monaehi, Rio Naquieni, Rio Guainia Basin, 

 Comisaria del Vaupes, Colombia, Richard Evans Schultes c(- Francisco Lopez 

 10103 (holotype, fl. US). 



Distribution. A striking bush or shrub with the pale, grey-green upper leaf- 

 surface unusually smooth, contrasting with the coppery, sericeous lower surface, 

 known only from the type locality and collection. 



I am at a loss to place the species accurately, because of the lack of mature 

 flowering as well as fruiting material. In general appearance it is similar to 

 0. celiana, but is easily distinguished by the smaller, sub-bullate, caudate, cordate, 

 narrowly ovate leaves of the latter, backed by a coppery-brown tomentum rather 

 than sericeous pubescence of a bright copper color. There is a marked similarity 



