1957} 



THE BOTANY OF THE GUAYANA HIGHLAND— PART II 



325 



lower leaves with scarcely pointed apex and smaller, septuplinerved, the outer- 

 most pair of lateral nerves very slender and inconspicuous, the innermost pair 

 coalescing with the midrib within the lowermost 10 mm, with numerous slender, 

 cross-connecting-anastomosing nervules as viewed by transmitted light, ciliolate 

 about the apex, drying rather firm translucent, the petiole 5-8 mm long, canalicu- 

 late, clasping-decurrent. Spikes terminal and axillary, up to 6 cm long and 2 mm 

 thick, moderately flowered, the peduncle slender, to 3 cm or more long, the bracts 

 round-peltate, the ovary ovoid [?], the apex oblique, the stigma subapical, the 

 drupe as yet immature. 



TYPE: VENEZUELA: Yaracuy: Sierra de Aroa, June 7, 1953, L. Aristeguieta 

 & F. Pannier 1958 (NY). 



This species appears to be near P. diruptorum Trel. of Panama from which it 

 differs in its much longer peduncles and larger, 7-plinerved leaves. In P. dirup- 

 torum the bracts on young spikes are very crowded and overlap shingle-like. In 

 this species the bracts on spikes of comparable age scarcely are in contact and 

 show no overlapping. 



Peperomia venusta Yuncker, sp. nov. 



Herba glabra; ramis caulis adscendentibus; foliis alternis lanceolato-ovatis 

 5-10 mm e margine peltatis, apice obtuse acutis 9 basi rotundatis palmatim 7-9- 

 nerviis eciliatis; spicis terminalibus [?] axillaribusque, ovario obovoideo apice 

 obliquo, stigmatibus subapicalibus, drupa haud matura. 



A glabrous herb. Stem decumbent and rooting at the lower nodes, the branches 

 ascending to 10 cm or more, 1-3 mm thick at the base when dry> the internodes 

 about 2 cm long above, lengthening to 10 cm or more downward. Leaves alternate, 

 lance-ovate, gradually narrowed to the blunt apex, peltate 5-10 mm above the 

 rounded base, the lower leaves 3-4 cm wide and 7-8 cm long, much reduced up- 

 ward, palmately 7-9-nerved, the nerves conspicuous beneath, obscurely branched 

 upward, the innermost two pairs of lateral nerves gently curving and continuing 

 to the apex, drying rather thin, translucent, glandular-dotted beneath, ciliolation 

 lacking, the petiole up to 8 cm long on lower leaves, scarcely 1 cm long on 

 smaller upper leaves. Spikes terminal and [?] axillary, 2 mm thick and 2-4 cm 

 long, the peduncle to 3 cm long, the bracts round-peltate, glandular-dotted, the 

 ovary obovoid with oblique apex and subapical stigma, mature fruit not seen. 



TYPE: VENEZUELA: Amazonas: Cerro Marahuaca, slope rainforest, alt. 1000 

 m, May 3, 1949, Bassett Maguire & Bassett Maguire, Jr. 29 187 A (NY). 



The lance-ovate, bluntly pointed and round-based peltate leaves are distinctive 

 of this attractive species. It apparently bears some resemblance to P. scbenkiana 

 Dahlst. of Santa Catharina but differs in its proportionately longer leaves with 

 rounded rather than cordate base. 



ANNONACEAE 9 



Annona trunciflora R.E.Fr., sp. nov. 



Arbor ca. 7 m alta; ramuli novelli rubescentes, pilis ± adpressis rubro-fer- 

 rugineis vestiti; internodia 1.5-2 cm longa. Petiolus 0.6-1 cm longus, supra 

 canaliculars; lamina rigide coriacea, exsiccata supra nigrescens et lucida, 

 subtus olivacea, oblanceolato-obovata, basin versus cuneato-acutata et decurrens, 

 apice breviter acutata et cuspide 0.5-1 cm longa instructa, 8-12 cm longa et 3-4 

 cm lata; costa supra impressa, subtus valde prominens rugosa; nervi laterales L 

 utrinque 7-9> supra paulo impressi, subtus elevati, 2-3 mm intra marginem 



9 By R. E. Fries. 



