1206 
elevation of 3000 feet. July 9, 1917.) I do not know 
what this species may be; possibly it is as yet un- 
described. Only one tree has been seen up to the 
-;. present, and this was erect, rather slender in habit, 
30 feet in height. The foliage strongly resembles 
that of P. amerieana, but is more heavily pubescent be- 
neath than is common in that species. In form and 
size the leaves could not be distinguished from some 
of the cultivated avocados. The young leaves and 
branchlets are covered with a velvety tomentum. The 
fruits, which ripen in June, are oval or oblong-oval 
in outline, about an inch and a half in length, shin- 
ing black in color, with a membranous skin and a very 
small amount of greenish pulp having a strongly resin- 
ous taste. The seed is quite large in comparison with 
the size of the fruit, elliptical in outline, with 
the seed coats thin, brownish and brittle, and adher- 
ing closely. The cotyledons are whitish, with the 
embryo at the base of the seed. The fruit is distinct 
*> from that of the avocado in having a large, fleshy, 
bluntly-toothed calyx, pinkish or whitish in color, 
which remains on the tree when the fruit falls. This 
species is introduced in connection with the experi- 
ments now being carried on with a view to determining 
the best stock on which to bud the avocado." (Pop- 
enoe. ) 
Persea sjp. (Lauraceae.) 44999. Coyo budsticks from 
Guatemala. Collected by Mr. Wilson Popenoe, of this 
Bureau. "(No. 161. From the sitio of Don David Pierri, 
San Cristobal, Verapaz. July 3, 1917.) The coyo, chucte, 
shucte, or, as it is sometimes called , chaucte, is a species 
of Persea which is undoubtedly indigenous in this re- 
gion. It is reported also from Zacapa and Chiquimula, 
but I have only seen it here ' up to the present. The 
tree grows on the banks of streams, where the soil is 
moist and rich. The hills in this region are dry, 
rocky, and covered with a scanty vegetation of cacti, 
Pereskia, thorny leguminous shrubs and small trees, 
and a few other plants. As well as being indigenous 
to this region, the coyo must be classed as a culti- 
vated fruit tree, since it is occasionally, but not 
often, planted in gardens. At the present time the 
coyo is neither in flower nor in fruit. It is said to 
bloom in February and to ripen its fruit in May and 
June, continuing until August. One of the two trees 
which I have seen, (this one standing on the north 
bank of the Rio Motagua a short distance above El 
