Persea standleyi C.K.Allen

  • Authority

    Kopp, Lucille E. 1966. A tasonomic revision of the genus Persea in the Western Hemisphere (Perseae-Lauraceae). Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 14: 1-117.

  • Family

    Lauraceae

  • Scientific Name

    Persea standleyi C.K.Allen

  • Description

    Species Description - Tree to 12 m.; branchlets solid at internodes, angular, castaneous, glabrous, glaucescent; petioles 1-3 cm. long, slender, glabrous; leaf-blades (6-) 10-17 cm. long, 2-4 cm. wide, subchartaceous, narroAvly oblong to suboblanceolate-oblong, the tips attenuate to occasionally acuminate, the bases acute to narrow but rounded, the upper and lower surfaces glabrous, the costa impressed above, prominent beneath, the 8-15 pairs of primary nerves divergent at 50-55°, obscure above, prominent beneath, the reticulation prominulous beneath, the areolation prominent adjacent to the costa and to the bases of the primary nerves. Inflorescences narrow, few-flowered, each about 1/3 the length of its subtending leaf; peduncles 3-4 cm. long, slender, tawny-strigulose, the rachises 1 cm. long, tawnystrigulose; pedicels 3 mm. long, (measurements obtained from fruit), tawnystrigulose; outer perianth-segments 2.3 mm. long, 2 mm. wide, tawny-sericeous without, glabrous within; inner perianth-segments ovate 3.5 mm. long, 2 mm. wide, tawny-sericeous on both surfaces; stamens, the filaments of the stamens of series I and II strigulose, the anthers oblong, apiculate, quadrilocular; filaments of series III strigulose, the glands subsessile, the anthers quadrilocular, laterally dehiscent; staminodia of series IV sagittate to sublinear; gynoecium glabrous, the ovary ellipsoid. Infructescence paucifructate; perianth patent and persistent in its entirety; fruit 7-8 mm. long, globose, glaucous, apiculate.

    Distribution and Ecology - Distribution. Andean Guatemala, 1500-2100 m. alt.

  • Discussion

    Type collection. J. A. Steyermark 47130, Dept. Solola, "trail between slopes of Volcan Santa Clara and town of San Pedro, alt. 1900-2100 m. Tree 40 ft. tall; leaves firmly membranaceous; deep green above, paler green beneath." June 6, 1942. (holotype F, fragments at A, isotype A)

    As stated in the discussion of the original description by C. K. Allen, the relationship of P standleyi is with P. podadenia. The longer, oblong, attenuatetipped leaves, and the strong reticulation adjacent to the costa are characteristic of P. standleyi, and serve to differentiate it from P. podadenia.

    P. standleyi but differing in having thicker leaves, longer thicker peduncles, and more obscure venation is the following collection: Mexico: Matuda 5394, fide MO sheet (15394, fide F sheet), Boquerón, Motozinda (F, MO).

    See also P. sessilis.