Persea vesticula Standl. & Steyerm.

  • 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 vesticula Standl. & Steyerm.

  • Description

    Species Description - Tree to 15 m.; branchlets coarse, solid at internodes, subangular, densely cinnamoneous-tomentellous becoming glabrous, the bark not aromatic; petioles 1.5-2.5 cm. long, canaliculate, striate, slender, densely cinnamoneous-tomentellous; leaf-blades 8-17 cm. long, 4-7 cm. wide, subcoriaceous, elliptic to ovate, the tips mostly acuminate to acute to rarely obtuse, the bases acute to obtuse to truncate, the upper surface glabrous, slightly rugose, the lower surface densely cinnamoneous- to golden-tomentellous, except on the costa and nerves which are almost glabrous, the costa impressed above, prominent beneath, the 7-12 pairs of primary nerves divergent at 50-60°, slightly elevated above and prominent beneath, reticulation obscure on both surfaces. Inflorescences subterminal, broad, paniculate, and sometimes also axillary, equal to or exceeding the length of their subtending leaves; peduncles 4-11 cm. long, densely cinnamoneous-tomentellous, the rachises 3.5-8 cm. long; pedicels 2 mm. long, cinnamoneous-tomentellous; flowers 5-6 mm. long; outer perianth-segments 2.5-4.5 mm. long, 2.5-3.5 mm. wide, ovate, densely cinnamoneous-tomentellous without, glabrous within; inner perianth-segments 5-5.8 mm. long, 2.5-3 mm. wide, densely tomentellous on both surfaces; stamens about 4.5 mm. long, the filaments 2.3 mm. long, the anthers 2.2 mm. long, the filaments of series I and II sparsely pubescent, the anthers oblong, quadrilocular; filaments of stamens of series III pubescent, the glands subsessile, adnate to the basal 1/4 of the filament, the anthers oblong, quadrilocular, the upper locules laterally dehiscent, the lower extrorse; staminodia of series IV linear, small; gynoecium glabrous, the ovary slightly ovoid; style 1.8-2.2 mm. long; stigma peltate. Infructescence multifructate; pedicels 5 mm . long; perianthsegments persistent in their entirety, patent; fruit 8-12 mm. long, globose, glaucous.

    Distribution and Ecology - Distribution. Mountains of (Chiapas) Mexico, Guatemala, and Honduras at 21,000 to 33,000 m. alt. In Honduras it is noted as found in cloud forests.

  • Discussion

    Persea chiapensis Lundell, ^Vrightia 1: 150. 1946.

    Persea popenoei L. O. WilHams, Ceiba 1: 57. 1950.

    There is no doubt that P. vesticula and P. chiapensis are synonyms.

    "Williams described P. popenoei and designated as type the specimen bearing flowers, avhich is P caerulea. The remaining collections were either sterile or fruiting. In his discussion he recognizes the affinity of his species with P. vesticula, and differentiates the two maiiih on the basis of leaf-base shape and inflorescence. There is a variation from acute to truncate in leaf-base shape, in the Mexico- Guatemalan, and in the Honduran material; the former has more leaves with truncated bases, and the leaves of the latter are more often cuneate at their bases. The infructescences of the Honduran specimens appear simpler than the inflorescences of the Mexico-Guatemalan material. It is difi&cult, however, to compaie the infructescence and the inflorescence because the latter always loses not onh unfertilized flowers, but also branchlets of the panicle.

    The relationship appears to be with P. donnell-smithii which also has the subterminal type of inflorescence; but the narrower leaves and shorter pubescence make P. vesticula appear distinct.