Persea boldufolia Mez
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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.
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Family
Lauraceae
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Scientific Name
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Description
Species Description - Shrub about 2 m. high; branchlets solid at internodes, moderately pubescent with subscrisped appressed hairs, blackish, the bark not aromatic; petioles 7-10 mm., slender, sparsely pubescent; leaf-blades 2-5 cm. long, 1.2-3 cm. wide, subcoriaceous, ovate, the tips acute to obtuse, the bases truncate, the upper surface glabrous, the lower surface glaucous, glabrescent, the costa impressed above, prominent beneath, the 7-9 pairs of primary veins divergent at 60-65°, obscure above, prominent beneath, the reticulation obscure on both surfaces. Inflorescence an axillary compound dichasium (cymose, with two branches and a terminal flower) each twice the length of its subtending leaf; peduncle 2.5-5 cm. long, slender, densely ferrugineous-pubescent; pedicels 2-3 mm. long, coarse, ferrugineous- pubescent; flowers 7-8 mm. long; outer perianth-segments 4 mm. long, 2.8 mm. wide, ovate, densely crisped-, ferrugineous-pubescent without, glabrous within; inner perianth-segments 6 mm. long, 2.8 mm. wide, elliptic, pubescent without and within; stamens about 3 mm. long, the anthers about 1.5 mm., the filaments about 1.5 mm., the filaments of series I and II pilose dorsally, the anthers ovate, quadrilocular; filaments of series III pilose, the glands small, adnate to the basal 1/3 of the filament, the anthers oblong, quadrilocular, the upper locules laterally, the lower extrorsely dehiscent; staminodia of series IV very narrowly sagittate, almost ligulate, lacking terminal bristles; gynoecium glabrous, the ovary narrowly ellipsoid, 3.7 mm. long; style 1.5 mm. long; stigma triangular-peltate. Fruit not seen.
Distribution and Ecology - Distribution. Hardwood forest of northern Peru 2400 m. alt.
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Discussion
Type collection. A. Weberbauer 4379 Prov. Amazonas, Molinopampa east of Chachapoyas. 27 July 1904 (holotype B).
This spedes seems to be peripheral to the group of plants typified by P. mutisii. It probably originated not from any one of the member species, but differentiated before the group developed the conferted branchlet tip and shortened, dilated petioles. The small leaves, slender petioles and reduced number of flowers in the inflorescence characterize P. boldufoUa. The truncate leaves obscure reticulation, and rather large flowers with short pedicels indicate its rdationship to the aforementioned group.