Persea cuatrecasasii Kosterm.
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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 - Tree; branchlets angular, coarse, tips densely tawny-tomentose, not aromatic, the one-year growth bark glossy, light brown; petioles 1-1.2 cm. long, coarse, densely tawny-tomentose; leaf-blades (12-) 16-19 cm. long, (6-) 9-12 cm. wide, slightly coraiceous, elliptic, the tips acute to obtuse, the bases acute to obtuse, the upper surface dull, glabrescent, the lower surface moderately tawny-tomentose, the costa plane above, prominent beneath, the 12 pairs of primary veins divergent at 60°, plane above, prominulous beneath, the reticulation obscure on both surfaces. Inflorescence axillary, paniculate, about equal to the subtending leaf, the lower primary inflorescence branches sometimes subtended by small elliptical leafy bracts 2.5-3 cm. long; peduncles 6-10 cm. long, sparsely tawnytomentose; rachises 9-13 cm. long; pedicels 3.5-4 mm. long, glaucous; flowers 4-5 mm. long; outer perianth-segments 3 mm. long, 2 mm. wide, ovate, glaucous and glabrous without, glabrous within; inner perianth segments 4-5 mm. long, 2.3 mm. wide, glabrous and glaucous without, pubescent within; stamens approximately 2.5 mm. long, the anthers 1 mm. long, the filaments about 1.5 mm. long, the filaments of series I and II basally tawny-tomentose, the anthers broadly oblong, quadrilocular; filaments of series III basally tawny-tomentose, the glands subbasal, the anthers narrowly oblong, quadrilocular, laterally dehiscent; staminodia of series IV sagittate, tawny-tomentose; gynoecium glabrous, the ovary 1.8 mm. long, subglobose; style 1.2 mm. long; stigma slender. Infructescence, the pedicels lignescent; perianth-segments deciduous, leaving an undulate disc at the base of the fruit; fruit depressed-globose, longitudinal diameter 2 cm., transverse diameter 3 cm.
Distribution and Ecology - Distribution. Colombian Andes, 1250-2350 m. alt.
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Discussion
Type collection. Jose Cuatrecasas 23562 Cauca, Central Cordillera, eastern slope, region of Moscopan, Hoya of San Jose River, between Aguabanita and Candelaria, 2280-2350 m. alt. 31 Jan. 1947 (holotype F, isotypes F, US).
During the preparation of the main body of this paper, it was thought that the material representing this species might belong in Phoebe, though the anther pores arrangement is typical for Persea. Because Kostermanns described Persea cuatrecasasii, it was deemed advisable to treat it here, though I'm still not convinced that it belongs in this genus.
relationship of this species is difficult to establish. Superficially it resembles P. subcordata, but actually it differs from that species tremendously. The pedicels of P. cuatrecasasii are slender; the perianth-segments are subequal; the glands of the stamens of series III are subbasal; the fruit is subtended by a lignescent, patent, undulate disc. T h e flowers of P. subcordata are subsessile; the perianth- segments are unequal; the glands of the stamens of series III are attached to the basal 1/3 of the filament; the fruit is subtended by patent persistent perianth-segments.
The leaf-like bracts subtending some of the branches of the inflorescence in the type of P cuatrecasasii are probably lacking in diagnostic value for they are found occasionally in other species. The second collection included here is sterile. Though the secondary veins of the leaves are a bit more prominent than those of the type, the material is correctly placed here.