Persea maguirei L.E.Kopp

  • Authority

    Maguire, Bassett & Wurdack, John J. 1964. The botany of the Guayana Highland--Part V. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 10: 1-278.

  • Family

    Lauraceae

  • Scientific Name

    Persea maguirei L.E.Kopp

  • Description

    Latin Diagnosis - Frutex compactus ad 2 m alt.; ramuli non aromatici, teretes, cupreo-sericei, demum fusci; petioli 7-12 mm long., striati, cupreo-sericei; foliorum laminae 4.5-2.5 cm long., 1.5-2.5 cm lat., subchartaceae, ellipticae vel rare obovatae, apicibus plerumque acutis interdum ex obtusis ad rotundos, basibus acutis, superficie superiore glabra inferiore cupreo-sericea, costa supra plana infra prominenti, nervorum primariorum 7-9 jugis utrimque obscurorum, ex angulo 50-55° divergentium, reticulo utrimque obscuro. Inflorescentiae pauciflorae, graciles, axillares subterminalesque, dichasiales simpliciter compositeve, quam folium subtendens paullo longior breviores; peduncuius 3-4 cm long., gracilis, cupreo-sericeus; pedicelli 5-6 mm long., cupreo-sericei; flores 5 mm long.; perianthii segmenta exteriora 2 mm long., 2 mm lat., ovata, extra cupreo-sericea, intra glabra; segmenta interiora 4 mm long., 2.5 mm lat., cupreo-sericea extra intraque; stamina prope 3.2 mm long., filamentis circiter 1.8 mm long., antheris 1.5 mm long.; serierum I et II filamenta dense strigosa, antheris oblongo-ovatis, quadrilocularibus; seriei III filamenta dense cupreo-strigosa, glandulis sessilibus, stipitibus ad partem quartam basilarem filamentorum adnatis, antheris oblongis, lateraliter dehiscentibus, quadrilocularibus; seriei IV staminodia valida, setis terminalibus instructa; gynoecium ex parte pubescens, ovario 1 mm long., ellipsoideo, in parte superiore strigoso; stylo 2 mm long., gracili, stigmate peltato. Infructescentia non visa.

    Distribution and Ecology - Distribution. Known only from the type collection.

  • Discussion

    Type. Compact shrub 2 m, flowers brownish, along north escarpment above Culebra, Cerro Duida, Rio Cunucunuma, Amazonas, Venezuela, 1400 m, 20 Nov 1950, Bassett Maguire, R. S. Cowan, & John J. Wurdack 29599 (holotype NY).

    The combination of the pubescent ovary, quadrilocular stamens, and subsessile glands on the third series of stamens indicates a relationship with P jenmani. The much smaller leaves and flowers, the more delicate general appearance, and the lighter-colored pubescence of P. maguirei will eliminate the possibility of confusion with P. jenmani.