Revisional study of neotropical Beilschmiedia species (Lauraceae ...

ecause there is a distribution gap between these two species (B. riparia is known only from
Mexico and P. primatogena is from Honduras and Nicaragua), and because there is no
collection of P. primatogena in flower to confirm the similarity between the two species in
floral characters.
The pubescence of B. riparia is always erect, but straightness of the indument and
density of the pubescence have some variation within the species. Usually, indument of this
species is straight or slightly wavy, but on the terminal buds indument tends to be curly.
About the density, this species usually has glabrous leaves, but some collections have the
leaves very pubescent on the lower leaf surfaces when the leaves are relatively young and the
pubescence remains on the midrib and secondary veins even when the leaves becon1e older.
A few collections of this species have denser hairs in axils of the secondary veins on
the lower leaf surfaces, which somewhat look like domatia. Among these collections, Wendt
4338, appears to have domatia clearly (additionally, the Wendt's collection has glabrous
anthers). I decide to keep the collections except for the Wendt's collection in B. riparia
because there is no other characters strong enough to separate them from the species. I keep
the Wendt's collection as "Beilschmiedia riparia aff.", and wait for more material to classify
the collection.
There is another collection from Mexico which has glabrous anthers like Wendt's
collection (Martfnez 22611). But I keep this collection in B. riparia, because this collection
shares all the other characters with B. riparia and does not have domatia.
24. Beilscluniedia steyermarkii C. K. Allen, J. Arnold Arbor. 26: 417. 1945. TYPE.
Guatemala. Alta Verapaz: S of Cubilagtiitz, 300-400m alt., Mar. 3, 1942(fl.),
Steyermark 44494 (holotype, F).
Tree, to 27 m tall. Terminal buds pubescent with erect, short curly hairs. Twigs terete,
slightly angular when young, pubescent with erect, short wavy hairs to glabrous, less
densely when older. Leaves alternate; petioles 1-1.7 em long, flat to canaliculate above,
glabrous to pubescent with erect, short curly hairs, concolorous with the twigs; blades
coriaceous, elliptic to narrowly ovate, often asymmetric, 5-10 x 1.5-4 em; base and apex
acute, rarely apex obtuse, glabrous on both sides, lower leaf surface uncertain whether
glaucous or not; midrib imn1ersed above, raised below, secondary veins in 7-8 pairs,
immersed above, slightly raised below, tertiary veins not percurrent, ramification fine,
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