Contains 4 accepted taxa overall.
Characteristics
Classification
Citation
PERSEA Miller, Gard. Dict. Abr., ed. 4. 1754, nom. cons.
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TYPE: Persea americana Miller (Laurus persea Linnaeus)
Species
| Scientific Name | Common Name | Herbarium Specimens | Status | Photos |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Persea americana | AVOCADO | Not Native | ||
| Persea borbonia var. borbonia | RED BAY | Native FACW (NWPL) | ||
| Persea borbonia var. humilis | SILK BAY | Native | ||
| Persea palustris | SWAMP BAY | Native FACW (NWPL) OD (WAP) OBL (DEP) |
Identification Key
1. Leaf blade to 30 cm long, to 19 cm wide; calyx deciduous in fruit; fruit 5-15 cm long; seed 3-6 cm long
1. Leaf blade to 15 cm long, to 6 cm wide; calyx persistent in fruit; fruit 0.6-1.5 cm long; seed 0.6-1.2 cm long
2
2. Leaf blade underside with erect, ascending, to loosely spreading trichomes (not straight and not tightly appressed, not subparallel); peduncles 1-7 cm long; fruit 6-10 mm wide or long; generally of mesic-hydric to flood-prone sites
2. Leaf blade underside sericeous with straight, tightly appressed and nearly parallel trichomes; peduncles 0.5-3 cm long; fruit 8-12 mm wide or long; generally of mesic-xeric to xeric sites of well-drained sand
3
3. Leaf blade underside white-sericeous; fruit 8-11 mm wide or long; generally of mesic to xeric sites
3. Leaf blade underside rusty or coppery-sericeous; fruit 10-12 mm wide or long; restricted to xeric sites
Genus Synonyms
| Synonym | Full Citation | Basionym | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Borbonia | Borbonia Miller, Gard. Dict. Abr., ed. 4. 1754, non Linnaeus 1753. | TYPE: Non designatus. | |
| Farnesia | Farnesia Fabricius, Enum. Pl., ed. 2. 400. 1763. | TYPE: Laurus indica Linnaeus | |
| Menestrata | Menestrata Vellozo, Fl. Flumin. 199. 1829 ("1825"). | TYPE: Menestrata racemosa Vellozo | |
| Tamala | Tamala Rafinesque, Sylva Tellur. 136. 1838. | TYPE: Non designatus. |