Two New Species of Persea (Lauraceae) from Ecuador

Two new species of Persea Mill. (Lauraceae) are described from Ecuador. Persea basiobtusa Rohwer is a typical member of subgenus Eriodaphne Nees sect. Eriodaphne (Nees) Meisn., but stands out by its small flowers and obtuse to truncate leaf bases. Persea dryadum Rohwer belongs to subgenus Eriodaphne sect. Hexanthera (Mez) L. E. Kopp and is distinct by its lanate lower leaf surface.