Beilschmiedia osacola (Lauraceae) a new species from the Osa Peninsula, Costa Rica

We describe and illustrate a new species of Beilschmiedia, from the Osa Peninsula of Costa Rica. It is distinguished by its small flowers, which are turbinate to campanulate, with six fertile stamens and pubescent ovary, in addition it has alternate leaves along the twigs, with the lower leaf surface glabrous and not glaucous. In the field, it can be recognized by its stature, a very large tree, with the bark reddish, and peeling in large plates. Among described congeners it is superficially similar to B. hexanthera, from French Guiana, which also has six fertile stamens, and staminodes of whorl III columnar, but differs in having a pubescent ovary and larger, more branched inflorescences.

Automated summary

The newly described species of Beilschmiedia from the Osa Peninsula of Costa Rica has small flowers that are turbinate to campanulate, with six fertile stamens and a pubescent ovary. It can be distinguished by its alternate leaves along the twigs, with the lower leaf surface glabrous and not glaucous. Superficially similar to B. hexanthera from French Guiana, it differs in having a pubescent ovary and larger, more branched inflorescences.