Summary. Among recent collections from the Pico das Almas, Bahia, Brazil is a striking new species of Persea which is here described and illustrated. Persea glabra van der Werf, sp. nov.; a congeneribus americanis gemmis glabris, ramulis inflorescentiisque glabris glaucis et foliis linearibus late recedit. Typus: Brazil, Bahia, Mun. Agua Quente, Harley et al. 27205 (holotypus SPF; isotypi CEPLAC, IBUSP, K, MO). Shrub or small tree to 5 m tall. Twigs terete or slightly angular by decurrent leaf bases, glabrous, glaucous. Terminal buds glabrous, glaucous. Leaves alternate, firmly chartaceous, 8-12 x 1-1 - 8 cm, linear, base and tip acute, glabrous on both surfaces, the lower surface with many oil cells, costa raised on lower surface, otherwise venation immersed, lateral veins scarcely visible, 10- 15 on each side, arching upwards near the margin but not or only slightly looped, the margin thickened, cartilaginous. Petioles flat, glabrous, 1 -5-2 cm long. Inflorescences in axils of leaves, glaucous, glabrous, 4-6 cm long, thyrsoid, the lateral branchlets usually forming single 3-flowered or double 7-flowered dichasia. Flowers glabrous, yellowish, pedicels 4-5 mm long. Tepals 6, in 2 unequal whorls, those of the outer whorl broadly ovate, c. 2 x 1 - 5 mm, those of the inner whorl oblong, 4-5 x 2 mm, erect at anthesis or the outer tepals somewhat spreading, outer tepals glabrous on inner surface, inner tepals pubescent on inner surface. Stamens 9, all 4-celled, the outer six 3-5-4 mm long, the filaments c. 2 mm long, slightly pubescent, the anthers glabrous, cells introrse; the three inner 4 mm long, the filaments pubescent, with two glands c. 1 mm in diameter, the bases cordate; the anthers glabrous and cells lateral-extrorse; staminodia three, 2-2 4 mm long, the filaments pubescent, tip triangular, glabrous but with a small tuft of hairs near the apex. Pistil c. 5 mm long, the ovary glabrous, broadly ellipsoid, c. 1 -5 mm long, the style 3"5 mm long; stigma capitate. Fruits unknown. Fig. 1.