KEY C: LEAF BLADES MORE THAN 15 CM (Master key)

1. Leaves gray-green (glaucous) below, broadly obovate ... 2

2. Petioles to 3-4 cm, fruit globose, 5-7 cm ... Persea americana ('Big fruit')

2. Petioles less than 3 cm, fruit elliptic to oblong, 3-4 cm ... Beilschmiedia alloiophylla (was ovalis)

1. Leaves not gray-green below, elliptic to oblanceolate ... 3

3. Understory treelets with hollow twigs usually occupied by ants, twigs glabrous, leaves to 6 cm wide, fruit 1-1.5 cm long ... 4

4. Twigs conspicuously ridged, strongly angled in cross section, blade obovate ... Ocotea nicaraguensis

4. Twigs round, not angled, blade elliptic ... Ocotea paulii

3. Trees of canopy or open areas, twigs usually solid ... 5

5. Petioles reddish, 3-5 cm, twigs glabrous, fruit round without a cupule, to 1.5 cm, Pacific slope below 1500 m ... Persea caerulea

5. Petioles green, less than 3 cm, fruit oblong with a cupule ... 6

6. Blades elliptic to oblong or lanceolate, young twigs strongly ridged or 3-4 angled, sparsely puberulent, fruit cupules brown with wart-like lenticels, Pacific slope above 1500 m and Atlantic slope ... Ocotea leucoxylon

6. Blades oblovate, young twigs not ridged or angled, persistent brown puberulent, fruit cupules smooth and red, Pacific slope at 1350-1450 m, river canyons ... Ocotea 'tajo'