Key to the Brazilian Southeast species of Mezilaurus

1. Leaves with erect indument abaxially; inflorescences in racemes with lateral branches raceme-like; bracteoles persistent; Brazilian Cerrado or Atlantic Forest; Minas Gerais and Espírito Santo states ............................................................. Mezilaurus crassiramea

- Leaves glabrous or glabrescent abaxially; inflorescences in racemes with lateral branches umbel-like; bracteoles deciduous; Atlantic Forest; Espírito Santo, Minas Gerais or Rio de Janeiro states..............................................................................................2

2. Globose flowers; globoid fruits; Vegetation on rocky outcrops (campo rupestre); Minas Gerais ... Mezilaurus conceicionensis

- Ellipsoid flowers; ellipsoid fruits; Atlantic Forest; Espírito Santo and Rio de Janeiro ......................................................................3

3. Leaves narrow-elliptical or oblanceolate, 3–8.4 times longer than wide; Atlantic Forest; Rio de Janeiro .......................................... ............................................................................................... Mezilaurus navalium (Allemão 1847: 265) Taub. ex Mez (1892: 112)

- Leaves elliptic or obovate, 1.7–2.8 times longer than wide; Atlantic Forest; Espírito Santo ............................................................4

4. Pedicelate flowers; filaments glabrous.............................................................. Mezilaurus glabriantha Alves & Souza (2012: 257)

- Sessile flowers; filaments densely pubescent............. Mezilaurus sessiliflora P.L.R.Moraes & Vergne in Moraes et al. (2017: 153)