Ocotea

• Authority

  Liogier, Alain H. 1971. Novitates Antillanae. IV. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 21: 107-157.

• Family

  Lauraceae

• Scientific Name

  Ocotea

• Discussion

  In a study of woody plants, particularly in the tropical forests of the West Indies, one may encounter several species obviously closely related within the framework of a given genus. The three taxa here described belong to such a group in Ocotea and have similar, distinctive vegetative characteristics. The habit of growth may be a small tree or shrub, with verticillate or subverticillate branchlets arising from an enlarged—often knobby (nodose) because of conspicuous scars of condensed, sub terminal inflorescences and their subtending leaves—node of an older branchlet arcuately ascending and frequently assuming a candelabra-like formation. The internodes are often heavily scarred from caducous leaves. From the tips of the branchlets bearing dense clusters of coriaceous, shining leaves, originate numerous, short, stiff inflorescences variously pubescent, always shorter than the leaves and many times surrounded at the base by persistent bracts, caducous when the fruit matures. The leaves of this group are variously shaped, and, except for the second described species below, are cordate or at least rounded at the base. As far as is known at present, the three members of this complex appear to be confined to the island of Hispaniola. Future explorations may very well extend the range of these interesting species.