Ocotea wachenheimii Benoist

  • Authority

    Allen, Caroline K. 1966. Contributions to the botany of Guiana. II. Lauraceae. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 15: 53-95.

  • Family

    Lauraceae

  • Scientific Name

    Ocotea wachenheimii Benoist

  • Description

    Distribution and Ecology - Described from French Guiana and reported from Suriname, and Trinidad, at low altitudes, this little-known tree may possibly occur at higher altitudes in Venezuela.FRENCH GUIANA. Placeau No. 3-Carreau No. 18, route de Mana, terrain sablo argileux, Collector unknown 7348 (fr. NY). VENEZUELA. Bolivar: Alti-planicie de Nuria, cloud forest on summit of southeast-facing escarpment, east of Cerro El Picacho, N of Las Nieves and Las Chicharras, 45 kms N of Tume-remo, vicinity of Deborah, Steyermark 89240 (fr. NY), bosque alto humedo mon-tanoso entre la base de la ladera principal escarpada de arenisca y el salto en el Rio Venamo, Julian A. Steyermark G.E.K. & E. Dunsterville 92739 (fl. fr. NY).

  • Discussion

    Type, “environs de Godebert, Guyane francaise,” Wachenheim 4 (holotype, male fl. P not seen).

    Vernacular Name. Weti Apici (Idiome paramaka) Cedre blanc (non commercial) (French Guiana).

    This species has been very sparsely collected. I have seen no flowering specimen. The fruit is unusual, in that the disklike cupule has a double margin, very different in structure, however, from that which distinguishes the fruit cupule found in Licaria. In Licaria, there is a distinct inner margin which snugly encloses the base of the fruit to varying heights. The inner margin ceases expansion before the outer which continues to grow rapidly, often forming fantastic convolutions. In the situation of the above species of Ocotea, however, the margins develope quite differently. It would be necessary to examine a series of flowers in advancing stages of growth to learn the particular development of the structures involved. Seemingly, the disklike cupule subtending the ripe fruit has two horizontal edges, both thickened, and in superposed planes. The same or a comparable situation obtains in the Antillean species Ocotea floribunda (Sw.) Mez which Mez attributed also to Venezuela- Fendler 1895 which may not be con-specific with the West Indian entity. A further study of Ocotea arenaensis Brooks from Trinidad, in this connection, will undoubtedly clarify the confusion which has arisen in this area.

  • Distribution

    Described from French Guiana and reported from Suriname, and Trinidad, at low altitudes, this little-known tree may possibly occur at higher altitudes in Venezuela.

    French Guiana South America| Venezuela South America| Suriname South America| Trinidad and Tobago South America|