Nectandra acutifolia (Ruiz & Pav.) Mez

  • 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

    Nectandra acutifolia (Ruiz & Pav.) Mez

  • Description

    Distribution and Ecology - Tree of varying height (5-20 m), distinctive for the conspicuous, uniform reticulation on the paler undersurface of its coriaceous, oblong or elliptic leaves, the base conspicuously and closely recurved often simulating an elongated petiole. The flowers are large, fulvous-pubescent, in large, subcorymbose inflorescences often with extremely long (to 8 cm), stout pedicels. The center of distribution seems to be, from the herbarium specimens, western Amazonas, Brazil through Loreto to Western Peru, Colombia, Ecuador and Bolivia, and the single collection from the eastern Brazilian Territorio do Amapa.PERU. Loreto: Lower Rio Huallaga, edge of forest, Yurimaguas, Ll. Williams 3814 (fl., fr. F, US) Florida, Rio Putumayo in forest at mouth of Rio Zubineta, G. Klug 2133 (fl. A, GH, F, MO), 2264 (fl. A, GH, F, NY, MO). ECUADOR. Esmeralda: Paroquia de Conception, bank of Rfo Santiago, above Playa Rica, frequent, scattered in original forest, Ynez Mexia 8465 (fl. GH, NY). BRAZIL. Amazonas: St. Antonio do lca, Matta, A. Ducke 7637 (fl. MG, RB); Amapa: Rio Oiapoque, frequent in forest about 20 m from river, about 5 km north of Cachoeira Tres Saltos, H. S. Irwin, /. M. Pires, L. Y. Th. Westra 48232 (fl. NY) .

  • Discussion

    Laurus acutifolia Ruiz Sc Pavon, Fl. Peruv. 4: 362; 1802; Laurographia t. 17. 1794.

    Nectandra berchemifolia (3 pavonii Meissner in DC., Prodr. 15 (1) : 154. 1864.

    Type. Ruiz & Pavon, Peru (isotype, fl. fragm. F).

    Vernacular Names. Moena amarilla (Williams); Jigua (Mexia); Marogo-fuina, Nomebe Fuina (Klug).

    The only fruit of this species I have seen is that cited above. Mez states that “Fructus normalis ignotus.' I have not seen the particular number cited by Mez. The Williams number shows a fruit cupule which is not normal for Nectandra; rather, it simulates the expanded lobes of the cupule commonly found in the genus Dicypellium.

  • Distribution

    Tree of varying height (5-20 m), distinctive for the conspicuous, uniform reticulation on the paler undersurface of its coriaceous, oblong or elliptic leaves, the base conspicuously and closely recurved often simulating an elongated petiole. The flowers are large, fulvous-pubescent, in large, subcorymbose inflorescences often with extremely long (to 8 cm), stout pedicels. The center of distribution seems to be, from the herbarium specimens, western Amazonas, Brazil through Loreto to Western Peru

    Brazil South America| Peru South America| Colombia South America| Ecuador South America| Bolivia South America|