Authority:

Maguire, Bassett & Wurdack, John J. 1964. The botany of the Guayana Highland--Part V. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 10: 1-278.

Family:

Lauraceae

Description:

Distribution and Ecology - Distribution. A large tree to over 100 ft tall, and, according to Mez, a shrub as well, reportedly used locally for construction, occurring from the Guianas to Para and Maranhao, Brazil and in the sandstone area of Bolivar, Venezuela, up to 1600 m. Mez has doubtfully reported it from Trinidad, basing the report on a sterile specimen wliich T have not seen. VENEZUELA. Bolivar: SE of campamento 125 between campamento 125 to beginning of dwarfed forest above bluffs above waterfall, on NW slopes of Cerro Venamo, Steyermark & Nilsson 136 (fr. NY); southeast-facing slopes of Ptari-tepui, Steyermark 59998 (fl. F), vicinity of Santa Teresita de Kavanayen, 60921 (fl. F).

Discussion:

Ocotea rubra Mez, Jahrb. Bot. Gart. Berlin 5: 2;iS. 1889.

Type. French Guiana, Melinon s.n. (isotype, fr. NY).

Vernacular Names. Mana-choro-yek, Pachira-yu-yek, "Caobilla" Spanish (Steyermark).

From the flowering material at hand, I see no reason for this species to be excluded from Nectandra. It is one of the easier taxa to be distinguished because of the thick, obovate leaves in the dried state, green-brown and often shining above, brown beneath, clustered at the tips of exceedingly robust branchlets.

Distribution:

Guyana South America| French Guiana South America| Brazil South America| Venezuela South America| Trinidad and Tobago South America|