Nectandra belizensis (Lundell) C.K.Allen
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Authority
Rohwer, Jens G. 1993. Lauraceae:
. Fl. Neotrop. Monogr. 60: 1-332. (Published by NYBG Press) -
Family
Lauraceae
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Scientific Name
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Synonyms
Phoebe belizensis Lundell, Nectandra schippii C.K.Allen
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Description
Species Description - Trees to 16 m. Branchlets 5 cm below terminal bud 1.8-4.5 mm in diam., roundish or only very slightly furrowed, new growth covered with a dense light brown to reddish indument of ± straight, long (0.5-1.5 mm), erect hairs, later becoming felted and greyish, then slowly wearing off; terminal buds ± ovate to depressed-globose, 2-6 mm long, 2-6 mm thick, densely covered with ± ascending to erect hairs (like those on twigs). Petioles 5.5-11 mm long, 1.6-2.8 mm thick, ± roundish, extremely hairy. Leaves alternate, elliptic to oblong or (ob)lanceolate-elliptic, widest 2/5 to 3/5 from the base, 8-22 cm long, 3-8 cm wide, (2-)2.3-3.6 times longer than wide, tip acuminate (acumen usually very short), base obtuse to slightly cordate, or sometimes cuneately narrowed towards the base but the base itself obtuse, margin flat to very slightly recurved, midrib and secondary veins distinctly impressed above, very prominent below, secondary veins 6-8(-9) pairs, diverging at 40-65°, in mid-lamina running at an angle of 25-40° to the midrib, ± mixed, the larger part percurrent to scalariform, widely spaced, ± slightly impressed above, distinctly raised to prominent below. Indument consisting of long (0.3-1.5 mm), erect, usually ± straight hairs, in young leaves sparse above, dense on midrib, ± quickly glabrescent except for ± felted hairs on base of midrib, initially moderately dense to moderately sparse below, much denser on midrib and largest veins, in older leaves slowly becoming sparser. Gland dots visible only in still membraneous young leaves. Inflorescences in the axils of cataphylls at the base of the new growth and/or in the axils of its leaves, or only below terminal bud if the branch stays short, 0.7-1 mm in diam. at the base, on a twig of 1.7-4 mm diam., 3.5-8 cm long, reaching ca. 1/3 to 4/5 the length of the nearest foliage leaf; peduncle 2.5-4.5 cm long, i.e., 2/5 to 2/3 the length of the inflorescence, lateral branches 0-12 below terminal cluster of cymes, unbranched or branched once, indument moderately dense to moderately sparse, long, spreading. Pedicels 3-7.5 mm long, 0.2-0.5 mm thick. Flowers 5.5-8 mm in diam. (the terminal flower sometimes distinctly larger than the lateral flowers), tepals ± elliptic, 2.2-3.2 mm long and 1.7- 2.2 mm wide, papillosity weakly developed, moderately dense only at the tip on the inside surface. Stamens ca. 0.7-0.9 mm long including the very short filament, anthers papillose at the tip, in the two outer whorls ± pentagonal to transverse-rhomboid, with a short, obtuse to ± rounded sterile tip, in the third whorl pentagonal to obtrapeziform, at the tip obtuse to truncate. Staminodes slightly clavate, papillose at the tip, free. Pistil ca. 1.3-1.5 mm long, glabrous, ovary ± ellipsoid, style reaching little more than 1/3 the length of the ovary. Receptacle shallowly bowlshaped to almost urceolate, covered with appressed hairs inside. Berry ellipsoid, ca. 8 mm long and ca. 6 mm in diam., cupule cup-shaped to campanulate, ca. 5 mm high and ca. 7 mm in diam., pedicel slightly but increasingly thickened.
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Discussion
Nectandra belizensis is easily recognized by its erect hairs and the ± obtuse leaf base. Its general aspect is strikingly similar to some members of the (likewise Central American) group of Ocotea helicterifolia (Meissn.) Hemsl., but its anthers are typical for Nectandra. Within this genus, N. belizensis has a relatively isolated position. It may be related to N. cuneatocordata from western Amazonia, which also has obtuse to cordate leaf bases, weakly papillose flowers and mostly also erect hairs on leaves and branchlets.
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Common Names
timbersweet, white laurel
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Distribution
Belize to Choco (see discussion), in understory and along creeks. Flowers December to March, fruits May and June.
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