Ocotea discrepens C.K.Allen
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Authority
Maguire, Bassett. 1965. The Botany of the Guayana Highland. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 12 (3): 1-285.
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Family
Lauraceae
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Scientific Name
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Type
Type. Tree to 15 m, 2 dm base diameter, bark smooth, reddish, leaves dark green above, lighter and glaucous beneath, not aromatic, calyx yellow, flushed with pink, corolla yellow, stamens green, glands yellow, pistil yellowish green, slight fragrance; only one seen, forest on laterite at base of talus, Pat Bailey's line to top of Karowtipu, Kako River, ca. 500 m. Upper Mazaruni River Basin, British Guiana, 21 Sep 1960, Stephen S. d Carolyn L. Tillett 45479 (holotype, [male] fl. N Y ) .
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Description
Latin Diagnosis - Arbor 15-25 m alta, gemmis subferrugineo-tomentosis, ramulis teretibus dense ferrugineo-tomentosis mox robustis striatis atris glabrescentibus. Folia alternata, petiolis satis robustis ad 25 mm longis atratis minute tomentellis striatis, laminis juventute sparse fulvo- vel ferrugineo-strigosis supra mox glabrescentibus venis exceptis subtus nunc pallide fulvo-strigosis nunc glaucis et solum omnibus venis pubescentibus, coriaceis supra immaturis conspicue reticulatis praecoccibus, et saepe dense atro-punctulatis, mox obscuris, ellipticis vel raro oblongo-ellipticis, 15-20(-25) cm longis et (3.5-)4-5.5(-9) cm latis, ad basim aeutis vel raro obtusis, ad apicem longe acuminatis, acuminibus ad 2, raro 3 cm longis gracilibus saepe acutissimis, vel foliis floralibus raro emarginatibus vel obtusis, penninerviis, costis supra leviter subtus prominenter elevatis, supra atro-ferrugineo-pubescentibus, mox glabrescentibus, subtus glabrescentibus m o x flavescentibus, nervis satis gracilibus 5-6-paribus supra mox atro-ferrugineo-pubescentibus mox obscuris flavescentibus, ad angulo 70-60° divergentibus. Inflorescentia subterminalis axillarisque, multiflora, fulvo-vel ferrugineo-pubescentia, racemoso-paniculata, vel pyramidato-paniculata, ad 14 cm longa, pedunculo brevissime. Flores dioici, [male] flores ad 5.5 mm longi, pedicello ad 2.2 mm longo, perianthio suburcellato, lobis ovatis ad 2.8 mm longis, staminibus ad basim pubescentibus, ser I & II, ad 0.9 mm longis antheris subquadratis quam filamentis gracilibus duplo longioribus, ser III ad 1.1 mm longis, antheris rectangularibus quam filamentis duplo longioribus, biglandulosis, glandulis cordatis brevistipitatis, ser IV ad 0.2 mm longis, subcordatis pubescentibus stipitatis; gynoecio 0; flores [female], infructescentia et fruetus ignoti.
Description - Tree to 25 m with leaves dark green above (pale yellow-green in dried state), glaucous with conspicuous venation showing yellowish beneath, in the dried state; the racemose-paniculate, ferruginous tomentose inflorescences are axillary or subterminal, many-flowered, and angular rather than graceful.
Distribution and Ecology - The species is found in forested hills in British Guiana and Suriname at an altitude of 275-500 m.
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Discussion
The species recalls in leaf structure and venation some species of Enellicheria, but the floral structure is definitely that of Ocotea. Within the genus, however, the relationship is not easily recognizable without fruiting material. Tillett's 45489 is a more robust specimen the leaves being much larger, and the inflorescences longer and more fully flowered.