Mezilaurus wurdackiana C.K.Allen
-
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
-
Scientific Name
-
Description
Latin Diagnosis - Arbor ad 50 cm DBH, gemmis anguste ovoideis pallide ferrugineo-pubescentibus, ramulis juventute dense adpresseque ferrugineo-pubescentibus, mox crassis cicatricosis, ± brunneis, striatis aliquantum glabrescentibus. Folia alternata, ad apicem congesta vel subverticillata, petiolis robustis dense pubescentibus obscure canaliculatis ad basim incrassatis, 0.5-15 mm longis et ad 3 mm latis, laminis supra glabrescentibus, costa excepta, subtus pubescentibus, subcoriaceis, supra viridescentibus subtus brunneo-viridescentibus, obovatis, (15-) 22-27 cm longis et (6-) 8-10 (-12) cm latis, ad basim acute attenuateque acuminatis saepe obliquis, ad apicem aliquando obtuse lateque acutis plerumque rotundatis raro emarginatis, penninerviis, costa supra leviter elevata ad basim latiore ± pubescenti, subtus prominenter elevata pubescentique, nervis 12-15-paribus ad basim ± obscuris, supra pallide brunneis ± glabris subtus conspicue elevatis pubescentibus, ad angulo 67-55° divergentibus, rete venularum supra obscuro subtus conspicuo graciliter elevato. Inflorescentia subterminalis satis gracilis minute glabrescens, ± racemoso-paniculata, ad 12 cm longa, pedunculo ad 3 cm longo. Flores numerosi ad apicem ramulorum lateralium, ad 3 mm longi, in pseudo-umbellis congesti, pedicello ad 1 mm longo indistincto; perianthio suburceolato ad 1 mm longo, lobis membranaceis ovatis glabris costa prominenti, ad 0.5 mm longis, tubo lobis subaequali; staminibus ser I & II O, ser III ± ovatis, ad 0.6 mm longis, filamentis indistinctis eglandulosis, antheris aequalibus vel leviter longioribus, locellis satis magnis; gynoecio ad 1.1 mm longo, ovario ovoideo quam stylo gracili duplo longiori. Infructescentia et fructus ignoti.
-
Discussion
Fig. 34.
Type. Tree 50 cm D B H , leaves alternate, exstipulate, buds green, 12 k m east of Ranch House, headwaters of Rio Saca, Hato La Vergarena, Bolivar, Venezuela, 420-500 m, 18 Oct 1954, J. J. Wurdack d N. G. L. Guppy 91 (fl. NY).
Vernacular names. Chupon (Wurdack & Guppy); Itauba (Froes).
This has been associated with M . lindaviana Schwacke & Mez, described from Rio Braneo and reported from Amazonas and Minas Gerais also in Brazil and from British Guiana. I have seen neither the type of the latter species, Schwacke 7080, with Glaziou 19798 associated with it, nor the type of Silvia duckei (Ducke 16302) which Kostermans includes in the species. However, from the descriptions and material at hand, M. wurdackiana appears to be distinct from the Rio Braneo taxon. The leaves are larger (25-30 cm long and 10-12 cm wide), less broadly obovate and very long-attenuate at the base, opaque rather than shining above, and the inflorescences are approximately half the length of the leaves.