Ocotea glomerata (Nees) Mez

  • 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

    Ocotea glomerata (Nees) Mez

  • Description

    Distribution and Ecology - Distribution. Large tree with dioecious (polygamo-dioecious?) flowers in glomerules, growing generally throughout the coastal area from Brazil and the Guianas to Trinidad and Venezuela. VENEZUELA. Bolivar: en la margen de selva baja. La Paragua, Williams 12812 (fr. F); rolling forest between km 38 and 42, S of El Dorado, Steyermark 86654 ([female][male] fl. NY), woods bordering savanna by Rio Asa, above Raudal Cotua, S of La Paragua, 86761 ([male][female] fl. NY), woods in vicinity of "Los Patos," 2 km SE of Los Patos, N of Rio Hacha about 15 km N of Rio Supamo, 30 km S of El Manteco, 86951 ([male][female] fl. NY). BRAZIL. Amazonas: occasional in woodland near Fazenda Natal, 10-12 km northeast of Fazenda Vista Geral, Maguire & Maguire 40256 (fr. NY); Amapa: occasional in rainforest on Fritz Akerman Ore Body, Rio Amapari, Serro de Navio, Cowan & Maguire 38114 ([female] fl. NY).

  • Discussion

    OreodapTme glomerata Nees, Linnaea 21: 515. 1848.

    Vernacular Names. Laurel (Steyermark, Williams); Louro (Cowan & Maguire).

    Type. Savanna bei Pirara im Brittischen Guiana, Julio [female], Rich. Schomburgk 675 (isotype, ? fl., fragm. NY).

    The identifying features of this species are the lanceolate-elliptic leaves, finely reticulate above, usually equally attenuate at base and apex, and the densely glomerulate pubescent inflorescences expanding to 25 or more cm in the fruiting stage and becoming glabrescent.

    The Steyermark numbers bear flowers that are seemingly hermaphrodite. Since in all other respects these sheets resemble the widely distributed O. glomerata, one must conclude that, in some areas at least, the species may be polygamo-dioecious. Fruiting collections are not known from this region. Subsequent collections may reveal that another taxon is involved.

  • Distribution

    Distribution. Large tree with dioecious (polygamo-dioecious?) flowers in glomerules, growing generally throughout the coastal area from Brazil and the Guianas to Trinidad and Venezuela.

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