Ocotea neblinae C.K.Allen
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Authority
Maguire, Bassett & Wurdack, John J. 1964. The botany of the Guayana Highland--Part V. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 10: 1-278.
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Family
Lauraceae
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Scientific Name
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Description
Latin Diagnosis - Arbor ad 10 m alt., gemmis ut videtur gracilibus parvis lanceolato-ovoideis griseo-pubescentibus, ramulis robustis conspicue striatis rubris mox griseis glabris. Folia alternata, petiolis crassis ad 10 mm longis breviter canaliculatis, laminis utrinque glabris, coriaceis obovatis, (6-) 9-13 cm longis et (2.5-) 4.5-6 cm latis ad basim cuneatis leviter decurrentibus, ad apicem rotundatis vel minute emarginatis, margine recurvatis, penninerviis, costa utrinque elevata, ad basim conspicue lata, nervis 6-8-paribus supra obscure subtus graciliter conspicueque elevatis, ad angulo 35-55° divergentibus. Inflorescentia axillaris, multiflora, glabra, rubescens, patenti-paniculata, ad 20 cm longa quam foliis longior, pedunculo ad 10 cm longo. Flores dioici, [male] ad 4 mm longi, perianthio campanulato gracili, lobis oblongo-ovatis, ad 2 mm longis, ± tubo duplo longioribus; staminibus 1-1.2 mm longis membranaceis ser I & II antheris ovatis quam filamentis quadruplo longioribus, ser III antheris rectangularibus biglandulosis, glandulis permagnis subsessilibus, ser IV O; gynoecio O; flores [female] ad 4 mm longi (post anthesin), perianthio campanulato, lobis ovatis 1.5 mm longis, reflexis intus ad apicem papillosis, tubo lobos subaequanti; staminibus sterilibus utrinque locellis obliteratis, ser I & II ad 0.5 mm longis, antheris ovatis quam stipite satis robusto triplo longioribus, ser III ad 0.5 mm longis, glandulis quam antheris obovatis et filamentis robustis longioribus, ser IV O; gynoecio 1-1.2 mm longo glabro, ovario ellipsoideo, stigmate magna subtriangulari fere subsessili.
Distribution and Ecology - Distribution. Known from the type locality and possibly from Cerro Yapacana, Rio Orinoco, Amazonas, Venezuela, and the Brazilian Amazon Basin.
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Discussion
Fig. 51.
Type. Small tree, flowers white, occasional in Clusia scrub forest just south of Camp 3, Cerro de la Neblina, Amazonas, Venezuela, 700 m, 14-16 Nov 1957, Bassett Maguire, John J. Wurdack & Celia K. Maguire 42059 (holotype, [male] fl.NY).
The Ducke specimen agrees entirely with the type; the Yapacana material differs in having elliptic leaves up to 15 cm long, with an obtusely acute or abruptly obtusely acuminate apex. This number bears pistillate flowers similar in structure to the staminate, except for the larger gynoecium. A single young fruit borne on a slightly thickened rachis appears almost completely enclosed in the cyathiform cupule which equals the thickened stipe. There is a difference in the leaves of the pistillate specimen (36585) which more ample material may lessen by presenting intermediate forms. On the contrary, the converse may be true and two taxa presently found to exist.