Ocotea laticostata 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

    Ocotea laticostata C.K.Allen

  • Description

    Distribution and Ecology - Distribution. Known only from the type.

    Latin Diagnosis - Arbor ad 10 m alta, gemmis ut videtur robustis olivaceo-pubescentibus ± obtusis, ramulis robustis valde angulatis minute adpresseque brunneo-pubescentibus aliquantum "zig-zag." Folia alternata, ut videtur reflexa, petiolis robustis minute adpresseque brunneo-pubescentibus glabrescentibus valde canaliculatis, conspicue undulato-alatis, ad 15 mm longis et 4-5 mm latis, laminis utrinque glabris, supra ad basim costa et subtus ad basim costa venisque exceptis, percoriaceis, supra olivaceo-viridescentibus subtus magis brunneis, margine praecipue ad basim recurvatis et petiolo undulato-decurrenti, ellipticis vel ovatoellipticis, 23-25 cm longis et 9-11.5 cm latis, ad basim rotundatis ad apicem obtusis vel abrupte acutis, penninerviis, costa supra plana subtus valde elevata, ad basim 4 mm lata, nervis plerumque 8-9-paribus supra obscuris subtus elevatis adscendenti-arcuatis, ad angulo 45° divergentibus, rete venularum supra inconspicuo subtus minuto obscuroque. Infructescentia axillaris et subterminalis, robusta, leviter brunnescens, glabrescens, plus minusve stricte paniculata, ad 17 cm longa, rhachidibus valde striatis. Fructus ut videtur immaturus, in sicco olivaceus, ellipsoideus, apiculatus, ad 10 X 8 mm, cupula cyathiformi 7-10 mm longa, 10 mm diam., et 5 mm alt., margine ± plana vel saepe obscure minuteque denticulata, subsessili vel pedicello leviter obconico subtenta. Inflorescentia et flores ignoti.

  • Discussion

    Fig. 55.

    Type. Tree 10 m, stems angled, leaves coriaceous, in Camp Culebra above Indian village of Culebra, Cerro Duida, Amazonas, Venezuela, 1000-1100 m, 18 Nov 1950, Bassett Maguire, R. S. Cowan & John J. Wurdack 29514 (holotype, fr.NY).

    A species seemingly belonging to Ocotea, but the relationship within the genus is uncertain without flowering material. The species may be myrmecophyllous.