Phoebe alainii C.K.Allen
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Authority
Liogier, Alain H. 1971. Novitates Antillanae. IV. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 21: 107-157.
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Family
Lauraceae
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Scientific Name
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Description
Latin Diagnosis - Arbor parva, 6-8 m alta, gemmis parvis gracilHmis angustissime attenuatisque fulvo-sericeo-pubescentibus, ramulis gracilibus adscendentibus primum viridibrunneis minute albo-pubescentibus mox glabrescentibus striatis demum fuscis glabris longitudinaliter dehiscentibus, manifeste lenticellatis, prope summis foliis plus minusve congestis. Folia alternata, petiolata, petiolatis gracilibus primum minute fulvo-pubescentibus demum aliquantum furfuraceis glabrescentibus fuscis canaliculatis (4-)5(-6) mm longis et ca 1 mm latis, laminis foliorum juvenilium leviter coriaceis ubique dense minuteque nigro-punctatis in sicco olivaceis supra primum glabris costis prope basin exceptis, subtus sparse pubescentibus, pallide griseo-viridescentibus, demum ubique glabris concoloribus, ellipticis vel late ellipticis (2.5-)4-5(-5.5) cm longis et (1.5-) 2-2.3 (-2.5) cm latis ad basin acutis ad apicem satis anguste acuminatis trinerviis, costa ubique pro longitudine manifesta, supra impressa conspicue brunneo-pubescenti, subtus elevata griseo-pubescenti, nervis lateralibus parium infimorum ad medium evanescentibus supra manifeste impressis, acarodomatiis duabus axillaribus supra saepe manifestis, subtus interdum conspicue, grosse denseque griseo-vel fulvo-pubescentibus, interdum glabris instructis, subtus gracilibus, ceteris et rete venularum supra obscuris, subtus minute leviterque conspicuis. Inflorescentia axillaris, solitaria, gracillima, pauciflora, paniculata, panicula depauperata, 2.5-3 cm longa, pedunculata, pedunculo gracillimo subfilamentoso glabro (1-)1.7(-2.3) cm longo. Flores (post anthesin) ad 3.5 cm longi, pedicellati, pedicellis ca 1.5 cm longis, gracillimis, perianthio cyathiformi, fide coll. albo, tepalis ovatis ad apicem obtuse acutis et leviter papulosis, extus glabris intus prope basin minute sericeis ca 2 mm longis et 1.5 mm latis, tubo 0.5 mm longis; staminibus ser I & II ca 2 mm longis glabris, antheris ovatis filamentis aequalibus, ser III antheris oblongis filamentis aequalibus biglandulosis, glandulis brevistipitatis ca 1 mm longis filamentorum ad medium insertis, ser IV staminodiis ad 1 mm longis subcordato-ovatis brevistipitatis pubescentibus; gynoecio glabro 1.2 mm longo, ovario subobovoideo ad basin truncato ad 0.25 mm longo, stylo robusto ca 0.35 mm longo et 0.25 mm lato, stigmate obscure subtriangulari. Infructescentia gracilis, glabra, 3.5-4 cm longa. Fructus immaturus ut videtur, fide coll. viridis, ellipsoideus, apiculatus, glaber ad 8 mm longus, cupula vadosa crateriformi, 1-1.5 mm longa, 4-5 mm diam et ad 1.5 mm alta, tubo pedicello, obconico 6-7 mm longo ad basin 1 mm vel minore ad apicem ca 2 mm lato, obscure transienti.
Species Description - This slender tree to 8 meters bears terete, ascending branchlets with fuscous bark, in the young stages minutely fulvo-pubescent, quickly becoming glabrous. The elliptic, acuminate, very small (usually 4-5 cm long) trinerved leaves show contours of a pair of axillary acarodaomatia on the upper surface, which are very conspicuous and pubescent beneath. The leaves near the tip of the branchlets subtend a solitary, axillary, few-flowered depauperate panicle at the apex of a slender peduncle which is scarcely enlarged in the fruiting stage. The ellipsoid fruit is seated in a shallow, flaring, crateriform cupule, supported by a broadly obconical pedicel tapering to a slender base.
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Discussion
Fig 1.
Type. Small tree about 8 m high, flowers white, in wet forest on ridge E of Loma de la Sal, between Jarabacoa and Constanza, Province of La Vega, Dominican Republic, 1300 m, 7-10 Aug 1968, Alain Liogier 11993 (holotype, fl. NY).
This species of Phoebe is unique in the West Indies; and only a few related taxa occur in tropical South America. Superficially, there is a resemblance to several species of Lauraceae belonging to other genera native to China.
It is a pleasure to name this species for Dr. Alain H. Liogier who, well known for his contribution to the Flora of Cuba and for his work on Puerto Rican vegetation, is currently making a study of the Flora of Hispaniola.
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Distribution
Distribution. Known only from Hispaniola in the area of the Cordillera Central in rainforests from 1200 to 1400 m.
Haiti South America| Dominican Republic South America|