Ocotea acarina 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 3-9 m alta, 0.5 dm DBH fide coll., gemmis brevibus tenuiter vel attenuate ellipsoideis acutis subferrugineis apicem versus fulvo-sericeo-pubescentibus, ramulis teretibus striatis primum brunneis minute subferrugineo-pubescentibus mox glaucescentibus demum griseo-suberosis sparsim lenticeUatis glabris. Folia alternata, juvenilla acriter odorata, petiolis aliquantum robustis glabrescentibus fusco-brunneis canaliculatis 1-1.5 (-2) cm longis et 1-2 mm latis, laminis ubique glabris (costae base pubescenti excepta) coriaceis in sicco supra olivaceis lucidis subtus aliquantum brunneis et obscure lucidis obovatis late obovatis vel orbicularibus (3-) 5-7 (-7.5) cm longis et (2-)3.5-7 cm latis, margine plana, ad basin acutis vel late acutis ad apicem obtusis vel late obtusis raro emarginatis, penninerviis, supra in sicco nervatura ubique omnino ejusdem coloris, costa vix elevata prope basin latiore, nervis obscure 6(-8)-paribus arcuate adscendentibus sub angulo 60° divergentibus, nervis et rete laxa venularum conspicue varicosis, subtus nervatura subferruginea glabrescenti costa conspicue obtuseque elevata, nervis et rete venularum minus conspicuis gracilibus acutiore elevatis. Inflorescentiae ut videtur axiUares, foha subtendentia cito caduca, vix robustae, subferrugineo-pubescentes, strictae, depauperataeque, ut videtur racemosae, pauciflorae, ad 3 mm longae, quam folia multo breviores, pedunculis 5 mm vel minoribus. Flores [male][female] ad 5 mm longi, pedicellati, pedicello ad 2 mm longo minute fulvo-pubescenti, perianthio campanulato flavo-virenti aliquantum carnoso pubescenti, tepalis ovatis obtusis ubique pubescentibus ca 3 mm longis, ser I, 1.5 mm latis, ser II, 2 mm latis, tubo ± 1 mm longo, staminibus ser I & II 1.8 mm longis, antheris subrectangularibus filamentis vix duplo longioribus, ser III antheris ovatis truncatis filaments latis duplo longioribus, prope basin pubescentibus biglandulosis, glandulis conspicuis brevistipitatis filamentis vix quam tertiam partem brevioribus, ser IV staminodiis ad 0.6 mm ovoideis stipitem plus minusve pubescentem aequalibus; gynoecio glabro ad 2.5(-2.7) mm longo, ovario ovoideo vel paullo obovoideo prope basin plus minusve angustato, stipite 0.5 mm longo, ad 0.3-0.5 mm lato, stylo satis robusto ad 0.8 mm longo, stigmate papilloso plus minusve triangulari. Infructescentiae quam folia breviores, robustae, glabrae ad 5 cm longae, paucifrugiferae. Fructus in sicco brunneo-olivaceus, pauUo obovoideus, robuste apiculatus, ad 12 X 9 mm, cupula fide coll. githaginea, in sicco aliquantum lignosa, sparse inconspicueque verruculosa, prope apicem constricta, margine laxe 6-truncatocrenata, ad 10 mm longa, 0.8-10 mm lata et 2 mm alta, subsessili.
Distribution and Ecology - Distribution. Known only from Hispaniola.
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Discussion
Fig 2.
Type. Tree 6 m, new leaves very pungent, Gros Cheval, Mornes des Commissaires, Department de L'Ouest, Haiti, 1500 m, 9 Aug 1942 L. R. Holdridge 1407 (holotype, fl. US; isotype, NY, US).
This small tree with gray branchlets is distinguished by erect, coriaceous, obovate or orbicular, shining leaves, the upper surface of which shows venation conspicuously turgid. On the lower surface, the venation is slender and, except for the midrib, delicate but prominent, with an unusually conspicuous growth of fulvous pubescence in the axils of the lateral nerves. Possibly this occurrence is induced by mites which invariably inhabit the domatia characteristic of the leaves of the species. The axillary, sturdy inflorescences are much shorter than the leaves, the several often depauperate racemes bearing few flowers.
Superficially, the above species resembles a taxon known only from its type locality. Massif de La Hotte, Haiti. Although the taxon was described by Ekman and O. C. Schmidt as Nectandra pulchra, it has many of the aspects of the complex to which Ocotea acarina belongs. It is easily separated, however, from the Ocotea, by opposite branchlets minutely ferruginous-pubescent, bearing thinner-textured, subbuUate leaves with the venation impressed on the upper surface, exceedingly prominent on the lower surface, and lacking the acarodomatia characteristic of Ocotea acarina. The ellipsoid fruits of the Nectandra, so called, up to 2 cm long subtended by shallow, cyathiform cupules approximately 5 mm long, present further distinguishing features.
There should be a note of explanation concerning the "locality uncertain" cited for R. A. Howard 12299 (fl. US). The label for Dr. Howard's collection reads as follows: "Province of Barahona: La Hotte, between La Cueva and Placer Bonita, 3500-5000 ft." Since this is the only specimen of the above-described Ocotea acarina known from the Dominican Republic to date. Dr. Alain H. Liogier, on a recent trip to Barahona, made inquiries but was unable to find the locality given on Dr. Howard's label. During a subsequent discussion with the botanists of the Dominican Republic he learned that, until 25 years ago, the region near Barahona, in the province of the same name, was occupied by the Haitians. According to Pere Fuertes, there was a mountain called "La H o " in the Barahona region, possibly a corruption of the French "La Haut." When Dr. Liogier was planning a trip to collect there, among other plants the Ocotea in question, he was informed that the mountain had been cleared of the primitive vegetation to make the land available for cultivation. Future investigations of the flora of the Dominican Republic may yield further collections that wiU extend the range of this and other localized species of the area.