Agonandra ovatifolia Miranda

  • Authority

    Hiepko, Paul H. 2000. Opiliaceae. Fl. Neotrop. Monogr. 82: i-iv + 1-53. (Published by NYBG Press)

  • Family

    Opiliaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Agonandra ovatifolia Miranda

  • Type

    Type. Mexico. Chiapas: Rd. from Jerico to Parral, 1700 m, 18 Feb 1951 ([female] fl), Miranda 6906 (lectotype: F, here designated; isolectotypes: MEXU, US).

  • Description

    Species Description - Tree, ca. 10 m tall. Leaves coriaceous, hard and wrinkled when dry, broadly ovate to elliptic, 5-8 × 3-6 cm, the apex obtuse, the base rounded to attenuate; midrib flat above, prominent beneath, hairy in the lower third beneath; lateral veins 3-5(-6) per side, rather obscure on both sides; petiole hairy below, glabrous above, ca. 8 mm long. Racemes axillary, usually on defoliated nodes, 1-3 per axil; [male] racemes not known; [female] racemes 5-7 mm long, the rachis papillate, 1 flower per bract; bracts broadly ovate, 1.5 mm wide, ciliolate. Pedicels minutely papillate like the rachis, 1.5-2 mm long, [male] flowers: not known. [female] flowers: tepals ca. 1 mm long; disk annular, ca. 0.3 mm high; pistil ovoid, ca. 1 mm long. Drupe not known.

  • Discussion

    According to Miranda (1953) the very hard, yellowish wood is used as timber.

    The [female] flowers and inflorescences, the indumentum of the petioles, and the lower third beneath of the midrib of Agonandra ovatifolia resemble those of A. obtusifolia subsp. conzattii, but A. ovatifolia is a much bigger tree, and the shape and size of the leaves is also different.

    The elevation of the habitat of the type (1700 m) is given according to the label of the lectotype. Miranda (1953: 72) gives 700 m for the type locality. The description of the drupe by Miranda is obviously based on the syntype (Miranda 6034), which belongs to Agonandra obtusifolia subsp, conzattii.

  • Common Names

    Aceituna

  • Distribution

    Known only from the type (I have seen two additional sterile specimens from the same area at MEXU which may belong to this species: Miranda 6863 and Palacios E. 1403), a tree growing in semideciduous forest; to 1700 m (but see note below). The flowering specimen was gathered in Feb.

    Chiapas Mexico North America| Mexico North America|