Phoebe filamentosa C.K.Allen
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Authority
Allen, Caroline K. 1966. Contributions to the botany of Guiana. II. Lauraceae. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 15: 53-95.
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Family
Lauraceae
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Scientific Name
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Description
Latin Diagnosis - Arbor 16.5-26.5 m alta, gemmis parvis anguste ovoideis acuminatis dense fulvo- et sericeo-tomentosis, ramulis glabris sed ad apicem extremum sparse puberulis plus minusve fulvo-flavis, angularibus et plane striatis. Folia alternata, petiolis satis gracilibus glabris vel sparse minuteque pubescentibus, in sicco fulvis vade canaliculatis, ad 2-2.5 cm longis et 2-3 mm latis, laminis utrinque glabris supra venis et glandulis axillaribus exceptis punctulatis fide coll, subcoriaceis-chartaceis et supra aeruginosis subtus glaucis in sicco supra olivaceis subtus fulvis, late ellipticis 14-22 cm longis et 7-9 cm latis, ad basin abrupte acutis attenuate et longe decurrentibus, ad apicem abrupte longeve acuminatis, acumine plus minusve acuta, margine undulata, penninerviis, sed etiam subtriplinerviis, costa in sicco fulva, basi excepta, supra ubique plus minusve tenue impressa, subtus conspicue elevata lataque, striata, nerviis ubique tenuibus supra flavis fili-formibus, nerviorum paribus infimis 0.5-1 cm a basi per duas tertias partes laminae adscendentibus subtus conspicue elevatis striatisque, 5 (-6) -paribus, sub angulo 70-60° divergentibus, rete venularum ubique laxo sed minute obscure-que areolato. Inflorescentia axillaris et subterminalis tenuis ubique sparse pubes-cens demum glabrescens multiflora, racemoso-paniculata, fide coll, erecta, ad (10-) 15 cm longa, ut videtur brevipedunculata, pedunculis et rhachidibus fide coll, pallide viridibis, foliis brevioribus. Flores ad 8.5 mm longi, pedicello ad 5 mm longo, perianthio extus papilloso intus pubescenti tepalis exterioribus oblongo-ellipticis, pallide viridibus interioribus pallide viridescenti-albis, lobis satis her-baceis margine cilolatis, exterioribus ad 2.5 mm longis interioribus ad 2.3 mm longis, tubo ad 1 mm longo extus densius papilloso aequalibus; staminibus ad apicem obtusis papillosis, ser I & II ad 2 mm longis antheris ovatis ad apicem filamentis expansis aequalibus, ser III ad 2.5 mm longis antheris anguste ovatis ad apicem obtusis papillosis filamentis plus minusve ligulatis ad basin biglandulosis, glandulis magnis discretis stipitatis, antheris duplo longioribus, ser IV staminodiis magnis ad 1.7 mm longis cordatis obtuse acuminatis stipitatis staminodio usque ad medium stipitato; gynoecio ad 2.7 mm longo, ovario subrotundato ad 1.7 mm longo, paullo stylo tenui longiore, stigmate parvo inconspicuo. Infructescentia et fructus ignoti.
Distribution and Ecology - Tree to 80 ft, bearing at the branchlet tips numerous slender, axillary and subterminal, erect racemose-paniculate inflorescences with greenish-white flowers. Known only from the type material collected in Merida, Venezuela.
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Discussion
Type. Tree 50-80 feet tall, panicle of greenish white flowers standing erect at tips of shoots on tree, leaves subcoriaceous-subchartaceous, deep green above, blue green below, rachis and calyx pale green, corolla pale greenish white, rich forested slopes along Rio Onia, near Bolero, north of Mesa Bolivar, Merida, Venezuela, alt. 545-915 m, 23 May 1944, Julian A. Steyermark 56740 (holotype, fl. F).
Vernacular Name. Laurel maquinilla.
The species is distinct because of the large, broadly elliptic chartaceous or at most subcoriaceous leaves, penninerved, but the lowermost pair of lateral nerves definitely subtriplinerved originating from 0.5-1 cm above the base of the blade and ascending upwards towards the margin, branching at approximately the upper third; and because of the many-flowered, glabrous or, at most, slightly puberulous, racemose-paniculate inflorescences, with slender rachises, bearing flowers up to 3 mm long with an equally long filamentous pedicel. Several species from tropical America have features similar to those noted above. More adequate material may show that several of the taxa described from different regions of the tropics may prove some of these at least to be specific. The widespread Phoebe cinnamomifolia (HBK) Nees in general appearance is similar to the new species described above, but the former has inflorescences which are more coarse and densely pubescent equalling or longer than the smaller, elliptic leaves which are generally more coriaceous. Phoebe heterotepala Mez from Huanuco, Peru may perhaps be the nearest relative. The only material of this seen is a fragment of the flower and very small leaves of each of the types cited by Mez. The flowers, dioecious according to Mez, of both staminate and pistillate sheets appear smaller, with more coarse and not filamentous pedicels; and the subequal tepals are more pubescent; the leaves are much smaller and more narrowly elliptic than those of P. filamentosa and appear, in dried state, to be concolorous, with reticulation not apparent. Nor does there seem to be a distinction between the staminate and pistillate flowers. It is possible that the species may prove on investigation of additional material to be poly-gamodioecious. Phoebe filamentosa suggests also the Costa Rican species P neurophylla Mez described from a fruiting specimen. The latter species differs in bearing more narrowly elliptic, triplinerved leaves, with the upper pairs of veins obscure, glabrous throughout except for the pubescence of the glands in the lowermost pair of nerves visible on the lower surface. If one may judge by the infructescence, it would appear that the inflorescence is much shorter than those of Phoebe filamentosa.