Ocotea trichophlebia Baker

Werff, Henk Van Der, 2013, A revision of the genus Ocotea Aubl. (Lauraceae) in Madagascar and the Comoro Islands, Adansonia (3) 35 (2), pp. 235-279 : 271-272

33. Ocotea trichophlebia Baker ( Fig. 10)

Journal of the Linnaean Society 20: 242 (1883).

Mespilodaphne trichophlebia (Baker) Baillon , Bulletin mensuel de la Société linnéenne de Paris 56: 448 (1885). — Typus: Madagascar. Without further data, Baron 1776 (fls) (lecto-, K, designated by Kostermans [1939]; iso-, P[ P00541577 , P00573382 ]!).

Ocotea acuminata Baker , Journal of the Linnaean Society 20: 242 (1883). — Mespilodaphne acuminata (Baker) Baillon , Bulletin mensuel de la Société linnéenne de Paris 56: 448 (1885). — Typus: Madagascar, Baron 1970, fls, (holo-, K; iso-, P[P00573380]!).

S ELECTED SPECIMENS SEEN. — Antananarivo. Fiv. Anjozorobe, forêt d’Amparafarantany, Raharijaona et al. 34 (MO); Toamasina. Fiv. Moramanga, Fok. Ambohibato, forêt de Rianan’i Galy, Raharijaona et al. 44 (MO, P, TAN).

DISTRIBUTION. — Upper part of eastern slope, mostly along road Antananarivo-Tamatave near Mandraka, but N to Miakadaza, also Périnet, at elevations between 900 and 1200 m.

However, most older collections have very incomplete label information.

PHENOLOGY. — Flowers: November-January; fruits: June, August, November.

VERNACULAR NAMES. — Varongy mavo, varongy mainty, varongy, varongivoara.

DESCRIPTION

Large shrub or small tree, to 10 m tall. Twigs terete, densely pubescent, the hairs erect, the indument wearing off with age; terminal buds densely pubescent. Leaves alternate, chartaceous, 6-13 × 2.5-7 cm, elliptic to broadly elliptic, base obtuse or acute, tip acute or acuminate, lateral veins 5-6 on each side, midrib and lateral veins impressed above, tertiary venation immersed, midrib, lateral veins and tertiary venation raised on lower surface; upper surface with scattered, erect hairs, the indument denser on midrib and lateral veins, lower surface pubescent, the hairs erect; domatia lacking. Petioles 0.4-1.2 cm long, with similar indument as twigs. Inflorescences axillary, pubescent, c. 5 cm long, rather few-flowered, bracts sometimes present at anthesis.Tepals pubescent on both surfaces, but less so on inner surface, 1.5-2 mm long. Stamens 9, 4-celled, 1.5 mm long, filaments pubescent, anther glabrous, staminodia 3, pubescent, stipitiform. Ovary and inside of receptacle glabrous. Cupule deeply cup-shaped, 1.4 cm wide, 1 cm high, fruit ellipsoid, 1.6 × 1.2 cm.

REMARKS

This species has frequently been confused with Ocotea grayi and differences between the two are discussed under O. grayi . Vegetatively, the impressed midrib and lateral vein on the upper leaf surface and the pilose lower leaf surface are characteristic.