Ocotea foveolata Kosterm.

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 : 250-251

12. Ocotea foveolata Kosterm.

( Fig. 6 )

Notulae systematicae 8: 85 (1939).

TYPUS. — Madagascar. Centre , Tsinjoarivo , vers 1400 m. 25.II.1925, fls, Perrier de la Bâthie 16950 (holo-, P [ P00541554 ]! ; iso-, P [ P00541553 ]!) .

SELECTED SPECIMENS SEEN. — Antsiranana. Andapa, Doany , Andranomilolo , Rakotovao et al. 3343 (MO, P[ P01753196 ]!) ; Centre ( Nord ), Massif de Marivorahona , Service Forestier (Capuron) 3062 (MO, P[ P02033230 ]!, TE) ; Fianarantsoa, Manjarivolo, Guillaumet 3363 (MO, P[ P02033235 ]!) ; Réserve Naturelle Intégrale d’Andringitra, 50 km S of Ambalavao , Nicoll 233 (MO, P[ P02033238 ]!) .

DISTRIBUTION. — Ocotea foveolata is known from a few collections made at higher (1300-2000 m) altitudes from Ambalavao in the south to Ambilobe in the north. This is a wide range for an infrequently collected species and it is possible that more than one species is involved. The type is from Tsinjoarivo, SE of Tananarive.

PHENOLOGY. — Flowers; February; fruits: May, July.

VERNACULAR NAME. — Varongy mainty.

DESCRIPTION

Small tree, 5-6 m tall. Twigs angular, glabrous or with some appressed hairs when young. Terminal buds appressed pubescent. Leaves alternate, firmly chartaceous, 2.5-5 × 1.2-2.5 cm, elliptic to broadly elliptic, base acute or obtuse, apex acute or obtuse, glabrous on both surfaces, midrib, lateral veins and reticulation immersed on upper surface, reticulation immersed on lower surface, midrib and lateral veins weakly raised below; lateral veins 3-4 on each side, all except the basal pair faintly visible; domatia present in axils of basal lateral veins, consisting of deep pits with a slit-like opening. Petioles glabrous, 4-9 mm long. Inflorescences mostly in axils on normal leaves, with a few appressed hairs, 2-3 cm long, few flowered.Tepals 6 with few appressed hairs on outside, inside pubescent, c. 2 mm long. Stamens 9, 4-celled, c. 1.3 mm long, filaments pubescent, anthers glabrous, staminodia 3, stipitiform, pubescent. Ovary and inside of receptacle glabrous. Cupule deeply cup-shaped, 1.1 cm wide, 0.7 cm high; fruit (probably not yet mature) ellipsoid, 0.7 cm high.

REMARKS

This species differs from the other montane, smallleaved Ocotea species with pit domatia in the combination of appressed pubescent terminal buds, subglabrous twigs, small inflorescences, tripliveined leaves with domatia almost exclusively in axils of basal lateral veins and the weakly developed lateral veins, with exception of the basal pair. The leaves of the flowering specimens are immature and have a clearly raised reticulation. When mature, the leaves are thicker and the reticulation is fully immersed.

Figures

FIG. 6. — Distribution of Ocotea brevipes Kosterm. (N), O. fo- veolata Kosterm. (p), O. longipedicellata van der Werff (l) and O. sessiliflora Kosterm. (Ì).