Cinnamomum auricolor

De Kok, Rogier P. J., 2023, The Lauraceae Juss. of Indo-China: fifteen new species, four new combinations and two neotypifications, Adansonia (3) 45 (1), pp. 1-25 : 4

2. Cinnamomum auricolor Kosterm. ex de Kok, sp. nov.

( Fig. 2 )

Cinnamomum auricolor Kosterm. , unpublished; P.H. Hô, Illustrated Flora of Vietnam: 433 ( Hô 1991), nom. inval.; Nguyén Kim Đào, Lauraceae in Checklist of Plant Species of Vietnam 2: 73 (Nguyén Kim Đào 2003), nom. inval.

DIAGNOSIS. — This species differs from all south east Asian Cinnamomum species by having leaves with appressed reddish hairs on the lower surface.

TYPE SPECIMENS. — [ Vietnam, Son-Tay]. Mt Bavi , [21°3’45”N, 105°21’38.016”E], alt. 800-1200 m, 2.VI.1918, Fleury 37819 (holo-, P [ P01964577 ]; iso-, L[L0035706, L0035707]) .

DISTRIBUTION. — Only known from the type specimen from Mt Bavi , Vietnam ( Fig. 2 ).

ECOLOGY. — Growing between 800-1200 m altitude. Flowering in June; fruiting time unknown.

CONSERVATION ASSESSMENT. — Critically Endangered (CR B1ab(i,iii), B2ab(ii,iii)). As this species is known from only one collection, from Mt Bavi in Vietnam, an IUCN Conservation Assessment of Critically Endangered is appropriate.

DESCRIPTION

Tree up to 20 m tall, dbh c. 50 cm. Twigs slender to stout 3.4-6 cm thick, angular in cross-section, sparsely hairy when young, glabrescent; hairs yellowish, appressed; terminal leaf bud ovoid, 3-4 mm long, apex acute, velutinous. Leaves subopposite, domatia absent; blade elliptic to lanceolate, 5.5-7.5 × 2.2-3 cm, apex long acuminate, base cuneate, blade leathery, triplinerved, secondary nerves extending to leaf tip, brochidodromous, sometimes with a false side vein, tertiary nerves scalariform; upper surface sparsely hairy on major nerves and at base, midrib and secondary nerves sunken to raised, tertiary nerves indistinct; lower surface reddish brown when dried, sparsely hairy, midrib and secondary nerves raised, tertiary nerves distinct; hairs reddish, appressed; petiole half terete, 11-15 cm long, slender, sparsely hairy.

Inflorescence 1-10 cm long, a few flowered panicle, axillary, densely to sparsely hairy; hairs yellowish, appressed; bracts leaf-like; bracteoles elliptic, 2-2.4 mm long, apex acute, sparely hairy, caducous. Flowers immature, with reddish appressed hairs.

Fruit unknown.

NOTES

No evidence that this name was ever validly published could be found and so it is validated here. Although it is generally not a good idea, especially in the Lauraceae , to published new species based on incomplete material (in this case lacking fruits and with only immature flowers), this species is clearly a Cinnamomum based on the immature flowers (number of perianth lobes and stamens) and the orientation (subopposite) and venation (triplinerved) of the leaves. Within the genus it is unique because of the reddish appressed hairs on the lower leaf surface.

Figures

FIG. 2. — Distribution of Actinodaphne kontumi de Kok,sp. nov. (), Cinnamomum auricolor Kosterm. ex de Kok, sp. nov. (), Cinnamomum inconspicuum Kosterm.ex de Kok,sp.nov.(),Cinnamomum kostermannii de Kok,sp.nov.() and Cinnamomum damhaense Kosterm. ex de Kok, sp. nov. ().