Ocotea

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Ocotea
Ocotea foetens 1322.jpg
O. foetens on the highlands of Madeira Island
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Magnoliids
Order: Laurales
Family: Lauraceae
Genus: Ocotea
Aubl.
Species

Over 520, see List of Ocotea species

Synonyms [1]
  • AgathophyllumJuss.
  • EvodiaGaertn.
  • MespilodaphneNees
  • OreodaphneNees & Mart.

Ocotea is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the family Lauraceae. Many are evergreen trees with lauroid leaves.

Contents

There are over 520 species currently accepted within the genus, [2] distributed mostly in tropical and subtropical areas of the Americas (around 300 species) [3] including the Caribbean and West Indies, [4] [5] but also with some species in Africa, Madagascar [3] and the Mascarene Islands. [6] One species (O. foetens) is native to the Macaronesia (in Canary Islands and Madeira). [7] The genus is suspected to be paraphyletic. [8]

Description

O. tenera leaves and fruit Ocotea tenera (9755231383).jpg
O. tenera leaves and fruit

They are trees or shrubs, occasionally with adventitious roots (O. hartshorniana, O. insularis). Leaves simple, alternate, rarely opposite or whorled. [9] The leaves are lauroid, they are commonly dark green glossy with sometimes brown on the underside and fragrant oil cells. [10]

The African and Madagascan species all have bisexual flowers (possessing both male and female parts), whereas many of the American species have flowers that are unisexual (either male or female). [3] The apetalous flowers are in small panicles.[ citation needed ]

The fruits are globose or oblong berries, 3–5 cm in length, hard and fleshy and at the junction of the peduncle part with the fruit covered by a cup-shaped, occasionally flat, cupule, [11] giving them an appearance similar to an acorn. The fruit is dark green, gradually darkening with maturity. The cupule at the base of the berry, can be more brightly colored. The fruit has a single seed wrapped in a hard coat and can be slightly lignified.[ citation needed ]

Names

The genus has no standard common name. Names often refer to the aroma of the wood, which can be strong and not always pleasant. Sweetwood is usually applied only to this genus, [12] although many names are also applied to this genus and other genera:

The common names of some species refer to their similarity to other Lauraceae such as Sassafras (Brazilian sassafras: O. odorifera ) or Laurus (Cape laurel: O. bullata , Sword laurel: O. floribunda, Guaika laurel: O. puberula , etc.).

Distribution and habitat

Ocotea bullata on South African Afromontane forests Afromontane forest canopy - giant Black Stinkwood tree - SA.JPG
Ocotea bullata on South African Afromontane forests

Most species of Ocotea are distributed across the tropical Americas, from Mexico to Northern Argentina including the West Indies. Species are also found in eastern Africa from South Africa to Ethiopia, in Gabon and Republic of the Congo in Central Africa, and on Madagascar and the Mascarene Islands. One species, Ocotea foetens , is native to the Canary Islands and Madeira in the North Atlantic. [13]

Ocotea species are distributed in subtropical and tropical regions, often at higher elevations. They are characteristic plants of many tropical and subtropical montane forests such as the Araucaria moist forests, Yungas, and Talamancan montane forests in the Americas, Afromontane forests including the Knysna-Amatole montane forests in Africa, and Laurisilva in the Macaronesian islands. In Madagascar and Brazil they also occur in lowland forests. [14]

Ecology

Most relatively small fruit species are of great environmental importance because they are the food of many endemic birds and mammals, especially in Islands, and premontane and montane forests. [9] The leaves of Ocotea species are the food source for the caterpillars of several species of endemic Lepidoptera, including several species of Memphis. [15] Some Memphis caterpillars feed solely on the leaves of one species of Ocotea; for example M. mora feeds only on O. cernua, and M. boisduvali feeds only on O. veraguensis [15]

Seed distribution of some Ocotea species is performed by frugivorous birds such as toucans, the three-wattled bellbird (family Cotingidae), quetzal [16] and Cape parrot. [17] Ocotea fruit is also consumed by several Columbiformes such as Columba trocaz , [18] Delegorgue's pigeon, [17] Bolle's pigeon ( Columba bollii ), [19] African wood pigeon, [20] [21] [22] and American doves. [23]

Most of the African tree species are ancient paleoendemic species, [24] which in ancient times were widely distributed on the continent. [19] [24] This is not the case in the Americas: 89 species have been collected in Venezuela alone. [25]

Species of Ocotea can be attacked by various rot-inducing root pathogens, including Loweporus inflexibilis, Phellinus apiahynus [26] and Phytophthora cinnamomi . [27]

Some Ocotea species are used as nesting sites by ants, which may live in leaf pockets or in hollowed-out stems. The ants patrol their host plants more frequently in response to disturbance or to the appearance of insect pests such as grasshoppers. [28]

Uses

Dried ishpingo (O. quixos) cupules can be used as spice. Ocotea quixos 1.JPG
Dried ishpingo ( O. quixos ) cupules can be used as spice.

Ocotea produce essential oils, which are rich in camphor and safrole. East African camphorwood ( O. usambarensis ), Peruvian rosewood ( O. cernua ) and Brazilian sassafras ( O. odorifera ) are traded internationally.

Dried fruit cupules of ishpingo ( O. quixos ) are used in Ecuador to flavor beverages, such as colada morada.

Some fast growing Ocotea tree species are harvested commercially for timber. These include O. puberula , O. bullata (black or true stinkwood) and O. usambarensis . The timber is valued for its resistance to fungal decay.

O. odorifera (Brazilian sassafras) and O. kuhlmanni are frequently used as honey plants.

Selected species

The following are some of the species of Ocotea. [29] Distinguishing Ocotea species from Nectandra and other close relatives is problematic. Povedadaphne may be better placed in Ocotea.[ citation needed ]

Formerly placed here

Fossil record

†Ocotea hradekensis from the early Miocene, has been described from fragmentary fossil leaf compressions that have been found in the Kristina Mine at Hrádek nad Nisou in North Bohemia, the Czech Republic. O. foetens from the Canary Islands is its nearest living relative. [30] Fossil †Ocotea heerii leaf impressions of Messinian age (ca. 5.7 Ma) have been uncovered in Monte Tondo, northern Apennines, Italy. [31]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lauraceae</span> Family of flowering plants

Lauraceae, or the laurels, is a plant family that includes the true laurel and its closest relatives. This family comprises about 2850 known species in about 45 genera worldwide. They are dicotyledons, and occur mainly in warm temperate and tropical regions, especially Southeast Asia and South America. Many are aromatic evergreen trees or shrubs, but some, such as Sassafras, are deciduous, or include both deciduous and evergreen trees and shrubs, especially in tropical and temperate climates. The genus Cassytha is unique in the Lauraceae in that its members are parasitic vines. Most laurels are highly poisonous.

<i>Persea</i> Genus of flowering plants in the laurel family Lauraceae

Persea is a genus of about 150 species of evergreen trees belonging to the laurel family, Lauraceae. The best-known member of the genus is the avocado, P. americana, widely cultivated in subtropical regions for its large, edible fruit.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Laurel forest</span> Type of subtropical forest

Laurel forest, also called laurisilva or laurissilva, is a type of subtropical forest found in areas with high humidity and relatively stable, mild temperatures. The forest is characterized by broadleaf tree species with evergreen, glossy and elongated leaves, known as "laurophyll" or "lauroid". Plants from the laurel family (Lauraceae) may or may not be present, depending on the location.

Stinkwood, german Stinkholz, french Bois Puant, is the common name for a number of trees or shrubs which have wood or plant parts with an unpleasant odour, including:

<i>Ocotea bullata</i> Species of tree

Ocotea bullata, is a species of flowering tree native to South Africa. It produces very fine and valuable timber which was formerly much sought after to make furniture. Due to over-exploitation it is now a protected species. Other names for it are Cape Walnut, Cape laurel, and laurel wood. The name "stinkwood" comes from a strong smell that is released when it is fresh felled.

Kuloa usambarensis is a species of tree in the laurel family (Lauraceae). It is native to eastern Africa in Kenya, Tanga Region of Tanzania, and locally in Uganda, where it occurs at 1600–2600 m elevation in high rainfall Afromontane cloud forest. Common names include East African camphorwood, mkulo (Tanzania), mwiha (Uganda), muwong, muzaiti, and maasi.

<i>Aiouea</i> Genus of flowering plants

Aiouea is a genus of shrubs and trees in the family Lauraceae. It is native to tropical forests and montane forests of North and South America. The name is a curiosity because it consists entirely of vowels.

<i>Aniba</i> Genus of flowering plants

Aniba is an American neotropical flowering plant genus in the family Lauraceae. They are present in low and mountain cloud forest in Caribbean islands, Central America, and northern to central South America.

<i>Beilschmiedia</i> Genus of trees and shrubs

Beilschmiedia is a genus of trees and shrubs in family Lauraceae. Most of its species grow in tropical climates, but a few of them are native to temperate regions, and they are widespread in tropical Asia, Africa, Madagascar, Australia, New Zealand, North America, Central America, the Caribbean, and South America. The best-known species to gardeners in temperate areas are B. berteroana and B. miersii because of their frost tolerance. Seeds of B. bancroftii were used as a source of food by Australian Aborigines. Timbers of some species are very valuable.

<i>Licaria</i> Genus of flowering plants

Licaria is a flowering plant genus in the family Lauraceae, native to Central America and South America. It is a Neotropical genus with around 80 species.

<i>Mezilaurus</i> Genus of trees

Mezilaurus is a genus of plant in the family Lauraceae. It is a neotropical genus consisting of 18-27 species, mostly hardwood evergreen trees, occurring from Costa Rica to the southeast of Brazil. Thirteen species have been identified in Brazil, distributed mostly in the Amazon region. In Rio de Janeiro state only M. navalium (Allemão) Taub. ex Mez has been recorded. Some species have been reported within the Cerrado and in semideciduous forest surrounding the Pantanal Matogrossense. The name Mezilaurus refers to its similar appearance to the genus Laurus.

<i>Nectandra</i> Genus of flowering plants

Nectandra is a genus of plant in the family Lauraceae. They are primarily Neotropical, with Nectandra coriacea being the only species reaching the southernmost United States. They have fruit with various medical effects. Sweetwood is a common name for some plants in this genus.

<i>Ocotea foetens</i> Species of tree

Ocotea foetens, commonly called til or stinkwood is a species of tree in the family Lauraceae. It is evergreen and grows up to 40 m tall. It is a common constituent of the laurisilva forests of Madeira and the Canary Islands. Leaf fossils of this species are known from the Mio-Pleistocene of Madeira Island.

<i>Ocotea odorifera</i> Species of tree

Ocotea odorifera is a species of plant in the family Lauraceae. It is an evergreen tree in the genus Ocotea.

<i>Endlicheria</i> Genus of flowering plants

Endlicheria is a neotropical plant genus consisting of approximately 60 species, occurring mostly in northern South America and the Amazon region. Most species are medium-sized trees, sometime up to 40 metres in height, but a few species are shrubs. DNA molecular data shows that it is closely related to Rhodostemonodaphne and Ocotea.

Rhodostemonodaphne is a genus of flowering plants in the family Lauraceae. It is a neotropical genus consisting of approximately 41 species occurring in Central America and northern South America. This genus has many species that are valued for timber. The classification of the genus is unclear since the species in the genus fall into a well-supported but unresolved clade that also includes species with unisexual flowers currently placed in the genera Endlicheria and part of Ocotea.

Aiouea cinnamomoidea is a species of tree in the laurel family (Lauraceae). It is native to the states of Oaxaca and Guerrero in southern Mexico.

References

  1. ↑ "Tropicos.org".
  2. ↑ "Ocotea Aubl". Plants of the World Online. Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. 2021. Retrieved September 6, 2021.
  3. 1 2 3 Henk van der Werff (1996). "Ocotea ikonyokpe, a new species of Lauraceae from Cameroon". Novon . 6 (4): 460–462. doi:10.2307/3392056. JSTOR   3392056.
  4. ↑ "ITIS, Integrated Taxonomic Information System".
  5. ↑ Alain H. Liogier; Luis F. Martorell (2000). Flora of Puerto Rico and Adjacent Islands: a Systematic Synopsis. ISBN   9780847703692.
  6. ↑ Kostermans, Achmad Jahja (GH); Marais, W. (1979). Ocotea (Lauraceae) in the Mascarene Islands. H.M. Stationery Office. Retrieved May 19, 2012.
  7. ↑ da Silva Menezes de Sequeira, M.P.; Beech, E. (2017). "Ocotea foetens". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2017: e.T30328A81868200. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-3.RLTS.T30328A81868200.en . Retrieved November 11, 2021.
  8. ↑ Penagos Zuluaga, Juan C.; Werff, Henk; Park, Brian; Eaton, Deren A. R.; Comita, Liza S.; Queenborough, Simon A.; Donoghue, Michael J. (2021). "Resolved phylogenetic relationships in the Ocotea complex (Supraocotea) facilitate phylogenetic classification and studies of character evolution". American Journal of Botany. 108 (4): 664–679. doi: 10.1002/ajb2.1632 . PMID   33818757. S2CID   233026796.
  9. 1 2 José González (2007). "Flora Digital De Palo Verde" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on September 24, 2015. Retrieved June 14, 2012.
  10. ↑ Andrés Castillo Q. (2010). "Manual dendrológico de las principales especies de interés comercial actual y potencial de la zona del Alto Huallaga" (in Spanish). Cámara Nacional Forestal.
  11. ↑ Henk van der Werff (2002). "A synopsis of Ocotea (Lauraceae) in Central America and Southern Mexico". Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden . 89 (3): 429–451. doi:10.2307/3298602. JSTOR   3298602.
  12. ↑ "Plants Profile: Ocotea Aubl". USDA. Retrieved April 1, 2008.
  13. ↑ "Ocotea Aubl." Plants of the World Online, Kew Science. Accessed 28 April 2022.
  14. ↑ Rohwer, Jens (1986). "Prodromus einer Monographie der Gattung Ocotea Aubl. (Lauraceae), sensu lato".
  15. 1 2 Daniel H. Janzen. "About Memphis mora". Ontario Genomics Institute. Archived from the original on September 26, 2011.
  16. ↑ J. Phil Gibson & Nathaniel T. Wheelwright (1995). "Genetic structure in a population of a tropical tree Ocotea tenera (Lauraceae): influence of avian seed dispersal" (PDF). Oecologia. 103 (1): 49–54. doi:10.1007/BF00328424. JSTOR   4221000. PMID   28306944. S2CID   30945748. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 23, 2015. Retrieved May 18, 2012.
  17. 1 2 "Ocotea bullata". PlantZAfrica.com. November 22, 2002. Retrieved May 20, 2012.
  18. ↑ Paulo Oliveira; Patricia Marrero & Manuel Nogales (2002). "Diet of the endemic Madeira laurel pigeon and fruit resource availability: a study using microhistological analyses". The Condor . 104 (4): 811–822. doi:10.1650/0010-5422(2002)104[0811:doteml]2.0.co;2. hdl:10261/22475. JSTOR   1370703. S2CID   55469944.
  19. 1 2 "MANAGEMENT of Natura 2000 habitats * Macaronesian laurel forests (Laurus, Ocotea) 9360: Directive 92/43/EEC on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora" (PDF).
  20. ↑ David Gibbs (2010). Pigeons and Doves: a Guide to the Pigeons and Doves of the World. A&C Black. ISBN   9781408135563 . Retrieved May 20, 2012.
  21. ↑ "Biodiversity Explorer: The web of life in southern Africa". Columba arquatrix (African olive-pigeon, Rameron pigeon). Biodiversityexplorer.org. Retrieved May 20, 2012.
  22. ↑ Steven T. Mwihomeke; Innocent J.E. Zilihona; William C. Hamisy; Dismas Mwaseba (n.d.). "Assessment Of Forest User Groups And Their Relationship To The Condition Of The Natural Forests In The Uluguru Mountains" (PDF). Wildlife Conservation Society of Tanzania (WCST). Archived from the original (PDF) on February 27, 2012. Retrieved May 19, 2012.
  23. ↑ Mahabir P. Gupta (2006). "Medicinal Plants Originating In The Andean High Plateau And Central Valleys Region Of Bolivia, Ecuador And Peru" (PDF).
  24. 1 2 Ben H. Warren & Julie A. Hawkins (2006). "The distribution of species diversity across a flora's component lineages: dating the Cape's 'relicts'". Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences . 273 (1598): 2149–2158. doi:10.1098/rspb.2006.3560. PMC   1635518 . PMID   16901834.
  25. ↑ Hernán E. Ferrer-Pereira (2009). "Lauraceae at the Herbario Nacional de Venezuela (VEN)" (PDF). Herbario Nacional de Venezuela.
  26. ↑ P. Renvall & T. Niemelä (1993). "Ocotea usambarensis and its fungal decayers in natural stands". Bulletin du Jardin Botanique National de Belgique. 62 (1/4): 403–414. doi:10.2307/3668286. JSTOR   3668286.
  27. ↑ W. A. Lübbe & G. P. Mostert (1991). "Rate of Ocotea bullata decline in association with Phytophtora cinnamomi at three study sites in the Southern Cape indigenous forests". South African Forestry Journal . 159 (1): 17–24. doi:10.1080/00382167.1991.9630390.
  28. ↑ Jean Stout (1979). "An association of an ant, a mealy bug, and an understory tree from a Costa Rican rain forest". Biotropica . 11 (4): 309–311. doi:10.2307/2387924. JSTOR   2387924.
  29. ↑ "Ocotea Aubl". Germplasm Resources Information Network . Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture . Retrieved February 19, 2010.
  30. ↑ A review of the early Miocene Mastixioid flora of the Kristina Mine at Hrádek nad Nisou in North Bohemia, The Czech Republic, January 2012 by F. Holý, Z. Kvaček and Vasilis Teodoridis - ACTA MUSEI NATIONALIS PRAGAE Series B – Historia Naturalis • vol. 68 • 2012 • no. 3–4 • pp. 53–118
  31. ↑ Palaeoenvironmental analysis of the Messinian macrofossil floras of Tossignano and Monte Tondo (Vena del Gesso Basin, Romagna Apennines, northern Italy) - Vasilis Teodoridis, Zlatko Kvacek, Marco Sami and Edoardo Martinetto - December 2015 DOI: 10.14446/AMNP.2015.249.
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