Actinodaphne obovata (Nees) Bl., Mus. Bot. 1: 342 1851. (syn: Jozoste obovata (Nees) Kuntze; Laurus obovata Buch.-Ham. ex Nees (ambiguous synonym); Litsea obovata (Nees) Nees (ambiguous synonym); Tetradenia obovata Nees (ambiguous synonym); Tetranthera obovata Ham. ex Wall.); Trees, 20-25 m tall; bark greyish-brown; branches symmetrical; crown ovoid; branchlets terete, rusty hairy. Leaves simple, 3-5-clustered at apex of branchlet, subverticillate; petioles ca. 4-8.5 cm long; lamina ca. 16-45 x 8-20 cm, elliptic-oblong or obovate, acute at base, acute or acuminate at apex, entire, thinly coriaceous, shining above, bluish white beneath; secondary nerves 5-7 pairs, slender, raised at underneath. Flowers in short panicles, often fascicled, up to 3 cm long, rusty villous; flowers dioecious; male flowers in clusters, ca. 1 cm across, tube short; lobes membranous; stamens 9; female flowers in panicled racemes; staminodes 9; styles glabrous. Fruits ca. 1.5-2.5 cm long, ellipsoid, shiny black, coated on cupular perianth-tube, cup dilated, ca. 1 cm across. Seeds ca. 1.3 cm long, ellipsoid.
Common in primary forests; 1000 m.
India: Sikkim, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh; Bhutan, Bangladesh
(Attributions- French Institute of Pondicherry from India Biodiversity Portal)
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Fruits look like Lauraceae ! Yes, …, Lauraceae only, This is Lauraceae, tribe Litseae, genus Lindera. Thanks a lot, …, for the valuable diagnosis.
I feel Calyx (?) portion in the fruit appears a bit different as per FOC illustration and GBIF and high resolution specimens in it as below:
The attached images is of Neolitsea species, not Litsea, as per my knowledge this type of Neolitsea is not recorded from India, It may be new record to India or may be novelty, but flower is necessary.
It should be Actinodaphne obovata. Pseudoverticels of leaves and the bunches of fruits on the leafless axils lead me to this name. Recently I had a similar looking collection from Assam and confused with species of Neolitsea because of leave venation and bluish glaucous nature of the leaf. However, I am planning to collect them in flower and identify properly.
I do not think that this is Actinodaphne obovata, nor Neolitsea, rather Lindera. Male flowers will solve the doubts. I have already indicated the alliance and it is now up to the photographer who can go ahead with further studies and enlighten us.
If it is Lindera, then what is the binomial name of it ? Did you collect specimens?
If you want, I can collect specimens. I wish to know what is the full name of this Lindera species ?
The leaves are not matching with Actinodaphne obovata.
This is collected from deep forest of Tripura near Pecharthal, North Tripura.
Please read my comments carefully. I have clearly indicated that it may be a new species of Lindera. Please collect specimens and also try to collect male flowers (at least 6 – 8 twigs for preparing herbarium specimens), note down location with GPS. Then prepare a description, line drawing and photo plates. Then only the actual status can be ascertained.
I also tried but did not find any Lindernia matching to this. It could be a new species of Lindernia as indicated by … !
Small correction …, not Lindernia, Lindera only, I think you know both, Yes … ! Typo.
Yes, It is Actinodaphne obovata (Nees) Blume
I guess … is correct! Among so much dispute, please also look Persea.
After going through high resolution specimens at GBIF and other links as below, I am convinced of this being Actinodaphne obovata:
https://api.gbif.org/2FL.1790024
http://www.asianplant.net/Actinodaphne obovata https://commons.wikimedia/Category:Actinodaphne_obovata |