Actinodaphne longipes

Actinodaphne longipes Kosterm., Reinwardtia 9: 98 (1974) (syn: Actinodaphne reticulata var. glabra Meisn.);
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Nepal to Assam, N. Vietnam: Assam, East Himalaya, Nepal, Vietnam as per POWO;
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SK 3703 15 March 2023: 6 very high res. images.

Location: Kathmandu Valley, Nepal

Date: 11 March 2023

Altitude: 2418m.
Habitat : Wild
Lauraceae ??

Yes, appears to be from lauraceae.
Can it be some Actinodaphne species.
I tried as per the Checklist of Nepal, but could not find any match.

Actinodaphne reticulata Meisn. ?? Herbarium image from nearby location.
https://identify.plantnet.org/ru/the-plant-list/species/Actinodaphne%20longipes%20Kosterm./data

The whorled leaves and the terminal perulate buds indeed point to Actinodaphne. However, in my opinion, A. reticulata is best treated as a rare endemic confined to the Khasi hills in Meghalaya. I think the present images should be compared with A. sikkimensis.

A. sikkimensis is not yet recorded from Kathmandu Valley, however, A. reticulata is recorded in many localities in the valley and particularly. Phulchoki !

Would you please read our publication on Actinodaphne and point out where we erred?

Yes, it mentioned Phulchoki also. However, the tree had fallen and I am not sure If I can
find another tree to follow up for the flowering and fruiting !

We, Bengali people call everyone as “da” as a token of our affection, irrespective of age (junior and senior).
Please find attached the paper. Though published in a “substandard journal” several problems in Actinodaphne in our area have been solved here.
I am particularly interested to know what you call as A. reticulata and how does it match with the typical form confined to the Khasi hills. Your answer will be helpful in knowing the species better.

I also feel more close to Actinodaphne reticulata Meisn. as per GBIF specimens (one, two, three).

Looks different from Actinodaphne sikkimensis Meisn. as per efi page and GBIF specimens.

I beg to differ. I think the samples posted by … should belong to Actinodaphne longipes Kosterm. which is possibly unrecorded for Nepal. Anyway, for fomally reporting the occurrence of the species from Nepal, we need flowering or fruiting material and herbarium specimens.

There is only one specimen of this in GBIF and it looks different to me.
Actinodaphne reticulata Meisn. has been reported in the Checklist of Nepal.

Such a report could be based on misidentification only. Without flowers or fruits we can distinguish A. reticulata, identifiable by the prominent minor venation of leaves on both surfaces of leaves. But here we can see obscure minor venation of the leaves, characteristic of A. longipes. Moreover, true A. reticulata is confined to the Khasi hills and reports outside Meghalaya might be misidentifications, in my opinion.

The situation can be clarified decisively only when the flowers and fruits are made available.

OK …! I shall try for the flowers, however the tree was cut down

I will keep it as A. longipes for the time being, as suggested by …

SK 3936 10 March 2024 – Lauraceae: 4 very high res. images.

Location: Kathmandu Valley, Nepal

Date: 02 March 2024

Altitude: 2650m.
Habitat : Wild

Here the terminal buds are sparsely puberulous. Hence this plant cannot be Actinodaphne reticulata. I am sticking to my earlier observation that this plant is something close to A. longipes Kosterm. but without any flowers or fruits it is really difficult to confirm the identity.

Ok …! Can you suggest to me the flowering phenology?