Ocotea aurantiodora

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Oreodaphne opifera
• Oreodaphne longifolia
• Laurus aurantiodora
• Ocotea opifera
• Mespilodaphne aurantiodora
• Alseodaphne opifera
• Mespilodaphne opifera
• Laurus opifera
• Ocotea longifolia
• Ocotea dielsiana
• Nectandra aurantiodora
• Oreodaphne grandifolia
• Ocotea grandifolia
• Ocotea microcarpa
• Ocotea rusbyana
• Ocotea trianae

Sources: Wikidata

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and the subclass Magnoliidae. It is further classified within the order Laurales and the family Lauraceae. Finally, it is identified under the genus Ocotea.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant is primarily distributed across the tropical regions of Central and South America. Within Central America, its presence is documented in the nations of Costa Rica, Nicaragua, and Panamá. Moving into Northern South America, the species expands its range into Venezuela. Additionally, it can be found growing in the tropical forests of French Guiana. These specific locations highlight the plant's preference for the humid environments characteristic of these territories.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Ocotea aurauntiodora is characterized by its broad adaptability across diverse forest ecosystems and a significant altitudinal distribution. It thrives within a variety of specialized habitats, including Floresta de Igapó, Floresta de Terra Firme, Floresta de Várzea, Floresta Estacional Semi-decidual, and Floresta Ombrófila (also known as Floresta Pluvial). This species demonstrates a wide elevational range, spanning from sea level (0 m AMSL) up to a maximum altitude of 1600 m AMSL, with a mean elevational range centered around 1900 m AMSL.

Elevational range max:

1600 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

1900 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

Floresta de Igapó, Floresta de Terra Firme, Floresta de Várzea, Floresta Estacional Semidecidual, Floresta Ombrófila (= Floresta Pluvial)

Morphology

The morphology of Ocotea aurauntiodora is characterized by its robust growth form as a woody tree, reaching a maximum plant height of approximately 30 meters. It is a self-supporting species that functions as an independent organism, lacking any parasitic or climbing habits such as lianas or vines. As a terrestrial plant, it does not exhibit aquatic or semiaquatic characteristics, nor does it function as an epiphyte, maintaining a strictly ground-based existence. Its structural integrity is defined by its woody nature, providing the necessary support for its significant vertical stature in its natural habitat.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

30 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Ocotea aurauntiodora is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, a common metabolic strategy in woody tropical species that utilizes the enzyme Rubisco for initial carbon fixation during the Calvin cycle. In terms of its structural and mechanical properties, the plant exhibits a stem specific density (SSD) with a mean value of 530 mg/cm³, reflecting the density of its xylem tissue and contributing to its overall structural integrity and biomass accumulation.

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Stem specific density (SSD) mean:

530 mg/cm³

Reproduction

The reproduction of Ocotea auraentiodora is characterized by the production of fleshy fruits that serve as the primary vessel for seed dispersal. These fruits are categorized as being fleshy in nature, providing a nutrient-rich medium for the developing embryo. Within these fruits, the seeds exhibit a highly consistent morphology, maintaining a uniform seed volume of exactly 100 mm³. This stability is reflected in the data, where the minimum, maximum, and mean seed volumes are all measured at 100 mm³, indicating a specialized evolutionary trait for precise seed size regulation during the reproductive cycle.

Fruit dryness :

fleshy

Seed volume max:

100 mm³

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Activities

Ocotea aurantiodora has 1 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antifungal.

Antifungal

1. Natural product letters