Endlicheria


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.
This genus has many species of high commercial value to the wood industry.
Endlicheria species occur mostly in the drainage area of the Amazon from South America, and low coast rainforest and mountain tropical forest in the Greater Antilles, Guianas, Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela, Peru, Bolivia, Paraguay, to the south of Brazil, and in the Andean cloud forest in tropical America. The species of Endlicheria occur in moist forest habitats from elevations of around sea level to 2.500 meters in the Andean and Guianian highlands. At least two species are present in mountain cloud forest and Atlantic forest of south east Brazil, and two other species in Caribbean Lesser Antilles mountain cloud forest.

Taxonomy

Traditionally, Endlicheria was placed near Aniba and the other Lauraceae with two locellate anthers. However, it has been suggested that the two-locellate anthers that distinguish Endlicheria from Rhodostemonodaphne evolved repeatedly. The two genera form a group of approximately 100 known species.

Characteristics

Leaves congested at the apex of the branches, flowers in panicles with racemose endings.
The plants are dioecious, i.e., male and female flowers appear on different trees.

Species

60 species are accepted.