''Laureliopsis'' is a genus of flowering plants with just one species, ''Laureliopsis philippiana'', known as tepa and wawán, endemic to Chile and the narrow neighboring strip of Argentina (35 to 45°S). In Chile it is found from Maule to Aysén. It grows on humid and deep soils.

Description

''Laureliopsis philippiana'' is an evergreen tree up to 30 m (100 ft) tall and 1.4 m (55 in) in diameter, with thin bark, and aromatic wood, and a superficial resemblance to Bay Laurel. The leaves are aromatic, oblong, attenuate at the base, 4.9 long and 1.5–4 cm wide, glossy, leathery, the midrib with yellow hairs, the edges are heavily toothed in the two upper thirds, every tooth ends in a small point. The flowers are

hermaphrodite In reproductive biology, a hermaphrodite () is an organism that has both kinds of reproductive organs and can produce both gametes associated with male and female sexes. Many Taxonomy (biology), taxonomic groups of animals (mostly invertebrate ...

or unisexual, they are small about 5–6 mm long, reddish-green, arranged in

raceme A raceme ( or ) or racemoid is an unbranched, indeterminate type of inflorescence bearing flowers having short floral stalks along the shoots that bear the flowers. The oldest flowers grow close to the base and new flowers are produced as the s ...

s, the

peduncle Peduncle may refer to: *Peduncle (botany), a stalk supporting an inflorescence, which is the part of the shoot of seed plants where flowers are formed *Peduncle (anatomy), a stem, through which a mass of tissue is attached to a body **Peduncle (art ...

s are hairy about 2–3 mm long, flowers with bell-shaped perianth split in 7-9

petal Petals are modified Leaf, leaves that surround the reproductive parts of flowers. They are often advertising coloration, brightly colored or unusually shaped to attract pollinators. All of the petals of a flower are collectively known as the ''c ...

s more or less equal, hairy outside, 4

stamen The stamen (plural ''stamina'' or ''stamens'') is the pollen-producing reproductive organ of a flower. Collectively the stamens form the androecium., p. 10 Morphology and terminology A stamen typically consists of a stalk called the filame ...

s and 8-20

staminode In botany, a staminode is an often rudimentary, sterile or abortive stamen, which means that it does not produce pollen.Jackson, Benjamin, Daydon; ''A Glossary of Botanic Terms with their Derivation and Accent''; Published by Gerald Duckworth & Co. ...

s, several carpels, the style is feathery with terminal stigma. The fruit is an

achene An achene (; ), also sometimes called akene and occasionally achenium or achenocarp, is a type of simple dry fruit produced by many species of flowering plants. Achenes are monocarpellate (formed from one carpel) and indehiscent (they do not ope ...

almost oval, crowned by the perianth, about 1-1.3 cm long, formed by the perigonium that wraps several carpels, hairy, dark brown, spindle-shaped seeds, about 0.8-1.2 cm long, with the style covered by hairs about 5–6 mm long.

Uses

The wood is used in construction, however it rots when exposed to outdoors moisture. It has been planted in Spain.

Etymology

The name ''Laureliopsis'' indicates the superficial similarity of the plant to '' Laurus''. Phillippiana honors Rodolfo Armando Philippi, a German-Chilean naturalist.

External links

* * {{Taxonbar, from=Q5971786 Atherospermataceae Flora of the Andes Flora of central Chile Trees of Chile Trees of Argentina Trees of mild maritime climate Valdivian temperate rainforest Monotypic Laurales genera