台湾檫木 tai wan cha mu

Lindera randaiensis Hayata, J. Coll. Sci. Imp. Univ. Tokyo 30(1): 257. 1911; Pseudosassafras laxiflorum (Hemsley) Nakai var. randaiense (Hayata) Nakai; Yushunia randaiensis (Hayata) Kamikoti.

Deciduous medium-sized trees, up to 70 cm d.b.h. Bark dark brown, longitudinally fissured. Branchlets robust, glabrous, red-brown when dry, lenticellate, with dense semilunar leaf scars. Leaves alternate, those on infertile branchlets unlobed or 2- or 3-lobed, those on fertile branchlets unlobed; petiole ca. 4 cm; leaf blade glaucous abaxially, green adaxially, rhombic-ovate, 10-15(-16) × 3-6(-7.5) cm, lateral veins 7 or 8 pairs, midrib conspicuous on both surfaces, basal lateral veins subparallel to leaf margin, arising from midrib at ca. 40°, base broadly cuneate, apex acute. Raceme terminal or subterminal, appearing before leaves, ca. 3 cm, pedunculate, 5 or 6 in umbel at apex of branchlet, each subtended by involucral bracts at base; involucral bracts 3 or 4, orbicular, ca. 1.5 cm, pubescent outside, late deciduous; bracts filiform-linear, ca. 1 cm, barbate. Pedicel ca. 6 mm. Perianth tube short, puberulent outside; perianth lobes 6, lanceolate-linear, subequal, ca. 4 × 1.25 mm, sparsely puberulent outside, glabrous inside. Fertile stamens 9, in 3 series, subequal; filaments complanate, those of 3rd whorl each with 2 sessile glands at base; anthers ovoid-oblong, cells of 1st whorl 3, upper cell infertile, or 2, all fertile, those of 2nd and 3rd whorl 2. Staminodes of innermost whorl triangular-cordate or stamenlike, stipitate. Ovary obovoid, ca. 1 mm; style short, ca. 1 mm; stigma discoid. Fruit globose, ca. 6 mm in diam., seated on shallow perianth cup; stalk 2.5-3 cm, glabrous, gradually dilated toward apex.

● Evergreen broad-leaved forests; 900-2400 m. C and S Taiwan (Ali Shan).