Umbellaria

The generic name comes from lat. umbellula - “incomplete umbrella”, specific epithet given in its area.

The species was first described in 1833 by George Arnott and William Hooker in the genus Tetranthera Jacq. , 1797 , later included in the synonym of Litsea Lam. , 1792, nom. cons. In 1836 he was included by K. Nes in a monotype section within the genus Oreodaphne Nees & Mart. , 1833 (later - a synonym for Ocotea Aubl. , 1775 ). In 1841–1842, Ludwig Reichenbach and Thomas Nuttoll independently distinguished this species in the monotypic genus Sciadiodaphne and Umbellularia .

In 1986, German botanist Jens Günther Rover proposed rejecting the priority name Sciadiodaphne in favor of the more frequently used Umbellularia . In 1994, this item was added in addition to the International Code of Botanical Nomenclature .

Evergreen heavily branched tree, less shrub, reaching 12-24 m in height (the highest specimen height of 33 m). Fanerofit on Raunkiru. Sprigs are cylindrical, bare or melkoopushennye. The bark is first smooth, then scaly, thin.

The leaves are yellow-green, shiny, narrowly oblong or narrowly elliptical in shape, up to 10 cm long and up to 3 cm wide, with a pointed end and a flat or wedge-shaped base. The upper surface of the leaf blade is bare, the lower surface is bare (in a typical variety) or hairy (in var. Fresnensis ).

The flowers are collected in inflorescences with pubescent axes of 5-10. For the first time appear in trees aged 30 to 40 years. Perianth shares 6-8 mm long.

The fruit is a drupe , usually single, about 2 cm in diameter.

Diploid set of chromosomes - 2n = 24.

Umbellaria Californian is known only from two states in the west of the USA - California and Oregon . The northern boundary of the range is Douglas County in southwestern Oregon, the southern boundary is San Diego County in southwestern California. Most of the range is located to the west of the California Valley , in the mountains of Klamath , Siskia and the Coastal Ranges of California. To the east, umbelluria grows from Shasta County to Kern County .

Umbelluria's valuable wood is used to make boxes, furniture, plywood, weapon butts, and to house houses. Currently, the plant for wood is not industrially grown. Even young plants are affected by tinder flat , which is one of the disadvantages of this tree. Insects are almost not damaged, with the exception of diseased trees, in which the beetles of Ptilinus basalis sometimes settle.

It has strong allelopathic properties, contains terpenes that prevent the normal development of the roots of young conifers.

Umbellaria leaves and branches are often eaten by black-tailed deer . Seeds feed on birds, small rodents, wild boars. Boars also eat the roots of the plant. Umbelluria bushes are suitable for nesting birds.

The Indians of the West used the bark of the California laurel to brew tea. The leaves were used as an insecticide for blood-sucking insects, and were also used in medicine for headaches and rheumatism.

Currently, the leaves of the tree are used as a food spice, the leaves should be used in small quantities, sold in markets in California. The tree itself is often grown for landscaping.

Intraspecific Division

• Umbellularia californica (Hook. & Arn.) Nutt. var. californica with leaves bare or finely and pressed against the bottom.
• Unbellularia californica var. fresnensis Eastw. , 1945 with a markedly hairy lower surface of the leaves.

Synonyms

Sorts

• ≡ Oreodaphne subg. Umbellularia Nees, 1836 basionym
• ≡ Sciadiodaphne Rchb. , 1841, nom. rej.

View

• ≡ Oreodaphne californica (Hook. & Arn.) Nees, 1836
• ≡ Tetranthera californica Hook. & Arn., 1833 basionym

• van der Werff, H. 4. Umbellularia (Nees) Nuttall // Flora of North America. - New York, 1997. - Vol. 3. - 590 p. - ISBN 0-19-511246-6 .

• Howard, JL Umbellularia californica. In: Fire Effects Information System (English) . US Department of Agriculture, Forest Service (1992). The date of circulation is June 26, 2014. Archived April 21, 2013.