ref: http://www.umsl.edu/~renners/Laurales%20clocks2005.pdf

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This pagw http://www.umsl.edu/~renners/Laurales%20clocks2005.pdf for this cite: "Pollination biology In most Lauraceae, the staminal appendages and staminodes are nectariferous. Pollinators comprise a relatively broad spectrum of bees, flies, and beetles but also other insects (Kubitzki and Kurz, 1984; Endress, 1990; Forfang and Olesen, 1998). However, some genera have staminal appendages that lack a nectariferous function (e.g., Aniba, Licaria; Kubitzki and Kurz, 1984), and a few genera have lost their staminal appendages altogether (e.g., Anaueria, Mezilaurus, Williamodendron; Rohwer, 1993) as is probably also the case for the fossil flower. Pollen seems to be the only compensation offered to visiting insects in these nectarless representatives (Kubitzki and Kurz, 1984). Small pollen-collecting Trigona bees (Meliponinae) are reported to be the main flower visitor of the nectarless Aniba and Licaria as well as of Mezilaurus at the time of anther dehiscence (Kubitzki and Kurz, 1984; van der Werff, 1987). In closely related families where no nectar is present in the flowers, other pollination systems with pollen-feeding beetles or gall midges are present (Monimiaceae, Lorence, 1985; Siparunaceae, Renner et al., 1997)...." 83.44.49.151 (talk) 11:34, 10 May 2012 (UTC)Reply

which includes about 40-50 species of evergreen, semi-evergreen or deciduous shrubs and small trees,== http://www.umsl.edu/~renners/Chanderbali_et_alAMBG2001.pdf ==

From web page http://www.umsl.edu/~renners/Chanderbali_et_alAMBG2001.pdf : Caryodaphnopsis and Neocinnamomum are mor- phologically similar, sharing triplinerved venation and four-locular anthers with the locelli arranged in a shallow arc (sometimes two-locular in Cary- odaphnopsis, in a horizontal row in Neocinnamo- mum delavayi (Lecomte) H. Liu). In contrast, Car- yodaphnopsis has opposite leaves, a perianth of strongly unequal tepals, and lacks a cupule, while Neocinnamomum has alternate (spiral) leaves, sub- equal tepals, and a shallow cupule with persistent tepals. Close relationship between Neocinnamo- mum and Cinnamomum (Kostermans, 1974a), and between Caryodaphnopsis and Persea (Kostermans, 1974b; Rohwer, 1993a), can be ruled out, but the relationships of these two genera are not clearly indicated by our data. They either constitute a lade, albeit with Cassytha (Fig. 1), or Caryoda- phnopsis lies between a Neocinnamomum-Cassytha lade and the rest of the family (Fig. 2). With Cas- sytha excluded, either Caryodaphnopsis or Neocin- namomum lies sister to the rest of the family (clad- ograms not shown). Neocinnamomum was not included in Rohwer's matK study, and Caryoda- phnopsis was placed as it is in Figure 2. Anatomical affinities of Neocinnamomum and Caryodaphnopsis with Chlorocardium and Cryptocaryeae, respective- ly (Richter, 1981), are consistent with their rela- tively basal position in the family. 83.44.49.151 (talk) 08:58, 14 May 2012 (UTC)Reply

...Caryodaphnopsis is disjunct between tropical America and tropical Asia, while Neocinnamomum is known only from tropical Asia. They represent the only early lineages in Lauraceae that are pre- sent in Asia but are not also known to occur in Africa, Madagascar, and Australia, in contrast to widespread genera in Cryptocaryeae and Cassytha. The fossil record suggests that both Caryodaphnop- sis and Neocinnamomum have an ancient Laurasian history. The fossil wood taxon Caryodaphnopsoxylon richteri Gottwald (1992) places the unique xylem anatomy of Caryodaphnopsis in Late Eocene Ger- many. The fossil flower Neusenia tetrasporangiata Eklund from Late Cretaceous North America com- pares favorably with Neocinnamomum, and flowers and fruits from the same locality can be compared to Caryodaphnopsis (e.g., Eklund, 2000). Although the affinities of the latter fossils cannot be unam- biguously assigned, the implied antiquity of Cary- odaphnopsis and Neocinnamomum is consistent with their relatively basal positions in Lauraceae. Most likely, these modern genera are descendants of the Cretaceous Laurasian flora of Lauraceae doc- umented by the fossil genera Mauldinia (Drinnan et al., 1990; Herendeen et al., 1994, 1999; Eklund & Kvacek, 1998) and Perseanthus (Herendeen et al., 1994). 83.44.49.151 (talk) 09:30, 14 May 2012 (UTC)Reply

Accordingly, in the Northern Hemisphere, the Mid-Cretaceous fossil taxa, and the direct ancestors of Caryodaphnopsis and Neocinnamomum, would have spread throughout southern Laurasia until de- creasing temperatures and the opening of the north Atlantic constricted their descendants to tropical Asia and America. To the south, truly pantropical genera and clades would have attained their wide- spread distribution, with seafloor spreading in the South Atlantic and Indian Oceans leading to in- creased regional endemicity. These continental re- configurations appear to be reflected in the distri- bution of Southern Hemispheric genera83.44.49.151 (talk) 09:40, 14 May 2012 (UTC)Reply

I've tried accessing this pdf document but have failed twice; I get a window telling me the file may be damaged or corrupted. Therefore it is currently invalid as a potential reference, at least to me anyway. PaleCloudedWhite (talk) 22:04, 14 May 2012 (UTC)Reply
That;s odd, I can't get it now either, but did access it about 12 hours ago (for the Potoxylon page). The first page is accessible here, but of course that is much less informative than the whole article. Nadiatalent (talk) 23:41, 14 May 2012 (UTC)Reply

The genus Neocinnamomum includes about 7 species of evergreen, semi-evergreen or deciduous shrubs and small trees, which includes several plants of commercial importance. The species are important and conspicuous trees in many of their native ecosystems known only from tropical Asia. The tree grows in lowlands the lower and the middle mountain zones. The leaves are shiny and leathery. The flowers are small and fragrant and borne in panicles. The tree Neocinnamomum mekongense is a species that grows in the Butterfly Spring in the mountains north of Dali, China. Masses of butterflies congregate on its branches in the springtime making it a popular tourist destination. In favorable growing conditions, shrubs may produce thousands of fruits, most of which are eaten by birds. The fruits are berries mostly striking narrow and ellipsoid, sometimes crateriform as in Neocinnamomum fargesii, sometimes red when ripe sometimes with a cup and an acorn shape as in Neocinnamomum caudatum. The fossil record suggests that both Neocinnamomum and the related genus Caryodaphnopsis have an ancient Laurasian origin.[1] — Preceding unsigned comment added by 88.19.159.146 (talk) 08:12, 3 June 2012 (UTC)Reply

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