| Litsea | ||||||||||||
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 Litsea monopetala Illustration | ||||||||||||
| Plant Info | ||||||||||||
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| Scientific classification | ||||||||||||
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| Species | ||||||||||||
| 200-400, including: Litsea calicaris |
Litsea is a genus of evergreen or deciduous trees or shrubs belonging to the Laurel family, Lauraceae. The genus includes 200-400 species in tropical and subtropical Asia, Australia, New Zealand, North America to subtropical South America; 70+ species in China, mostly in south and southwest warm regions.
Species
- L. calicaris, Mangeao, New Zealand, a tree reaching 15 m in height with smooth dark greyish brown bark. Opposite leaves, 50-150 mm long, ovate or ovate-oblong, bluish-green below. Flowers small, in umbels of 4-5, drupe oblong-ovoid, 2 mm long, reddish and seated on a disc.
- L. cubeba, evergreen shrub or small tree with lemon-scented leaves and small, pepper-like fruit. The wood is used for furniture, construction,and lumber. The flowers, leaves and fruit are used as medicine and for extracting an essential oil (also called May Chang) used in perfumery.
- L. ichangensis, forms part of Rhinopithicus roxellana summer diet.