Abstract 
The Lauraceae are one of the principal tree components of tropical forests. Some species 
of the genus Cinnamomum are important tree elements of tropical forests, but despite this, the 
American taxa have not been revised taxonomically since the end of last century. This study has 
the aim of reviewing the American members of the genus, which have mostly been included in 
the genus Phoebe. The taxonomical revision of the species will also address three main 
questions: 1) do all the American species formerly included in Phoebe belong in Cinnamomum?, 
2) are the triplinerved and pinninerved species of this group of American species congeneric?, 
and 3) what are the phylogenetic relationships among these species? The revision involved the 
evaluation of critical taxonomical literature, the survey of herbarium specimens (vegetative and 
reproductive morphology), field work, and the analysis of leaf anatomical features. These data 
were used for delimitation of taxa, their description, and preparation of keys for identification. 
Forty-seven species were accepted in Cinnamomum for the Neotropics, and thirteen 
species are proposed as new. During the development of this revision, as a result of the study of 
specimens morphologically related to Cinnamomum I described a new genus (Mocinnodaphne). 
By floral morphology, this genus is related to Licaria, but presents several vegetative and fruit 
characters found in Cinnamomum. 
Evaluation of Cinnamomum as a distinct evolutionary line in the Lauraceae, as well as the 
phylogenetic relationships among the neotropical species and with other taxa within the family 
was assessed through cladistic analyses. Results suggest that: 1) the syndrome of characters 
commonly used to distinguish Cinnamomum (namely hermaphrodite flowers with nine fertile 
