erythropus, and C. napoense. Midvein and secondary veins usually look different on upper and 
lower leaf surfaces, being rather flat to slightly sunken above and slightly raised to strongly 
raised below. Tertiary and minor venation is commonly not raised, but it is distinct. Upper and 
lower leaf surfaces very often also differ in color, deposition of wax and pubescence. In general, 
lower surface is lighter in color, sometimes glaucous due to the presence of wax, and retains 
longer the original condition of pubescence found in young leaves. 
Pubescence is an important character for distinguishing species of Cinnamomum in the 
Neotropics. The indument often varies in density between younger and older parts of the plant 
and among individuals of the same species; but the most important features are hair form and 
orientation. Although hairs are always simple, they vary from straight to curly, and from strictly 
appressed to erect (figure 1). The fact that hair type is rather constant for a given species 
strengthens the point of considering this character useful for taxonomical purposes. There are 
some cases where a combination of hair types occurs, but these cases are uncommon. Hair color 
is not considered important, but there is a type of trichomes present in several species that is 
quite distinct in structure and also color; these hairs are dark red, usually wavy, and rather thick 
walled and stiff. When present they occur on one or more of the following structures: along veins 
on upper and lower leaf surfaces, on margins of leaf bud bracts, and along twigs in linear pattern. 
Domatia on lower leaf surfaces are common, and their morphology is also an important 
character for distinguishing species. Domatia are taken here as specialized areas of varying form 
located at the axils of secondary and also tertiary veins on the abaxial surface of the leaf 
(Wilkinson, 1979; O'Dowd & Willson, 1989). Form of domatia in angiosperms vary, with a 
continuum of types, from simple tufts of hairs to pouches or pockets. In Cinnamomum domatia 
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