wide, ellipsoid, cupule 5.5 - 6 mm long, 3.5 mm wide above, 0.9 - 1.3 mm wide below, pedicel 
not distinct, tepals not persistent, falling off as one piece soon after anthesis. 
Known to flower in August; fruits in November. In wet forests at altitudes of 900-1500 
m. This species is known only from the central mountain ridges in the Dominican Republic. 
C. alainii morphologically looks very close to C. hatschbachii. They differ in the number 
of pairs of secondary veins, pubescence of lower surface of leaves, and number of domatia; C. 
alainii having usually 4-5 pairs of veins, lower leaf surface with straight appressed hairs, and 
only the basal pair of domatia, while C. hatschbachii has usually 2 pairs of veins, glabrous leaf 
undersurface, and one or two pairs of domatia. 
C. alainii is considered in the group of neotropical species of Cinnamomum, despite the 
total abscission of its tepals. The combination of staminodes with head well developed, distinct 
hypanthium, triplinerved leaves, and presence of domatia, suggest a strong relation of this 
species with the species of Cinnamomum that have persistent tepals. 
Specimens examined. DOMINICAN REPUBLIC. On ridge, E. of Loma de la Sal. 
Between Jarabacoa and Constanza, A. Liogier 11993 (NY(2 sheets), GH, BM, P, US); Alto 
Casabito, Constanza, A. Liogier 18258 (F); Cordillera Central: La Vega, Loma La Golondrina, al 
S de Jarabacoa, cerca del poblado de La Sal, Paso Bajito, 7. Zanoni et al. 35761 (NY); Cordillera 
Central: La Vega-San Cristobal-Peravia, 10km de Rancho Arriba en la carr. a Piedra Blanca y 4 
km SE hasta Mahoma y Rio Mahoma, en las orillas del Rio Mahoma, 7. Zanoni et al. 22894 
(NY); Cordillera Central: Sto. Domingo, Top of Loma La Campana, FE. L. Ekman 11506 (S). 
4] 
