Ocotea porphyria

Ocotea porphyria can grow up to 25 meters in height. It typically has a straight, cylindrical trunk up to 130 cm in diameter, and a broad, many-branched crown. The leaves are simple, elliptic-lanceolate or oblong-lanceolate in shape, and 7 to 18 cm long by 3 to 6 cm wide. They are deep green and glabrous (smooth) on the upper surface and lighter green on the underside, with reddish veins. Leaves are alternate, on 6–20 mm glabrous petioles. Flowers are yellowish-white, 3 to 4 mm in diameter, and hermaphroditic, on axillary panicles up to 15 cm long. Fruits are a single-seeded ovoid brown berry, 13–18 mm long by 8–10 mm wide, carried by a cupped receptacle. Inside is an ovoid brown seed, 9–13 mm long by 6–8 mm wide. ==Distribution and habitat==

Ocotea porphyria is native to northwestern Argentina, in the provinces of Jujuy, Salta, Tucumán, Catamarca, and adjacent portions of southern Bolivia. ==Uses==

The tree is harvested from the wild for timber. The wood is hard, heavy, and fairly durable, with a straight to irregular grain, light brown heartwood, and yellowish-white sapwood. It is used for furniture and construction, including doors and window frames. ==References==