Lancewood
Oxandra laurifolia
Lancewood (Oxandra laurifolia) is a tropical tree species in the custard apple family (Annonaceae) characterized by its distinctive lance-shaped leaves and small, fragrant flowers. This medium-sized canopy tree produces small fruits that serve as an important food source for various birds and mammals in neotropical forests.
Taxonomy & Classification
Kingdom
Plantae
Phylum
Tracheophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Order
Magnoliales
Family
Annonaceae
Genus
Oxandra
Lancewood belongs to the family Annonaceae, order Magnoliales, within the Magnoliopsida class.
Species Profile
Lancewood (Oxandra laurifolia) is a tropical tree species in the custard apple family (Annonaceae) characterized by its distinctive lance-shaped leaves and small, fragrant flowers. This medium-sized canopy tree produces small fruits that serve as an important food source for various birds and mammals in neotropical forests. The species plays a crucial ecological role as both a food provider and habitat structure component in its native forest ecosystems.
Oxandra laurifolia faces severe population decline primarily due to extensive deforestation and habitat fragmentation throughout its limited range in the Amazon Basin. Agricultural expansion, logging activities, and infrastructure development have significantly reduced the availability of suitable forest habitat. The species' restricted distribution and specific habitat requirements make it particularly vulnerable to ongoing forest loss.
Key Facts
Habitat & Distribution
Lancewood inhabits humid lowland and montane rainforests, typically growing in well-drained soils along forest edges, secondary growth areas, and river valleys. The species thrives in areas with consistent moisture and partial to full canopy cover, often found at elevations ranging from sea level to approximately 1,500 meters.
Threats
IUCN Red List: Endangered
Oxandra laurifolia faces severe population decline primarily due to extensive deforestation and habitat fragmentation throughout its limited range in the Amazon Basin. Agricultural expansion, logging activities, and infrastructure development have significantly reduced the availability of suitable forest habitat. The species' restricted distribution and specific habitat requirements make it particularly vulnerable to ongoing forest loss.
Agricultural expansion
Deforestation and habitat loss
Logging and timber extraction
Habitat fragmentation
Infrastructure development
Community Sightings
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Sources & Attribution
How to Cite
IUCN: IUCN (2025). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2025-1. Available at: https://www.iucnredlist.org. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2025-1.RLTS
GBIF: GBIF.org (2025). GBIF Home Page. Available at: https://www.gbif.org
This page: SpeciesRadar (2025). Lancewood (Oxandra laurifolia). SpeciesRadar: Intelligence for Earth's Biodiversity. Available at: https://speciesradar.org/species/lancewood