Ticodendron

{{Short description|Genus of plants}}

{{Speciesbox

| image = Ticodendron incognitum 213116901.jpg

| status = NT

| status_system = IUCN3.1

| status_ref = {{cite iucn |author=Rivers, M.C. |author2=Barstow, M. |author3=Fuentes, A.C.D. |date=2019 |title=Ticodendron incognitum |volume=2019 |page=e.T37468A128258819 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-3.RLTS.T37468A128258819.en |access-date=11 November 2021}}

| grandparent_authority = Gómez-Laur. & L.D.Gómez{{Cite journal |author=Angiosperm Phylogeny Group |year=2009 |title=An update of the Angiosperm Phylogeny Group classification for the orders and families of flowering plants: APG III |journal=Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society |volume=161 |issue=2 |pages=105–121 |doi=10.1111/j.1095-8339.2009.00996.x|doi-access=free |hdl=10654/18083 |hdl-access=free }}

| genus = Ticodendron

| parent_authority = Gómez-Laur. & L.D.Gómez

| species = incognitum

| authority = Gómez-Laur. & L.D.Gómez

| range_map = Ticodendron incognitum map.jpg

}}

Ticodendron incognitum is the only species of Ticodendron, and the only member of the family Ticodendraceae. It is most closely related to the family Betulaceae.

It was discovered only in 1989 in Costa Rica, having been overlooked previously due to its habitat in poorly researched cloud forests and its very 'ordinary' appearance; further research showed its range extends from southern Mexico (Veracruz, Oaxaca, Chiapas), south through Central America to Panama.[http://apps.kew.org/wcsp/namedetail.do?name_id=205750 Kew Checklist of Selected Plant Families]Nelson Sutherland, C.H. (2008). Catálogo de las plantes vasculares de Honduras. Espermatofitas: 1-1576. SERNA/Guaymuras, Tegucigalpa, Honduras.[https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/28000427#page/1164/mode/1up Gómez-Laurito, Jorge & Gómez P., Luis Diego 1989. Ticodendron: A new tree from Central America. Annals of Missouri Botanical Garden 76(4): 1148–1151]Ulloa Ulloa, C. 2001. Ticodendraceae. En: Stevens, W.D., C. Ulloa, A. Pool & O.M. Montiel (eds.). Flora de Nicaragua. Monographs in systematic botany from the Missouri Botanical Garden 85(3): 2452

It is a tree, 20–30 m tall, superficially resembling an alder in appearance, with alternate, simple leaves 5–12 cm long with a serrated margin. It is generally dioecious, with separate male and female plants.{{cite book|doi=10.1007/978-3-662-02899-5_72|chapter=Ticodendraceae|title=Flowering Plants · Dicotyledons|year=1993|last1=Kubitzki|first1=K.|pages=594–596|isbn=978-3-642-08141-5}}