Monographs Details:
Authority:
Luteyn, James L. 1983. Ericaceae--part I. Cavendishia. Fl. Neotrop. Monogr. 35: 1-290. (Published by NYBG Press)
Luteyn, James L. 1983. Ericaceae--part I. Cavendishia. Fl. Neotrop. Monogr. 35: 1-290. (Published by NYBG Press)
Family:
Ericaceae
Ericaceae
Description:
Species Description - Epiphytic shrub with stems to 2.5 m long; mature branches terete, smooth, glabrous, nitid, dark reddish-brown; twigs terete to subterete, slightly striate, glabrous, flesh-colored. Leaves subcoriaceous, elliptic, lance-elliptic, or ovate-elliptic, 7.5-14 X 2-5 cm, basally cuneate, subattenuate, or sometimes obtuse, apically short- to long-acuminate, rarely caudate-acuminate with acumen to 2 cm long, glabrous; 5(-7)-plinerved, somewhat bullate, midrib conspicuously thickened through proximal 1-2 cm otherwise impressed above, lateral nerves impressed above and raised beneath with the inner pair arising 1-2 cm above base, reticulate veinlets slightly raised on both surfaces; petiole terete, rugose, 5-10 mm long and 0.8-1.7 mm in diam., glabrous or puberulous and then glabrate. Inflorescence 5-13-flowered; rachis subterete or slightly angled, often flexuous, glabrous but glandular-fimbriate, 1-2.8 cm long and 0.7-1 mm in diam.; floral bracts caducous, oblong, obtuse, to 14x8 mm, glabrous but distal margins glandular-fimbriate, translucent pale green when fresh; pedicels subterete, striate, puberulent or glabrate, fimbriate, 3-7 mm long; bracteoles oblong or ovate, 0.5-1 mm long, glabrous, margins densely glandular-fimbriate. Flowers: calyx glabrous, 3-3.5 mm long; hypanthium cylindric, bluntly pentagonal when fresh but drying 5-angled, 1.5-2 mm long, basally truncate when fresh but drying slightly apophysate, glandular-fimbriate; limb erect or spreading, ca. 1.5 mm long; lobes triangular, acute, 0.5-0.7 mm long, somewhat connivent after anthesis, marginally glandular-fimbriate; sinus narrowly obtuse; corolla subcylindric, widest below middle, glabrous, 7-8.5 mm long and 3-4 mm diam., when fresh white in the basal ¾ and pink in the distal ¼, lobes oblong-triangular, obtuse, 1.5 mm long, reflexed and revolute at anthesis; stamens 5.3-5.6 mm long; filaments slightly connate at very base, marginally short-pilose, alternately ca. 1.3 mm and 2.3 mm long; anthers alternately ca. 4.6 mm and 3.3 mm long; thecae 1.2-1.5 mm long; style ca. 6.5 mm long. Berry not seen.
Species Description - Epiphytic shrub with stems to 2.5 m long; mature branches terete, smooth, glabrous, nitid, dark reddish-brown; twigs terete to subterete, slightly striate, glabrous, flesh-colored. Leaves subcoriaceous, elliptic, lance-elliptic, or ovate-elliptic, 7.5-14 X 2-5 cm, basally cuneate, subattenuate, or sometimes obtuse, apically short- to long-acuminate, rarely caudate-acuminate with acumen to 2 cm long, glabrous; 5(-7)-plinerved, somewhat bullate, midrib conspicuously thickened through proximal 1-2 cm otherwise impressed above, lateral nerves impressed above and raised beneath with the inner pair arising 1-2 cm above base, reticulate veinlets slightly raised on both surfaces; petiole terete, rugose, 5-10 mm long and 0.8-1.7 mm in diam., glabrous or puberulous and then glabrate. Inflorescence 5-13-flowered; rachis subterete or slightly angled, often flexuous, glabrous but glandular-fimbriate, 1-2.8 cm long and 0.7-1 mm in diam.; floral bracts caducous, oblong, obtuse, to 14x8 mm, glabrous but distal margins glandular-fimbriate, translucent pale green when fresh; pedicels subterete, striate, puberulent or glabrate, fimbriate, 3-7 mm long; bracteoles oblong or ovate, 0.5-1 mm long, glabrous, margins densely glandular-fimbriate. Flowers: calyx glabrous, 3-3.5 mm long; hypanthium cylindric, bluntly pentagonal when fresh but drying 5-angled, 1.5-2 mm long, basally truncate when fresh but drying slightly apophysate, glandular-fimbriate; limb erect or spreading, ca. 1.5 mm long; lobes triangular, acute, 0.5-0.7 mm long, somewhat connivent after anthesis, marginally glandular-fimbriate; sinus narrowly obtuse; corolla subcylindric, widest below middle, glabrous, 7-8.5 mm long and 3-4 mm diam., when fresh white in the basal ¾ and pink in the distal ¼, lobes oblong-triangular, obtuse, 1.5 mm long, reflexed and revolute at anthesis; stamens 5.3-5.6 mm long; filaments slightly connate at very base, marginally short-pilose, alternately ca. 1.3 mm and 2.3 mm long; anthers alternately ca. 4.6 mm and 3.3 mm long; thecae 1.2-1.5 mm long; style ca. 6.5 mm long. Berry not seen.
Discussion:
Within ser. Deciduae, C. oligantha is characterized by its few-flowered inflorescence, short flexuous rachis, and pinkish-white corolla. It is somewhat isolated in the series and may represent a primitive member due to its distinct (not fused) glandular-fimbriate bracteoles and calyx lobe margins. These fimbriae never seem to fuse and are also located on the floral bracts. It may be allied to C. barnebyi, another species with few-flowered inflorescences and short flexuous rachises, although the very different gland type found on the bracteole and calyx lobe margins of C. barnebyi argues against any close relationship. Hopefully additional collections of both species will shed more light on their specific relationships.
Within ser. Deciduae, C. oligantha is characterized by its few-flowered inflorescence, short flexuous rachis, and pinkish-white corolla. It is somewhat isolated in the series and may represent a primitive member due to its distinct (not fused) glandular-fimbriate bracteoles and calyx lobe margins. These fimbriae never seem to fuse and are also located on the floral bracts. It may be allied to C. barnebyi, another species with few-flowered inflorescences and short flexuous rachises, although the very different gland type found on the bracteole and calyx lobe margins of C. barnebyi argues against any close relationship. Hopefully additional collections of both species will shed more light on their specific relationships.
Distribution:
Colombia South America| Nariño Colombia South America|
Colombia South America| Nariño Colombia South America|
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