Authority:

Luteyn, James L., et al. 1995. Ericaceae, Part II. The Superior-Ovaried Genera (Monotropoideae, Pyroloideae, Rhododendroideae, and Vaccinioideae P.P.). Fl. Neotrop. Monogr. 66: 560. (Published by NYBG Press)

Family:

Ericaceae

Synonyms:

Tepuia floribunda Camp

Description:

Species Description - Shrub 0. l-0.3(-l) m tall; mature stems subterete, striate, minutely verrucose, glabrate; bark cracking longitudinally; twigs subterete, striate, densely short-pilose with ferruginous to cinereous hairs. Leaves thick-coriaceous, strongly convex above and concave beneath, often falcate, oblong-elliptic, 0.6-2.6 × 0.3-0.7 cm, base rounded, obtuse to broadly cuneate, decurrent, apex obtuse or rounded (with a subapical, blunt protrusion to 1 mm long appearing as the actual apex), margin strongly revolute over entire length, actual margins not visible, bearing 1-2 pairs of pustular glands at base of lamina or on petiole, weakly to moderately short-white-pilose above when young then glabrate, densely whitish- or more often ferruginous-tomentose beneath on surfaces, obscure; pinnately nerved with midrib impressed above and raised beneath, lateral nerves (apparently 3-4 per side) obscure; petiole subterete, narrowly canaliculate above, rugose, 2-4 mm long, densely short-pilose. Inflorescence l-4(-5)-flowered; rachis subterete, striate, 2-8 mm long, glabrous (glaucous to densely short-white-pilose); floral bract concave, ovate, up to 1 mm long, acute, glabrous to short-pilose; pedicel subterete to somewhat angled, striate to ribbed, 3-10 mm long, glabrous (glaucous to moderately short-white-pilose); bracteoles broadly ovate, 1-2 mm long, glabrous to weakly short-pilose. Flowers nodding, with calyx 7-11 mm long, essentially glabrous or lobes sometimes puberulent at tips, lobes striate or rugose, ovate, ca. 6-9 mm long, long-acuminate; corolla 9-14.5 mm long, glabrous, pink to scarlet when fresh, lobes ovate-deltoid, 1-1.5 mm long, acute to obtuse, reflexed; stamens 8 mm long (measurements from corollas 14-14.5 mm long); filaments curved, ca. 6 mm long; anthers ca. 3.3 mm long, base mucronate; thecae ca. 2.3 mm long; tubules 0.8-1 mm long, dehiscing by obliquely terminal pores; ovary glabrous; style ca. 7-8 mm long, glabrous. Berry ± spherical, to 1.6 cm diam., red when mature.

Discussion:

Tepuia venusta is characterized by small and narrow, strongly concave/convex leaves with rounded apices, and a glabrous ovary. Specimens from Chimantá are generally glabrous and have more elongated leaves. Specimens from Auyán-tepui, which have pubescent rachises, were formerly separated as T. floribunda Camp. However in the numerous specimens now available, pubescence is seen to be continuously varying from densely pilose to glabrous. The relationship of T. venusta and T. tatei is discussed below.

Distribution:

Venezuela South America| Bolívar Venezuela South America|