Luteyn, James L. 1976. A revision of the Mexican Central American species of Cavendishia (Vacciniaceae). Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 28 (3): 1-138.
Ericaceae
Species Description - Terrestrial and epiphytic shrub, 0.5-2 m tall; stem base to 8 cm in diameter. Mature branches terete or subterete, minutely striate, densely puberulent becoming glabrate, green or often with a tinge of maroon when fresh, but drying reddish-brown: bark grayish or dark brown when fresh but drying grayish; immature branches and twigs of new growth subterete or bluntly angled, sometimes conspicuously striate, usually densely short pilose with grayish or whitish trichomes. Petioles subterete and often flattened adaxially, often coarsely rugose, (1-)2-4(-6) mm long and 1.5-2 mm in diameter, dark reddish-brown when dry, densely short, white puberulent often becoming glabrate. Leaves oblong, oblongovate, or ovate, 2.5-7.5 cm long and (1-) 1.5-3.5 cm broad, basally rounded and subcordate with sinus often as deep as petiole is long thus causing leaves to apear sessile and somewhat clasping, apically rounded, obtuse, or subacute (then most common in young leaves or leaves produced at end of season), green to metallic blue-green when dry, usually densely short pilose on both surfaces along leaf margins, midrib, and lateral nerves when young, usually persistent only on upper surface; 3-5(-7)-plinerved with lateral nerves often arising well above base thus leaves sometimes appearing pinnate distally; midrib and lateral nerves slightly impressed above, conspicuously raised beneath, lateral nerves sometimes slightly raised above, veinlets impressed, plane or raised above and usually slightly raised but inconspicuous beneath. Inflorescence 12-20(-53) flowered; rachis obtusely angled, frequently muricate, glabrous or densely hirsute, 2-12 cm long and 2-3 mm in diameter at base, dark pink but turning greenish at anthesis. Floral bracts glabrous or marginally short ciliate, smooth or rarely ribbed when dry, commonly marginally glandular-fimbriate (fimbriae often caducous), oblong, or oblong-elliptic, basally rounded and often somewhat clasping, apically obtuse or rounded, (9.5-)11-18(-23) mm long and 6-10(-13) mm broad, red. Pedicels subterete, often angled, striate and rugose, swollen at both ends, sparsely to densely hirsute or rarely glabrate, (6.5-)10-14(-18) mm long and 0.5-2 mm in diameter, dark pink but turning greenish at anthesis. Bracteoles oblong or oblong-ovate, 1-3(-5.5) mm long and 0.5-1(-2.5) mm broad, densely marginally glandular-fimbriate, glabrous or marginally ciliate, or short pilose at apex. Calyx sparsely to densely hirsute, rarely glabrous, (5.5-)6-8(-9) mm long; tube short cylindric, often 5-ribbed, rugose, 1.5-2.5(-3) mm long, basally apophysate this being very conspicuous and diverging at almost right angles, apophysis margin undulate or only slightly lobed, dark purplishpink but turning greenish at anthesis; limb cylindric, erecto-patent, or rarely campanulate, smooth to rugose or sometimes ribbed, (3.5-)4-6(-6.5) mm long including lobes, red basally and green above but totally red at anthesis; lobes narrowly or sometimes broadly triangular, 1-2.5 mm long and 1.5-3 mm broad, erect after anthesis, marginally short ciliate and provided along each side of the lobe with 3-5 very stout, callose-thickened glandular fimbriae, or rarely these fusing into one oblong, concave gland to 0.5 mm long; sinus broadly rounded and ciliate. Corolla slightly constricted and glabrous basally, densely pilose distally (rarely glabrous), (8.5-)11.5-15(-17.5) mm long and 2.5-4.5 mm in diameter, tube pale pinkish basally, pale green above, limb and lobes whitish- to pinkishgreen; lobes oblong, obtuse, to 2 mm long, erect or slightly spreading at anthesis. Stamens 8-15 mm long; filaments pilose distally, alternately either 2-5 mm or 3-8 mm long, pink basally, white above; anthers including tubules alternately either 5-9.5 mm or 6.5-12 mm long, orange; thecae 1-4 mm long. Style 9-16 mm long. Berry 9-10 mm in diameter. Phenology: Flowering most abundantly October-March.
the basis of herbarium material, C quercina may be characterized by its
1) short oblong-ovate leaves with subcordate bases and rounded or subacute apices; 2) by its hirsute rachises, pedicels, and calyces, and short pUose to almost woolly corollas; and 3) by its stout calyx-lobe glands and densely glandularfimbriate bracteoles. Living material is easily recognized by the leaves, the deep red floral bracts and calyces, and the pale green corollas with whitish tips. The single collection from Volcan Chiriqui, Panama (White & White 89), shows no significant variation from the Costa Rican material.
Although Smith (1932) stated that "the species is without close relatives," it does show more morphological similarities with C. capitulata. Upon occasion, the glandular fimbriae of the calyx lobes of C. capitulata seem to coalesce to form stout, more or less oblong glands as is more characteristic of C. quercina. Also extremes in leaf variation in each taxon may be virtually identical. 1 suspect, however, that these simUarities may be simple cases of parallel development in these characters. Other relationships of C. quercina are discussed in the introductory chapter on INTRAGENERIC RELATIONSHIPS.
Type: Costa Rica: Province of San José. Summit of Cerro Carizia, 1900 m, Pittier 14030 (Holotype: US! photo of type DUKE! isotype: NY!).
Costa Rica South America| Panama Central America|