Monographs Details:
Authority:
Pedraza-Peñalosa, Paola & Luteyn, James L. 2010. New species of Ericaceae (Vaccinieae) from the Andes of Bolivia and Peru. Brittonia. 62 (1): 39-56.
Pedraza-Peñalosa, Paola & Luteyn, James L. 2010. New species of Ericaceae (Vaccinieae) from the Andes of Bolivia and Peru. Brittonia. 62 (1): 39-56.
Family:
Ericaceae
Ericaceae
Description:
Description - Pendent, epiphytic shrubs with branches at least 1m long, arising from lignotubers, also with roots bearing scattered, small (to 2.5 cm diam) lignotubers along length (example at hand shows primary root ca. 40 cm long bearing 5 lignotubers each 1-2 cm diam.). Twigs terete to subterete, glabrous; mature stems terete, the bark somewhat fissured, grayish, exfoliating in this pieces, glabrous; prophylls 2, oppostie, valvate, ovate, 0.6-1mm long, the apex acuminate, Leaves alteranate, spirally arranged; petiole subterete, canaliculate above, 3-4mm long, glabrous; blades coriaceous, laceolate, somewhat falcate, (7-)8-12 x 0.6-1cm, the base attenuate, the margin entire, eciliate , the apex long-acuminate, glabrous on both surfaces or sometimes glabrate, the hairs few, scttered, simple, multicellular, and glandular; venation 3(-5) - plinerved from base, the midrib and secondary nerves all conspicuously raised on both surfaces, the secondary nerves running parallel to margin, anastomosing, the tertiary nerves not very prominent, apparently reticulate. Inflorescences axillary, fasciculate, 2- flowered, or sometimes flowers solitary, sometimes ramiflorous inflorescences also present; bracts and floral bract undifferentiated, 5-8, ovate, 0.4 mm long, the margin eciliate, the apex acute, glabrous on both surfaces; pedicels articulate with calyx, more or less terete, red, 1 .8-3.3 cm long, expanding distally, 0.3 mm diam. at base, 1.1 mm at apex, glabrescent with few simple, multicellular, glandular hairs at articulation; bracteoles 2, distinct, persistent, nearly basal, subopposite to alternate, ovate or lanceolate, 0.5-1 x0.3 mm, the margin eciliate or with few, deciduous, simple, multicellular hairs, the apex acute, glabrous on both surfaces. Flowers 5-merous, diplostemonous, the buds red. Calyx campan- ulate overall, terete, greenish-red at tube with limb red, 7-7.5 mm long, glabrate with few, simple, multicellular and glandular hairs, the aestivation unknown; tube obconic, 3.2-4 mm long; limb 3-4 mm long; lobes deltate, 1.3- 1 .5 x 2.5-3 mm, the apex acute; sinuses broadly rounded. Corolla bistratose, fleshy, red with pink lobes, urcelolate, inflated towards middle 11.5 - 16mm long, 8 mm diam, glaberscent ouside with few, scattered, simple, multicellular, glandular hairs, puberulous inside at throat and base of lobes with simple, unicellular, eglandular hairs, the aestivation valvate; lobes deltate, 0.5- 0.75 x 1mm, the apex acute. Stamens 10, equal, included, ca. 8.5 mm long, yellowish- red; filaments equal, ca. 4.5 mm long, firmly connate into a tube ca. 4 mm long, puberulous in distal portion of both surfaces, the hairs simple, unicellular and elgandular; anthers equal, distinct, 3.8 -4.1 mm long; theacea 3.5 -3.7 mm long, with a basal appendage, smooth, the cells with polygonal shape; tubules 2, distinct, reduced, 0.3 -0.5 mm long, smooth, dehiscing by a broad latrorse slit running from tip of tubule to practically base of theca, 3.3 - 3.8 mm long. Ovary 5- locular, placentation axile; style included, 10-12 mm long. Berry unknown.
Description - Pendent, epiphytic shrubs with branches at least 1m long, arising from lignotubers, also with roots bearing scattered, small (to 2.5 cm diam) lignotubers along length (example at hand shows primary root ca. 40 cm long bearing 5 lignotubers each 1-2 cm diam.). Twigs terete to subterete, glabrous; mature stems terete, the bark somewhat fissured, grayish, exfoliating in this pieces, glabrous; prophylls 2, oppostie, valvate, ovate, 0.6-1mm long, the apex acuminate, Leaves alteranate, spirally arranged; petiole subterete, canaliculate above, 3-4mm long, glabrous; blades coriaceous, laceolate, somewhat falcate, (7-)8-12 x 0.6-1cm, the base attenuate, the margin entire, eciliate , the apex long-acuminate, glabrous on both surfaces or sometimes glabrate, the hairs few, scttered, simple, multicellular, and glandular; venation 3(-5) - plinerved from base, the midrib and secondary nerves all conspicuously raised on both surfaces, the secondary nerves running parallel to margin, anastomosing, the tertiary nerves not very prominent, apparently reticulate. Inflorescences axillary, fasciculate, 2- flowered, or sometimes flowers solitary, sometimes ramiflorous inflorescences also present; bracts and floral bract undifferentiated, 5-8, ovate, 0.4 mm long, the margin eciliate, the apex acute, glabrous on both surfaces; pedicels articulate with calyx, more or less terete, red, 1 .8-3.3 cm long, expanding distally, 0.3 mm diam. at base, 1.1 mm at apex, glabrescent with few simple, multicellular, glandular hairs at articulation; bracteoles 2, distinct, persistent, nearly basal, subopposite to alternate, ovate or lanceolate, 0.5-1 x0.3 mm, the margin eciliate or with few, deciduous, simple, multicellular hairs, the apex acute, glabrous on both surfaces. Flowers 5-merous, diplostemonous, the buds red. Calyx campan- ulate overall, terete, greenish-red at tube with limb red, 7-7.5 mm long, glabrate with few, simple, multicellular and glandular hairs, the aestivation unknown; tube obconic, 3.2-4 mm long; limb 3-4 mm long; lobes deltate, 1.3- 1 .5 x 2.5-3 mm, the apex acute; sinuses broadly rounded. Corolla bistratose, fleshy, red with pink lobes, urcelolate, inflated towards middle 11.5 - 16mm long, 8 mm diam, glaberscent ouside with few, scattered, simple, multicellular, glandular hairs, puberulous inside at throat and base of lobes with simple, unicellular, eglandular hairs, the aestivation valvate; lobes deltate, 0.5- 0.75 x 1mm, the apex acute. Stamens 10, equal, included, ca. 8.5 mm long, yellowish- red; filaments equal, ca. 4.5 mm long, firmly connate into a tube ca. 4 mm long, puberulous in distal portion of both surfaces, the hairs simple, unicellular and elgandular; anthers equal, distinct, 3.8 -4.1 mm long; theacea 3.5 -3.7 mm long, with a basal appendage, smooth, the cells with polygonal shape; tubules 2, distinct, reduced, 0.3 -0.5 mm long, smooth, dehiscing by a broad latrorse slit running from tip of tubule to practically base of theca, 3.3 - 3.8 mm long. Ovary 5- locular, placentation axile; style included, 10-12 mm long. Berry unknown.
Discussion:
Phenology. - Flowering specimens have been collected in Oct.
Etymology. - Thibaudia acacioides calls attention to the acacia-like falcate leaves.Thibaudia acacioides is characterized by its combination of glabrous habit; long, linear- lanceolate, falcate leaves; solitary and long- pedicellate flowers; corolla short-pilose within at throat; connate staminal filaments; anthers with latrorse anther dehiscence along nearly the entire length of the anther; and short, vestigial tubules. The overall external morphology of this species stands out within the genus and its relationships are unknown at this time. A color photograph of this species can be seen in the rapid color guide of Ericaceae of Bolivia (Luteyn & Pedraza-Peñalosa, 2007; Fig. 98- 100 as Thibaudia "acacioides).