Taxon Details: Gaultheria bracteata (Cav.) G.Don
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Narratives:

Family:

Ericaceae (Magnoliophyta)
Scientific Name:

Gaultheria bracteata (Cav.) G.Don
Primary Citation:

Gen. Hist. 3: 840. 1834
Accepted Name:

This name is currently accepted.
Common Names:

pachyla-pachyla, papa santa, rhinnin cussau
Description:

Description: Erect shrub (0.15-)1-3(-5) m tall; mature stems terete, striate, glabrate; bark reddish-brown, cracking longitudinally; twigs subterete, densely strigose with golden to ferruginous, straight to distally crisped, eglandular hairs 2-3 mm long; buds terete, ovate, scales ovate, obtuse, apiculate, ciliolate and short-pilose distally, reddish-brown. Leaves coriaceous, ovate to elliptic-ovate, (3-)5.5-8.5(-11) x (1.5-)2-3(-5) cm, base broadly cuneate, obtuse, or rounded, apex acuminate, slightly apiculate, margin obviously crenate with each tooth terminating in a deciduous, basally swollen hair to 2 mm long, newly unfolding leaves densely golden to ferruginous strigose with eglandular hairs which do not obscure surfaces, when mature upper surface appressed subsetose, glabrate, lower surface usually persistently strigose or glabrate and then swollen hair bases remaining as tiny papillae; midrib, lateral nerves (3-4 per side), and reticulate veinlets all impressed above and raised beneath; petiole subterete, rugose, canaliculate above, (3.5-)4.5-9 mm long, pubescent as stems. Inflorescence axillary, racemose, 10-15(-20)-flowered; rachis subterete, bluntly angled, 3-5.5(-7.5) cm long, densely strigose to hirsute with straight, golden to ferruginous, eglandular or minutely gland-tipped hairs 1.5-2 mm long, at base circumscribed by a series of ovate to oblong-elliptic, obtuse, striate, ciliolate bracts to 8 mm long; pedicels terete, 6-10(-12) mm long at anthesis, pubescent with appressed to hirsute, crisped, golden to ferruginous, eglandular or minutely gland-tipped hairs ca. 1-1.5 mm long (also weakly short-pilose with white hairs); bracteoles basal or nearly so, chartaceous, often wide-spreading, linear-ovate, 3-4(-4.5) x 0.5-0.8(-1.2) mm, acuminate, ciliolate, often distally short-pilose (marginally subsetose with minutely gland-tipped hairs); floral bract coriaceous, elongate, concave to cochleariform, spreading or often reflexed, oblong, elliptic to oblanceolate, conspicuously striate, 8-12 x 2.5-6 mm, acute, ciliolate, basally subsetose along margin with minutely gland-tipped hairs. Flowers with calyx 3.5-5 mm long, moderately to densely appressed-hirsute with straight or somewhat crisped, golden to ferruginous, eglandular or v ery rarely minutely gland-tipped hairs (also weakly short-pilose with white hairs at very base, or only pilose), lobes broadly ovate, 2.5-3 x 2-2.2 mm, acuminate, ciliolate and often short-pilose distally within; corolla cylindric-urceolate, subterete to bluntly 5-angled, 6-7(-8) x 4-5 mm, densely appressed subsetose with straight, golden to ferruginous, eglandular hairs, glabrous or short-pilose within, (white?) pink to red when fresh, lobes triangular, obtuse, ca. 1 mm long; stamens 4.3-5 mm long; filaments 3.4-4 mm long, moderately to densely white-villous; anthers 1.6-2 mm long, awns short (inconspicuous); ovary globose, densely short-pilose with white or cinereous hairs (glabrate after anthesis); style 3.5-5 mm long, moderately to densely short-pilose or glabrous. Fruiting calyx globose, 8-10 mm diam., blue-black, persistently pubescent. Chromosome number: n=11, 2n=22 (Luteyn & Cotton 11307).

Distribution: Relatively common in Peru and Bolivia. Although the type was said to come from Volcán Tungurahua (Ecuador), the species has never been recollected in Ecuador. Found in the páramo and puna grasslands, thickets, rocky soil of hillsides or road embankments, wet humus soil, white sand areas, and rarely on limestone at elevations of (900?)(1800-)2400-3600(-4000) m. Flowering and fruiting throughout the year.

Type: Ecuador, "prope Tunguraguae craterem, et in Chimborazo monte," Née s.n. (holotype, MA, photo MA neg. 1035pp; possible isotype fragments at F, K). Field neg. 26621, cited as a type photo ex G, is actually a photo of G. glomerata.

Common names: Peru: pachyla-pachyla (Huancavelica); rhinnin cussau (Macbride, 1959).

Uses: Fruit edible fide Eyerdam 24730. The flowers were visited by the hummingbird Heliangelus amethysticollis (Trochilidae) (Solomon 6019).

Flora and Monograph Treatment(s):

Gaultheria bracteata (Cav.) G.Don: [Article] 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.
Related Objects:

C. Davidson 3398, Peru
P. C. Hutchison 5917, Peru
Collector unspecified 443, Peru
Collector unspecified 2210, Peru
F. W. Pennell 14094, Peru
F. L. Herrera 3500, Peru
V. A. Funk 3445, Peru
R. Kanehira s.n., Peru
R. Kanehira 6, Peru
C. Snyder 580, Peru
C. Snyder 584, Peru
N. Y. Paniagua Zambrana 8643, Peru
A. Fournet A.F. 395, Bolivia
Collector unknown 822, Bolivia
C. E. O. Kuntze s.n., Bolivia
Collector unspecified 667, Bolivia
K. Graf 312, Bolivia
M. Cárdenas 37, Bolivia
C. Davidson 3853, Bolivia
M. S. Ferrucci 869, Bolivia
J. G. Graham 5418, Peru
J. Steinbach 5856, Bolivia
S. E. Clemants 2053, Peru
A. Matthews s.n., Peru
J. L. Luteyn 11427, Peru
J. L. Luteyn 11307, Peru
J. L. Luteyn 6390, Peru
J. L. Luteyn 11330, Peru
J. L. Luteyn 11316, Peru
J. L. Luteyn 6461, Peru
J. L. Luteyn 6463, Peru
Á. L. Cabrera 33716, Bolivia
H. H. Rusby 2014, Bolivia
H. H. Rusby 2013, Bolivia
H. H. Rusby 2012, Bolivia
B. Maguire 44463, Bolivia
B. Maguire 44413, Peru
E. P. Killip 24212, Peru
E. P. Killip 24406, Peru
J. D. Boeke 3225, Peru
J. D. Boeke 1391, Bolivia
C. Vargas C. 2228, Peru
A. Sagástegui A. 15781, Peru
J. F. Macbride 4438, Peru
A. Lourteig 3150, Peru
P. Acevedo-Rodríguez 6581, Bolivia
W. G. D'Arcy 13814, Bolivia
A. H. Gentry 23505, Peru
A. H. Gentry 37549, Peru
A. H. Gentry 19887, Peru
A. Fuentes 10512, Bolivia
A. Jardim 2007, Bolivia
J. L. Luteyn 15592, Bolivia
J. L. Luteyn 15592, Bolivia
L. J. Dorr 7070, Bolivia
C. Davidson 5103, Bolivia
J. Solomon 15981, Bolivia
P. L. Ibisch 93.0182, Bolivia
J. Solomon 15981, Bolivia
J. Solomon 14419, Bolivia
B. Vuilleumier s.n., Bolivia
J. L. Clark 6828, Bolivia
J. M. Schunke-Vigo 3088, Peru
N. Y. Paniagua Zambrana 5765, Bolivia
A. Fuentes 8730, Bolivia
A. Fuentes 8371, Bolivia
L. J. Dorr 6939, Bolivia
N. R. Salinas 2560, Bolivia
N. R. Salinas 2278, Bolivia
M. A. Lewis 39254, Bolivia
M. A. Lewis 40827, Bolivia
M. H. Nee 52463, Bolivia
M. H. Nee 52497, Bolivia
I. G. Vargas Caballero 6892, Bolivia
J. L. Luteyn 15728, Bolivia
J. L. Luteyn 15606, Bolivia
J. L. Luteyn 13670, Bolivia
J. Solomon 4916, Bolivia
J. Solomon 4906, Bolivia
J. Solomon 5974, Bolivia
J. Solomon 6019, Bolivia
J. Solomon 7293, Bolivia
J. Solomon 7386, Bolivia
B. B. Vuilleumier 366, Bolivia
C. Davidson 4945, Bolivia
J. Solomon 17329, Bolivia
T. Feuerer 8634b, Bolivia
O. Buchtien 9009, Bolivia
O. Buchtien 47, Bolivia
O. Buchtien 9008, Bolivia
O. Buchtien 9013, Bolivia
H. H. Rusby 2011=2013, Bolivia
J. Solomon 7295, Bolivia
J. C. Solomon 11985, Bolivia
J. Solomon 10702, Bolivia
J. Solomon 10715, Bolivia
S. G. Beck 566, Bolivia
F. R. Fosberg 28524, Bolivia
F. T. Grifo 1001, Bolivia
J. L. Luteyn 13479, Bolivia
J. L. Luteyn 13548, Bolivia
Collector unknown 230, Bolivia
S. G. Beck 1806, Bolivia
J. Solomon 16093, Bolivia
J. Solomon 15060, Bolivia
J. Solomon 16481, Bolivia
J. Solomon 17300, Bolivia
J. Solomon 17743, Bolivia
S. G. Beck 13103, Bolivia
J. Solomon 8974, Bolivia
T. Feuerer 10196a, Bolivia
S. G. Beck 1150, Bolivia
J. Solomon 8345, Bolivia
S. G. Beck 1150, Bolivia
J. Solomon 16093, Bolivia
J. Solomon 15421, Bolivia
J. Solomon 15379, Bolivia
J. Solomon 14260, Bolivia
S. G. Beck 11971, Bolivia
J. Solomon 8671, Bolivia
R. Siñani RS-209, Bolivia
G. Bourdy GB2183, Bolivia
J. Solomon 15379, Bolivia
J. Solomon 15421, Bolivia
G. Bourdy GB2183, Bolivia
Collector unknown 5, Peru
V. Quipuscoa S. 1303, Peru
L. Valenzuela G. 5721, Peru
Collector unknown 77, Peru
P. Nuñez Vargas 8305, Peru
E. Suclli Montañés 1402, Peru
C. P. Cowan 4346, Peru
D. N. Smith 4313, Peru
A. Sagástegui A. 8509, Peru
A. Sagástegui A. 12122, Peru
A. C. Hamilton 1145, Peru
T. R. Dudley 12026, Peru
D. N. Smith 7791, Peru
P. C. Hutchison 6447, Peru
A. Sagástegui A. 8875a, Peru
V. Quipuscoa S. 127, Peru
C. Díaz 4430, Peru
L. R. Landrum 4598, Peru
A. L. Monteagudo Mendoza 4784, Peru
I. Sánchez V. 10973, Peru
M. Ackermann 350, Peru
K. R. Young 1504, Peru
I. M. Sánchez Vega 5805, Peru
P. Nuñez Vargas 8512C, Peru
C. P. Cowan 4346, Peru
B. A. Stein 3817, Peru
P. Núñez 7712, Peru
E. M. Ortiz Valencia 401, Peru
E. M. Ortiz Valencia 382, Peru
E. M. Ortiz Valencia 835, Peru
E. M. Ortiz Valencia 242, Peru
E. M. Ortiz Valencia 813, Peru
E. M. Ortiz Valencia 315, Peru
E. M. Ortiz Valencia 239, Peru
E. M. Ortiz Valencia 235, Peru
E. M. Ortiz Valencia 377, Peru
I. Sánchez V. 11069, Peru
A. L. Monteagudo Mendoza 8005, Peru
R. Vásquez 28974, Peru
A. L. Monteagudo Mendoza 7432, Peru
R. Vásquez 30180, Peru
R. Vásquez 29002, Peru
R. Vásquez 28529, Peru
Collector unspecified 2697, Peru
A. L. Monteagudo Mendoza 4673, Peru
A. L. Monteagudo Mendoza 3459, Peru
A. L. Monteagudo Mendoza 3785, Peru
A. L. Monteagudo Mendoza 4410, Peru
E. M. Ortiz Valencia 690-B, Peru
E. M. Ortiz Valencia 783-B, Peru
C. Arias 0142, Peru
J. Perea 1533, Peru
A. L. Monteagudo Mendoza 8023, Peru
J. Perea 1919, Peru
A. L. Monteagudo Mendoza 9246, Peru
B. León 2314, Peru
J. D. Boeke 1806, Peru
J. L. Luteyn 15696, Peru
M. Weigend 2000/434, Peru
P. Pedraza-Peñalosa 1538, Peru
J. L. Luteyn 15665, Peru
A. Sagástegui A. 17087, Peru
A. Sagástegui A. 16308, Peru
R. F. Steinbach 560, Bolivia
R. F. Steinbach 260, Bolivia
D. A. Neill 13107, Ecuador
D. A. Neill 13070, Ecuador
Gaultheria bracteata (Cav.) G.Don
M. Cornejo 718, Bolivia