Macleania megabracteolata Wilbur & Luteyn

  • Authority

    1981. Ann. Missouri Bot. Gard. 68: 163.

  • Family

    Ericaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Macleania megabracteolata Wilbur & Luteyn

  • Type

    Type: Panama. Chiriquí: E of the Fortuna Dam, 22 Feb 1976, Mendoza et al. 191 (holotype, DUKE; isotypes, NY, PMA).

  • Description

    Species Description - Epiphytic shrub; stems strongly and coarsely ridged and grooved, glabrous or nearly so, brownish. Leaves coriaceous, elliptic, (5-)7-10(-12.5) x (2.7-)3-4(-5.7) cm, basally rounded or broadly tapering, apically acuminate with the tip 1 cm or more long or acute, entire and slightly revolute, glabrous above or sparingly to moderately spreading short-pubescent or puberulent on the very base of the midvein,, glabrate beneath with punctate depressions marking former trichome attachments or, especially in younger leaves, with minute, reddish-brown appressed glandular trichomes 0.1-0.2 mm long; 5-7-plinerved, the secondary veins arising at or near the base with the midvein proximally prominently elevated and impressed distally while elevated beneath; petioles stout, rugose, 3-6 mm long, puberulous to glabrate. Inflorescence axillary, borne near the end of the branches, racemose, 4-7-flowered, the rachis, pedicels bracts, calyces and corollas moderately provided with reddish-brown appressed glandular trichomes 0.1-0.2 mm long; rachis striate or irregularly angled, 3-7 cm long, the lower 1.5-2 cm enveloped by ovate to oblong bracts 5-8 mm long; pedicels striate, 5-11 mm long, markedly broadened and articulate just beneath the hypanthium; floral bracts oblong to spatulate, 9-13 mm long, entire, apically rounded; bracteoles 2, borne just beneath the hypanthium, elliptic, acute, 13-16 x 5 mm. Flowers with the calyx hypanthium basally strongly angulate or pentagonal from the prominently intersinal ridges in the lower half, 5-7 mm long; limb ca. 2 mm long; lobes triangular to deltoid, acute, 3.5-4 x 3.2-4 mm; corolla broadly cylindric, 12-14 mm long and 10-12 mm 4.5-5.5 mm in diam., the lobes triangular-deltoid, acute, 2-2.5 mm long, reportedly pale greenish; stamens 10; filaments distinct, 3-3.5 mm long, spreading short-pubescent with slender trichomes 0.2-0.4 mm long; anthers coarsely granular, ca. 3 mm long, each with two completely separate cylindrical tubules 5-6 mm long, opening by an apical, introrse oval cleft; style glabrous; stigma punctiform. Fruit unknown.

    Distribution and Ecology - Endemic to Panama, and known only from the type locality.