Psammisia pterocalyx Luteyn
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Authority
1987. Opera Bot. 92: 117.
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Family
Ericaceae
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Scientific Name
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Type
Type: Colombia. Chocó: North ridge of Alto de Buey, ESW of El Valle, 500-1150 m, premontane wet forest, 8 Aug 1976 (fl), Gentry & Fallen 17391 (holotype, COL; isotype, NY).
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Description
Species Description - "Epiphytic vine", glabrous throughout; mature stems terete, striate; bark grayish-brown when dry; young twigs complanate, minutely striate, yellowish-brown when dry. Leaves coriaceous, opposite, lance-elliptic, 13-16 x 4-6.5 cm, basally rounded and subcordate, apically acuminate; pinnately-nerved with 3-5 lateral nerves, midrib slightly elevated for 1/2 to 3/4 proximal length and then impressed distally above, raised beneath, lateral nerves impressed above and raised beneath, veinlets impressed above and raised but inconspicuous beneath; petiole subterete, flattened abaxially, rugose, 2-4 mm long. Inflorescences 1 or 2, arising from raised nodes just above the axils of fallen leaves, seemingly each up to 2-4-flowered; rachis angled, to 0.8 cm long; floral bracts minute, persistent, broadly ovate, acuminate, ca. 0.5 x 2 mm, apically glandular-fimbriate; pedicels opposite and decussate, subterete, striate, 19-20 mm long; bracteoles near base, ovate, ca. 1 mm long, marginally glandular-fimbriate. Flowers with calyx red when fresh, 8-12 mm long, broadly winged its entire length, the wings 3 mm broad, alternating with the lobes and produced beyond them; hypanthium ca. 5-7 mm long, cylindric, articulate with the pedicel; limb cylindric-campanulate, 3-5 mm long including the lobes; lobes apiculate, less than 0.5 mm long; sinuses broadly flattened; corolla tubular, ca. 34-36 mm long, "yellow with red tips" when fresh, the lobes ca. 2.5 mm long; stamens 10, equal, ca. 15 mm long; filaments distinct, weakly tufted-pilose dorsally, ca. 3-4 mm long; connectives alternately thin and obscure or thick conspicuous, the latter prolonged as a shoulder; anthers 12 mm long including the rigid tubules; thecae 9 mm long, basally prognathous; style to 42 mm long. Fruit not seen.
Distribution and Ecology - Endemic to Colombia (Chocó), where it is known only from the type collection.
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Discussion
Conservation Status: Rare and endangered.