Monographs Details:
Authority:
Luteyn, James L. 1983. Ericaceae--part I. Cavendishia. Fl. Neotrop. Monogr. 35: 1-290. (Published by NYBG Press)
Luteyn, James L. 1983. Ericaceae--part I. Cavendishia. Fl. Neotrop. Monogr. 35: 1-290. (Published by NYBG Press)
Family:
Ericaceae
Ericaceae
Description:
Species Description - Terrestrial shrub to 2 m tall; mature branches terete, glabrate, orangish-brown; twigs terete, muricate, hirsute with hairs 1.5-2 mm long, glaucous. Leaves elliptic to ovate-elliptic, 6—10 X 2.5-5 cm, basally rounded, apically abruptly short caudate-acuminate, margin somewhat revolute, glabrous above but densely strigose beneath; 3(-5)-plinerved from base, midrib and lateral nerves impressed above and raised but inconspicuous beneath, reticulate veinlets impressed and inconspicuous above and obscure beneath; petioles terete, rugose, hirsute, 4-5 mm long and 1.5-2.5 mm in diam. Inflorescence ca. 20-25-flowered, encircled at base by numerous oblong to obovate bracts 30-55 X 20-40 mm; rachis terete, somewhat fusiform, glabrous, 2-2.5 cm long and 4.5-5 mm in diam. in midportion (ca. 3 mm in basal diam.); floral bracts oblong to oblong-obovate, 50-55 X 23-26 mm, basally truncate, apically rounded, glabrous, bright glossy orangish-red when fresh; pedicels subterete, striate, glabrous, 14-15 mm long and 3.5-4 mm in diam., provided with few short-stipitate to sessile spherical glands 0.1 mm in diam. at distal tip; bracteoles oblong, obtuse, somewhat cucullate, ca. 3 X 1.5 mm, glabrous but marginally provided on each side with several subspherical or oblong callose, sessile glands to 0.75 mm long. Flowers: calyx glabrous, ca. 7 mm long, greenish-white when fresh; hypanthium subcylindric, rugose, coarsely 10-ribbed, 4-4.5 mm long, basally apophysate; limb campanulate, rugose, 2.5-3 mm long; lobes triangular, acute, 1-1.5 X 3 mm, marginally with an oblong, callose gland ca. 1.5 mm long along each side but these not contiguous at tip; sinus rounded; corolla cylindric but abruptly and sharply constricted at throat, glabrous, 38 mm long and 9 mm in diam. (ca. 4.5 mm in diam. at throat), when fresh the lower half white grading through a very dark purple in upper half with throat white, lobes deltoid obtuse spreading at anthesis, 1 X 3 mm, white with purple margins when fresh; stamens 34-35 mm long; filaments with the shorter one densely short-pilose along inner surface of distal half, the longer one moderately pilose on the medial inner surface, alternately 3.5-4 mm and 9.5-10 mm long; anthers alternately ca. 33 mm and 25-27 mm long; thecae alternately ca. 16 mm and 12.5 mm long; tubules golden-yellow tinged with purple when fresh; style 37 mm long. Berry not seen.
Species Description - Terrestrial shrub to 2 m tall; mature branches terete, glabrate, orangish-brown; twigs terete, muricate, hirsute with hairs 1.5-2 mm long, glaucous. Leaves elliptic to ovate-elliptic, 6—10 X 2.5-5 cm, basally rounded, apically abruptly short caudate-acuminate, margin somewhat revolute, glabrous above but densely strigose beneath; 3(-5)-plinerved from base, midrib and lateral nerves impressed above and raised but inconspicuous beneath, reticulate veinlets impressed and inconspicuous above and obscure beneath; petioles terete, rugose, hirsute, 4-5 mm long and 1.5-2.5 mm in diam. Inflorescence ca. 20-25-flowered, encircled at base by numerous oblong to obovate bracts 30-55 X 20-40 mm; rachis terete, somewhat fusiform, glabrous, 2-2.5 cm long and 4.5-5 mm in diam. in midportion (ca. 3 mm in basal diam.); floral bracts oblong to oblong-obovate, 50-55 X 23-26 mm, basally truncate, apically rounded, glabrous, bright glossy orangish-red when fresh; pedicels subterete, striate, glabrous, 14-15 mm long and 3.5-4 mm in diam., provided with few short-stipitate to sessile spherical glands 0.1 mm in diam. at distal tip; bracteoles oblong, obtuse, somewhat cucullate, ca. 3 X 1.5 mm, glabrous but marginally provided on each side with several subspherical or oblong callose, sessile glands to 0.75 mm long. Flowers: calyx glabrous, ca. 7 mm long, greenish-white when fresh; hypanthium subcylindric, rugose, coarsely 10-ribbed, 4-4.5 mm long, basally apophysate; limb campanulate, rugose, 2.5-3 mm long; lobes triangular, acute, 1-1.5 X 3 mm, marginally with an oblong, callose gland ca. 1.5 mm long along each side but these not contiguous at tip; sinus rounded; corolla cylindric but abruptly and sharply constricted at throat, glabrous, 38 mm long and 9 mm in diam. (ca. 4.5 mm in diam. at throat), when fresh the lower half white grading through a very dark purple in upper half with throat white, lobes deltoid obtuse spreading at anthesis, 1 X 3 mm, white with purple margins when fresh; stamens 34-35 mm long; filaments with the shorter one densely short-pilose along inner surface of distal half, the longer one moderately pilose on the medial inner surface, alternately 3.5-4 mm and 9.5-10 mm long; anthers alternately ca. 33 mm and 25-27 mm long; thecae alternately ca. 16 mm and 12.5 mm long; tubules golden-yellow tinged with purple when fresh; style 37 mm long. Berry not seen.
Discussion:
Cavendishia erythrostegia is a spectacular plant because of its brilliant, glossy, orangish-red floral bracts contrasting with dark purple, white-tipped corollas. Furthermore, it is notable for its hirsute twigs, densely strigose leaf undersurfaces, many-flowered inflorescence, rachis thickest at the middle, glandular pedicels, large floral bracts and corollas, and short, oblong bracteoles with sessile callose glands. Its affinities within ser. Englerianae, are uncertain although its pedicellar and calycine glands are somewhat similar to those of C. grossa and C. neblinae. Additional collections are needed to determine its exact relationships and overall morphological variation.
Cavendishia erythrostegia is a spectacular plant because of its brilliant, glossy, orangish-red floral bracts contrasting with dark purple, white-tipped corollas. Furthermore, it is notable for its hirsute twigs, densely strigose leaf undersurfaces, many-flowered inflorescence, rachis thickest at the middle, glandular pedicels, large floral bracts and corollas, and short, oblong bracteoles with sessile callose glands. Its affinities within ser. Englerianae, are uncertain although its pedicellar and calycine glands are somewhat similar to those of C. grossa and C. neblinae. Additional collections are needed to determine its exact relationships and overall morphological variation.
Distribution:
Chocó Colombia South America| Colombia South America|
Chocó Colombia South America| Colombia South America|
Multimedia:
