Monographs Details:
Authority:

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. (Published by NYBG Press)
Family:

Ericaceae
Description:

Species Description - Shrub 0.3-1.2 m tall; bark fissured, glabrous, gray to dark gray; twigs subterete, gray or dark gray, slightly hispid or glabrous. Leaves coriaceous, revolute or slightly longitudinally curled, narrowly ovate to elliptic, 1-1.8 × 0.2-0.45 cm, base cuneate, apex acuminate, mucronate, margin entire, both surfaces glabrous; petiole subterete, 0.8-1.7 mm long, glabrous. Inflorescence terminal, racemose, 5-12-flowered; rachis 0.6-1.8 cm long, 0.8-1.3 mm diam., maroon to dark maroon, hispid; pedicel ascending or divergent, 3.5-7.5 mm long, 0.6-0.8 mm diam., hispid; bracteoles inserted near the middle of the pedicel, narrowly elliptic, flat or involute, 1.4-3 × 0.4-0.5 mm, base cuneate, apex acuminate to acute, margin ciliate, both surfaces glabrous; floral bracts linear-lanceolate, re volute, 2.2-5 × 0.50.8 mm, base cuneate or truncate, apex acuminate (acute), margin entire or ciliolate, both surfaces glabrous. Flowers 7-merous; calyx 3.6-3.8 mm long, tube 1.4-1.6 mm long, 3.8-4 mm diam., dull purple-red to orange, glabrous, lobes ovate to depressed-ovate, apex obtuse or caudate, 1.8-2.6 × 1.5-2.7 mm, longest lobe 2.3-2.6 mm long, margin erose and ciliolate, abaxial surface glabrous; corolla campanulate, pink, petals undulate, narrowly obovate, sometimes white basally, 14-17 × 3.7-6.8 mm, margin distally ciliolate, glabrous; stamens included, 11.5-15 mm long, filaments tomentose, anthers 1.3-1.7 mm long, 1-1.4 mm diam., glabrous; ovary glabrous, style subequal to corolla, 16-18 mm long, stigma capitate or 7-lobed. Capsules depressed obovoid, 4-4.8 mm long, 5.1-6.5 mm diam., dark gray, exocarp not separating from the valves; seeds 1.2-1.3 mm long, 0.4-0.5 mm diam.

Discussion:

Bejaria steyermarkii is characterized by its campanulate corolla, small elliptic leaves with acute apices, and its short pedicels. It combines characters of B. aestuans, and the two species with globose-campanulate corollas, B. tachirensis and B. nana. While B. steyermarkii has a campanulate corolla more than 14 mm long typical of B. aestuans, it also has small leaves, short petioles, and short pedicels typical of B. tachirensis and B. nana.
Distribution:

Venezuela South America| Sucre Venezuela South America|