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)
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
Ericaceae
Description:
Species Description - Virgate, wiry shrub, 0.1-1.5 m tall; mature stem terete to subterete, smooth to striate, lustrous, glabrous; twigs subterete to bluntly angled, glabrous or very weakly puberulent, glabrate. Leaves in whorls of 3 or rarely leaves subopposite, strongly imbricate, usually ascending and concealing stem, elliptic to ovate-elliptic, 1.2-5(-6) × 0.6-1.0 mm, base rounded to broadly cuneate, short-decurrent, apex bluntly acute to obtuse, or rounded, often keeled, often provided with a tiny, subglobular terminal gland, apparent margins glabrous or minutely ciliate at very base of lamina, also bearing tiny, translucent to reddish or brownish, subglobular glands ca. 0.1 mm diam, along entire length, these may fuse at apex, or rarely these glands absent or replaced by short, translucent setae (Steyermark & Wurdack 771), otherwise lamina glabrous or puberulent in the middle to all over at base; petiole 0.3-0.6 mm long, glabrous or puberulent above (Fig. 2M-N). Inflorescence terminal or axillary, flowers up to 5, often clustered at tips of new growth; pedicels subterete, striate, ribbed, 1.3-6.5 mm long, glabrous to short-white-pilose, and also with or without glandular-hispid hairs to 0.4 mm long; floral bract ca. 3 mm long; bracteoles linear, 3-4 mm long. Flowers 5-7(-9)-merous; calyx campanulate, 3.5-5 mm long, lobes spreading, linear-ovate, ca. 3.2-4.5 mm long, bluntly acute (short-mucronate), essentially glabrous but margins usually ciliate near base (with tiny, acicular hairs), also bearing sessile to short-stipitate, subglobular glands similar to leaves which sometimes fuse at the apex; petals wide-spreading (corolla rotate), oblong to elliptic-oblong, rounded, 6-9 × 2.5-4 mm, yellow to yellowish-green or orange tinted when fresh, glabrous; stamens 4-6 mm long; filaments 3-5 mm long; anthers ca. 1-2 mm long; ovary glabrous; style 1.5-3 mm long, glabrous. Capsule ovoid to globose, ca. 3-4 mm long.
Species Description - Virgate, wiry shrub, 0.1-1.5 m tall; mature stem terete to subterete, smooth to striate, lustrous, glabrous; twigs subterete to bluntly angled, glabrous or very weakly puberulent, glabrate. Leaves in whorls of 3 or rarely leaves subopposite, strongly imbricate, usually ascending and concealing stem, elliptic to ovate-elliptic, 1.2-5(-6) × 0.6-1.0 mm, base rounded to broadly cuneate, short-decurrent, apex bluntly acute to obtuse, or rounded, often keeled, often provided with a tiny, subglobular terminal gland, apparent margins glabrous or minutely ciliate at very base of lamina, also bearing tiny, translucent to reddish or brownish, subglobular glands ca. 0.1 mm diam, along entire length, these may fuse at apex, or rarely these glands absent or replaced by short, translucent setae (Steyermark & Wurdack 771), otherwise lamina glabrous or puberulent in the middle to all over at base; petiole 0.3-0.6 mm long, glabrous or puberulent above (Fig. 2M-N). Inflorescence terminal or axillary, flowers up to 5, often clustered at tips of new growth; pedicels subterete, striate, ribbed, 1.3-6.5 mm long, glabrous to short-white-pilose, and also with or without glandular-hispid hairs to 0.4 mm long; floral bract ca. 3 mm long; bracteoles linear, 3-4 mm long. Flowers 5-7(-9)-merous; calyx campanulate, 3.5-5 mm long, lobes spreading, linear-ovate, ca. 3.2-4.5 mm long, bluntly acute (short-mucronate), essentially glabrous but margins usually ciliate near base (with tiny, acicular hairs), also bearing sessile to short-stipitate, subglobular glands similar to leaves which sometimes fuse at the apex; petals wide-spreading (corolla rotate), oblong to elliptic-oblong, rounded, 6-9 × 2.5-4 mm, yellow to yellowish-green or orange tinted when fresh, glabrous; stamens 4-6 mm long; filaments 3-5 mm long; anthers ca. 1-2 mm long; ovary glabrous; style 1.5-3 mm long, glabrous. Capsule ovoid to globose, ca. 3-4 mm long.
Discussion:
Ledothamnus luteus is characterized by small, appressed leaves with margins bearing numerous sessile or very short-stalked (less than 0.1 mm long), globular glands, relatively short pedicels, and yellowish to yellowish-green petals. Its virgate, wiry habit with usually smooth, gray-black to reddish-black, lustrous stems are also distinctive.The relationships of L. luteus are discussed under L. atroadenus.
Ledothamnus luteus is characterized by small, appressed leaves with margins bearing numerous sessile or very short-stalked (less than 0.1 mm long), globular glands, relatively short pedicels, and yellowish to yellowish-green petals. Its virgate, wiry habit with usually smooth, gray-black to reddish-black, lustrous stems are also distinctive.The relationships of L. luteus are discussed under L. atroadenus.
Distribution:
Venezuela South America| Bolívar Venezuela South America|
Venezuela South America| Bolívar Venezuela South America|
Multimedia:
