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 - Erect, multi-stemmed shrubs, to 2 m tall; bark exfoliating in irregular plates; young twigs densely glandular hirsute with multiseriate-stalked, swollenheaded glandular hairs interspersed with shorter, uniseriate, hyaline hairs. Leaves congested at stem tips, coriaceous, narrowly ovate, narrowly elliptic, elliptic, or narrowly obovate, 4.3-11.5 × 1.4-4.2 cm, base tapering and cuneate or narrowly cuneate; apex acute to obtuse, often mucronate; margins plane to slightly revolute, entire, often with a few scattered teeth near the apex; upper surface bright to dark green, sparingly pubescent with scattered uni- and biseriate hyaline hairs and uniseriate-stalked, swollen-headed, glandular hairs, the hairs persisting on older leaves along midribs, margins, and toward the base; lower surface pale white to gray, densely lanate with uniseriate hairs and scattered uni- and biseriate-stalked, swollen headed, glandular hairs, the glands red; petioles short, 0.5-1.1 mm long, densely glandular-hirsute as with young stems. Inflorescences paniculate, loosely and much-branched, 10-20 cm long; rachis, pedicels, bracts, bracteoles, and calyx densely glandular hirsute with muliseriate-stalked, swollen-headed, glandular hairs, the glands red, imparting a reddish color to the entire inflorescence; floral bracts narrowly ovate, 8-23 × 1.5-4 mm, ciliate; pedicels 8-16 mm long; bracteoles 4.5-8 mm long, ciliate. Flowers with calyx lobes triangular, 1.7-2.1 × 1-2.2 mm, acuminate, ciliate; corollas urceolate, 5.2-7.1 mm long, 3.5-6 mm in diam., red, outer surface sparingly pubescent with scattered, short, uniseriate, hyaline hairs, inner surface more densely pubescent distally with similar hairs, the lobes reflexed, 0.7-1.6 × 1-1.5 mm; stamens 2-4 mm long, filaments dilated at the base, 1.8-3.5 mm long, glabrous or nearly so; anthers 1-2.2 × 0.5-1.1 mm, spurs 0.4-1 mm long; style 3.5-4.1 mm long, glabrous; ovary glabrous or pubescent with unicellular, hyaline hairs. Fruit drupaceous, 3.5-4.5 mm in diam, (immature); seeds not seen.
Species Description - Erect, multi-stemmed shrubs, to 2 m tall; bark exfoliating in irregular plates; young twigs densely glandular hirsute with multiseriate-stalked, swollenheaded glandular hairs interspersed with shorter, uniseriate, hyaline hairs. Leaves congested at stem tips, coriaceous, narrowly ovate, narrowly elliptic, elliptic, or narrowly obovate, 4.3-11.5 × 1.4-4.2 cm, base tapering and cuneate or narrowly cuneate; apex acute to obtuse, often mucronate; margins plane to slightly revolute, entire, often with a few scattered teeth near the apex; upper surface bright to dark green, sparingly pubescent with scattered uni- and biseriate hyaline hairs and uniseriate-stalked, swollen-headed, glandular hairs, the hairs persisting on older leaves along midribs, margins, and toward the base; lower surface pale white to gray, densely lanate with uniseriate hairs and scattered uni- and biseriate-stalked, swollen headed, glandular hairs, the glands red; petioles short, 0.5-1.1 mm long, densely glandular-hirsute as with young stems. Inflorescences paniculate, loosely and much-branched, 10-20 cm long; rachis, pedicels, bracts, bracteoles, and calyx densely glandular hirsute with muliseriate-stalked, swollen-headed, glandular hairs, the glands red, imparting a reddish color to the entire inflorescence; floral bracts narrowly ovate, 8-23 × 1.5-4 mm, ciliate; pedicels 8-16 mm long; bracteoles 4.5-8 mm long, ciliate. Flowers with calyx lobes triangular, 1.7-2.1 × 1-2.2 mm, acuminate, ciliate; corollas urceolate, 5.2-7.1 mm long, 3.5-6 mm in diam., red, outer surface sparingly pubescent with scattered, short, uniseriate, hyaline hairs, inner surface more densely pubescent distally with similar hairs, the lobes reflexed, 0.7-1.6 × 1-1.5 mm; stamens 2-4 mm long, filaments dilated at the base, 1.8-3.5 mm long, glabrous or nearly so; anthers 1-2.2 × 0.5-1.1 mm, spurs 0.4-1 mm long; style 3.5-4.1 mm long, glabrous; ovary glabrous or pubescent with unicellular, hyaline hairs. Fruit drupaceous, 3.5-4.5 mm in diam, (immature); seeds not seen.
Discussion:
Comarostaphylis sharpii is closely aligned with C. glaucescens, a species widely distributed in the mountains of Mexico. Similarities include corolla color (red, a color otherwise unknown in the genus) and leaf shape. Also, the leaves of both species have nearly entire margins and are glaucous abaxially. Comarostaphylis sharpii is found near the northern limit of the range of C. glaucescens, and it is possible that it is an evolutionary derivative of the latter species. Comarostaphylis sharpii differs from C. glaucescens in having highly branched inflorescences (vs. typically unbranched), glabrous (vs. villous) filaments, much larger, more coriaceous leaves, and a more shrub-like habit (vs. often a small tree). The glabrous filaments are unique in the genus. Furthermore, C. sharpii is apparently not facultatively drought deciduous as is C. glaucescens, the only species in the genus known to possess this character (Diggs, 1981). Comarostaphylis sharpii also shares similarities (e.g., vestiture, inflorescence branching) with C. lanata, a poorly known narrow endemic. However, the much larger, less re volute leaves, glabrous filaments, and larger inflorescences of C sharpii separate it from C. lanata.A recent collection from Durango (Spellenberg & Gonzalez E. 10365, ID, n.v., NMC, n.v., NY) is similar to C. sharpii in having red flowers and coriaceous, densely lanate lower leaf surfaces. Definitive determination, however, is not possible without additional material.
Comarostaphylis sharpii is closely aligned with C. glaucescens, a species widely distributed in the mountains of Mexico. Similarities include corolla color (red, a color otherwise unknown in the genus) and leaf shape. Also, the leaves of both species have nearly entire margins and are glaucous abaxially. Comarostaphylis sharpii is found near the northern limit of the range of C. glaucescens, and it is possible that it is an evolutionary derivative of the latter species. Comarostaphylis sharpii differs from C. glaucescens in having highly branched inflorescences (vs. typically unbranched), glabrous (vs. villous) filaments, much larger, more coriaceous leaves, and a more shrub-like habit (vs. often a small tree). The glabrous filaments are unique in the genus. Furthermore, C. sharpii is apparently not facultatively drought deciduous as is C. glaucescens, the only species in the genus known to possess this character (Diggs, 1981). Comarostaphylis sharpii also shares similarities (e.g., vestiture, inflorescence branching) with C. lanata, a poorly known narrow endemic. However, the much larger, less re volute leaves, glabrous filaments, and larger inflorescences of C sharpii separate it from C. lanata.A recent collection from Durango (Spellenberg & Gonzalez E. 10365, ID, n.v., NMC, n.v., NY) is similar to C. sharpii in having red flowers and coriaceous, densely lanate lower leaf surfaces. Definitive determination, however, is not possible without additional material.
Distribution and Ecology: (Fig. 17) and ecology. Comarostaphylis sharpii is apparently restricted to a narrow zone of humid pine-oak forest near Gomez Farias, Tamaulipas, Mexico. Associates include Quercus mexicana, Q. opaca, Arbutus sp., and Cerocarpus sp. Indications are that the species is uncommon. Edaphic conditions include shallow soil on broken limestone. Flowering specimens have been collected in May, Jun, and Aug; immature fruit in Jun and Aug.
Distribution:
Mexico North America| Tamaulipas Mexico North America|
Mexico North America| Tamaulipas Mexico North America|