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

Synonyms:

Gaultheria conferta Benth., Gaultheria ramosissima Benth., Gaultheria pubiflora S.F.Blake, Gaultheria microdonta A.C.Sm., Andromeda anastomosans L.f., Brossea anastomosans (L.f.) Kuntze, Brossea conferta (Benth.) Kuntze, Brossea ramosissima (Benth.) Kuntze

Description:

Species Description - Erect shrub (0.2-)1-1.5(-5) m tall, often much-branched and much-reduced with gnarled stems at elevations over 3300 m; mature stems terete, glabrous; bark gray to reddish-brown, thin, often exfoliating in strips; twigs subterete, usually sparsely to densely (sometimes not) puberulent to short-pilose with white hairs, also usually sparsely to densely (rarely not) strigose with slightly spreading, straight to crisped, ferruginous, basally swollen, eglandular hairs to 2.5 mm long; buds ovate, 2-3 mm long, scales tan to reddish, glabrous. Leaves usually ascending or spreading, ovate, 0.7-1.6(-2) × 0.4-1(-1.2) cm, base rounded, obtuse, or broadly cuneate (subcordate), apex acute to acuminate, margin bluntly to sharply serrate with each tooth terminating in a deciduous or persistent, setose hair, often slightly re volute, surfaces glabrous above or inconspicuously puberulent, glabrous beneath or more commonly sparingly strigose with short, basally swollen, eglandular hairs; midrib, lateral nerves, and reticulate veinlets plane, slightly impressed, or slightly raised above, usually slightly raised and conspicuous to inconspicuous beneath; petiole subterete, usually broadly flattened or canaliculate above, slightly rugose, 1.2-3 mm long, usually glabrous but sometimes puberulent above and short-strigose beneath. Inflorescence of solitary, axillary flowers, or as terminal pseudoracemes congested at the branch tips; pedicel terete, somewhat striate, 3.5-9(-14) mm long, indumentum similar to the twigs; bracteoles 2-9(-12), basal or scattered along the pedicel, ovate to ovate-elliptic, 1.5-3.5(-4.2) × 1.5-2.5 mm, acute to acuminate, glabrous or short-pilose, usually ciliate; floral bract similar to bracteoles or leaf-like in all aspects. Calyx 3-4 (-5.5) mm long, lobes triangular to ovate, 1.5-3 × 1.5-2 mm, acuminate, ciliolate, glabrous to short-pilose at tips without, rarely strigose at base, usually densely short-pilose within; corolla urceolate to cylindric-urceolate, 4-6(-7) × 3-5(-6.5) mm, usually glabrous without (densely short-pilose or also weakly strigose), essentially glabrous or sparsely pilose within, white to pinkish, lobes ovate, obtuse, ca. 1 mm long; stamens (2-)2.5-4 mm long; filaments 2-3 mm long, glabrous to densely pilose; anthers 1.2-2 mm long, awns long and conspicuous; ovary densely short-pilose; style 2.8-4.5 mm long, glabrous to densely short-pilose in basal half. Fruiting calyx globose when fresh but often becoming turbinate when dry, 4-7(-10) mm diam., blue-black (or white ?). Chromosome number: n = 11, 2n = n 22 (Luteyn et al. 4719).

Discussion:

Gaultheria anastomosans is characterized by small, ascending leaves which are reduced toward the tips of the twigs, solitary flowers which are often congested into pseudoracemes, and urceolate corollas. It is a very common element in subpáramo and páramo thickets in Colombia and is therefore frequently collected. The corollas are usually glabrous or sparsely pilose, but specimens with densely short-pilose ones are widespread ( = G. pubiflora Blake).

With increasing elevation (i.e., above 3400 m) a series of changes often occurs, viz., branchina increases and the strigose hairs of the lower leaf surfaces disappear ( = G. ramosissima Bentham), size decreases with plants often being low and gnarled, the leaves become smaller and more ovate, the frequency of pilose filaments and styles increases, and the frequency of pseudoracemose inflorescences increases, as the leaf-like floral bracts become more like "normal" bracts. These tendencies are probably general adaptations to the harsher environment at higher elevations. Since 1 cannot see consistent or correlated changes, I am not recognizing infraspecific taxa nor the previously recognized species.

The name Gaultheria microdonta has been given to specimens that may be hybrids between G. anastomosans and G. erecta. The vegetative characters, especially the size, shape, and general indumentum of the leaves, are those of G. anastomosans. However, the plants have racemose inflorescences, sometimes mixed with solitary flowers, and other times the congested inflorescences have small, leaf-like bracts. However, the flowers are exactly like those of G. anastomosans. These specimens may be uncommon hybrids, and I have annotated them as "Gaultheria anastomosans (L.f.) H.B.K. (× G. erecta Vent. ? =G. microdonta A. C. Smith)." I have not seen these plants in the field (they occur only around Bogota), and additional study is needed before I can be certain as to their exact status.

Gaultheria anastomosans is closely related to and often confused with G. buxifolia var. buxifolia. Their ranges overlap in central to northeastern Colombia and at Páramo de Tamá along the Venezuela/Colombia border. However, I have never collected them growing together, and when label data indicates overlap, they usually grow at different altitudes with G. anastomosans found at higher elevations. In general, G. buxifolia var. buxifolia has leaves which are larger, broader, apex more rounded, more crenate (less serrate), pilose at the base of the lamina above, and usually somewhat reflexed or spreading on mature stems. Gaultheria buxifolia var. buxifolia also does not have pseudoracemose inflorescences since its flowers are more regularly scattered along young twigs, and the upper leaves, although reduced, do not appear bract-like. Finally, G. anastomosans never has gland-tipped setae on the pedicels or lower leaf surfaces. In western Venezuela (Tachira, Merida, and Trujillo states), narrow-leaved forms of G. buxifolia var. buxifolia may be mistaken for G. anastomosans, but the other features just mentioned should differentiate the species.

Distribution:

Colombia South America| Antioquia Colombia South America| Arauca Colombia South America| Boyacá Colombia South America| Caldas Colombia South America| Cauca Colombia South America| César Colombia South America| Chocó Colombia South America| Cundinamarca Colombia South America| Huila Colombia South America| Meta Colombia South America| Santander Colombia South America| Norte de Santander Colombia South America| Quindío Colombia South America| Tolima Colombia South America| Venezuela South America| Lara Venezuela South America| Mérida Venezuela South America| Táchira Venezuela South America| Trujillo Venezuela South America|

Common Names:

borrachera, mortiño, totiadera blanca, reventadera, borrachera, chirridera, maiz de perro, totiadera, veneno, uvito