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:

Description - Branchlets densely spreading to ascending hirsute but not appressed-strigose. Leaves hirsute beneath as well as short-glandular-setose. Calyx lobes only ciliolate.

Discussion:

Gaultheria sclerophylla is characterized by ± bullate, sclerophyllous, bicolored leaf blades with prominent venation and tiny glandular-setose hairs beneath; basically glabrous flowers; and high-elevation, erect shrubby habit. Its dark green (above) and lighter green (beneath) sclerophyllous leaves with bright, dark red corollas are very striking and beautiful when seen fresh.

The species is widespread but rarely collected and the range of morphological variation is uncertain-an unfortunate feature of most of the very high-elevation species of Gaultheria. For this reason I am uncertain as to the affinities of G. sclerophylla, although it is very similar morphologically to G. oreogena, which, however, has solitary flowers. I also suspect that there has been some hybridization between G. sclerophylla and G. rigida because of a tendency toward more broadly ovate, flat (not bullate), concolorous (not bicolorous) leaves with cordate bases as seen in populations of the former from Cundinamarca, Colombia.

Middleton (1991b) placed G. sclerophylla with G. reticulata, G. alnifolia, and G. megalodonta in ser. Reticulatae. Although leaf venation is prominent in G. sclerophylla, it also has multicellular hairs, which could link it with ser. Domingenses (both are in sect. Brossaea) (cf. discussion in "Infrageneric Relationships").

Distribution:

Colombia South America| Nariño Colombia South America| Ecuador South America| Carchi Ecuador South America| Morona-Santiago Ecuador South America|