Monographs Details:
Authority:
1996. Fl. Ecuador. 54: 133.
1996. Fl. Ecuador. 54: 133.
Family:
Ericaceae
Ericaceae
Description:
Species Description - Terrestrial or epiphytic (then sometimes lianoid) shrub with branches to 3 m; stem terete, glabrous; bark smooth, reddish-brown, peeling in long, thin strips; twigs subterete, complanate to bluntly angled, striate, glabrous. Leaves coriaceous, flat to somewhat bullate, elliptic, oblong-elliptic, broadly ovate to suborbicular, 4.5-12.5 x 2.5-9 cm, base rounded, apex rounded to obtuse, margin flat to somewhat revolute, rarely revolute so as to obscure actual margin, glabrous on both surfaces, glandular-punctate on both surfaces with a minute, reddish or blackish gland; 5-7(-9)-plinerved, midrib thickened and raised in the proximal 1-3 cm, then thinner and impressed distally, prominently raised beneath, lateral nerves impressed above but not very conspicuous, the innermost arising 1-3 cm above the base, the outer 2-3 pairs sometimes obscure, all lateral nerves raised beneath, reticulate veinlets slightly impressed to slightly raised above but inconspicuous, obscure beneath; petiole subterete, broadly flattened above, rugose, striate, 4-7 mm long and to 3 mm diam., glabrous. Inflorescence solitary, axillary, short-racemose, (3-)4-8-flowered; rachis subterete, coarsely and bluntly angled, 3-8 mm long, glabrous; floral bract ovate, acute-acuminate, 1-2 x 1-2 mm, margin deciduously glandular-fimbriate; pedicel subterete, striate, 9-15 mm long, glabrous; bracteoles nearly basal, similar to floral bract but ca. 1-2 x 1 mm, sometimes with two oblong glands ca. 0.4 mm long at the base, one on either side of the midrib. Flowers with calyx articulate with pedicel and 4-5 mm long, glabrous; hypanthium obprismatic, winged over entire length, ca. 2.5 mm long; limb erect-spreading, 1.5-2.5 mm long, the wing distally produced beyond the limb ca. 1 mm into a spur that is rounded, incurved, longer, and more prominent than the calyx lobes; lobes apiculate, acute, ca. 0.2-0.3 mm long; sinuses broadly rounded; corolla cylindric, terete, 14-15 mm long and 5-7 mm diam., glabrous without but densely white tomentose at throat within, also with a few glandular fimbriae distally, red, the lobes triangular, acute 1.5-2 mm long; stamen 9-10.2 mm long; filaments connate into a tube, 3-4 mm long, glabrous, the connectives alternately shouldered; anthers 7-7.5 mm long; thecae 3.5-4.5 mm long; tubules fused into one, 3-4 mm long, dehiscing by clefts 1.8-2 mm long; style 15-16 mm long, glabrous. Berry not seen.
Distribution and Ecology - Endemic to N Ecuador and known only from the type locality; montane wet forest, at 1100-1500 m altitude. Rare and endangered.
Species Description - Terrestrial or epiphytic (then sometimes lianoid) shrub with branches to 3 m; stem terete, glabrous; bark smooth, reddish-brown, peeling in long, thin strips; twigs subterete, complanate to bluntly angled, striate, glabrous. Leaves coriaceous, flat to somewhat bullate, elliptic, oblong-elliptic, broadly ovate to suborbicular, 4.5-12.5 x 2.5-9 cm, base rounded, apex rounded to obtuse, margin flat to somewhat revolute, rarely revolute so as to obscure actual margin, glabrous on both surfaces, glandular-punctate on both surfaces with a minute, reddish or blackish gland; 5-7(-9)-plinerved, midrib thickened and raised in the proximal 1-3 cm, then thinner and impressed distally, prominently raised beneath, lateral nerves impressed above but not very conspicuous, the innermost arising 1-3 cm above the base, the outer 2-3 pairs sometimes obscure, all lateral nerves raised beneath, reticulate veinlets slightly impressed to slightly raised above but inconspicuous, obscure beneath; petiole subterete, broadly flattened above, rugose, striate, 4-7 mm long and to 3 mm diam., glabrous. Inflorescence solitary, axillary, short-racemose, (3-)4-8-flowered; rachis subterete, coarsely and bluntly angled, 3-8 mm long, glabrous; floral bract ovate, acute-acuminate, 1-2 x 1-2 mm, margin deciduously glandular-fimbriate; pedicel subterete, striate, 9-15 mm long, glabrous; bracteoles nearly basal, similar to floral bract but ca. 1-2 x 1 mm, sometimes with two oblong glands ca. 0.4 mm long at the base, one on either side of the midrib. Flowers with calyx articulate with pedicel and 4-5 mm long, glabrous; hypanthium obprismatic, winged over entire length, ca. 2.5 mm long; limb erect-spreading, 1.5-2.5 mm long, the wing distally produced beyond the limb ca. 1 mm into a spur that is rounded, incurved, longer, and more prominent than the calyx lobes; lobes apiculate, acute, ca. 0.2-0.3 mm long; sinuses broadly rounded; corolla cylindric, terete, 14-15 mm long and 5-7 mm diam., glabrous without but densely white tomentose at throat within, also with a few glandular fimbriae distally, red, the lobes triangular, acute 1.5-2 mm long; stamen 9-10.2 mm long; filaments connate into a tube, 3-4 mm long, glabrous, the connectives alternately shouldered; anthers 7-7.5 mm long; thecae 3.5-4.5 mm long; tubules fused into one, 3-4 mm long, dehiscing by clefts 1.8-2 mm long; style 15-16 mm long, glabrous. Berry not seen.
Distribution and Ecology - Endemic to N Ecuador and known only from the type locality; montane wet forest, at 1100-1500 m altitude. Rare and endangered.