Monographs Details:
Authority:

1987. Nordic J. Bot. 7(1): 33.
Family:

Ericaceae
Description:

Species Description - Lax shrub, almost vinelike; branches terete to bluntly angled, smooth, short-pilose, glabrescent, glaucous, reddish-brown when dry. Leaves ovate-elliptic, (2.5-)3-3.5 x (1.2-)1.5-2 cm, basally obtuse or rounded, abruptly short-acuminate, apiculate, glabrous; obscurely 3(-5)-plinerved, midrib nearly plane above but raised beneath, the lateral nerves and the veinlets slightly raised and prominent above, obscure beneath; petioles subterete, flattened adaxially, rugose, short-pilose, 2.5-3 mm long and ca. 1 mm in diam. Inflorescence axillary, racemose, 2-3-flowered; rachis short-pilose, bluntly angled, 1.5-2.2 cm long and ca. 1 mm in diam., with scattered capitate, glandular trichomes ca. 1 mm long; floral bracts lanceolate, 1.5 mm long, ciliate; pedicels subterete, short pilose, 15-17 mm long and ca. 1 mm in diam., with scattered, capitate, glandular trichomes; bracteoles ovate-lanceolate, acuminate, 3-4 x ca. 1.5 mm, strongly nerved, ciliate and bearing capitate, glandular trichomes. Flowers with the calyx short-pilose, 36-37 mm long, reddish-brown; hypanthium obscured by wings which extend slightly below the base, ca. 4.5 mm long; limb short-campanulate, ca. 2 mm long, 3-parted; lobes triangular, acuminate, basally ca. 10 mm wide, the margins and the lamina with scattered capitate, glandular trichomes; corolla pink, cylindric but narrowing at the throat, the lobes flaring, membranaceous, short-pilose outside except at the very base, inside and at the throat, ca. 35 mm long, the lobes triangular, obtuse, ca. 1 mm long; stamens alternately ca. 10 mm and 12 mm long; filaments pilose distally, alternately ca. 5 mm and 8.5 mm long; anthers including tubules slightly unequal, alternately ca. 5 mm and 5.5 mm long; thecae 2.5-3 mm long; tubules with terminal or, in shorter stamens, slightly oblique pores; style pilose distally, ca. 36 mm long. Berry not seen.

Distribution and Ecology - Endemic to Panama and known only from a few collection made in central Panama and at Cerro Jefe (Panama Province). Premontane cloud forest, at ca. 900-1200 m. Rare and endangered.

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