Luteyn, James L. 1976. A revision of the Mexican Central American species of Cavendishia (Vacciniaceae). Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 28 (3): 1-138.
Ericaceae
Species Description - Epiphytic and terrestrial shrubs, 1-3 m tall. Mature branches subterete or bluntly angled, ridged, moderately short pilose, reddish-brown when dry; immature branches and twigs of n e w growth flattened and coarsely angled, ridged, densely short pilose with whitish or grayish trichomes about 0.5 mm long. Petioles subterete, rugose, coarsely ridged, (6-)9-15 mm long and 2-3.5 mm in diameter, densely short pilose. Leaves elliptic to lanceolate, (5.5-) 14-20 cm long and (1.5-)3.5-9 cm broad, basally cuneate, obtuse or rounded, apically long acuminate with a blunt tip, or rarely acute, grayish-green when dry, densely puberulent on both surfaces with soft, white trichomes, persistent beneath but often glabrate above; 5(-7)-plinerved, midrib impressed above and prominently raised beneath, lateral nerves impressed above but plane distallv, raised and prominent beneath, veinlets plane to slightly raised but obscure on both sides. Infiorescence 7-11 flowered, encircled at base by densely short pilose bracts; rachis bluntly angled, striate, rugose, persistently densely short, white pUose, sometimes fimbriate, 1-2.5(-4.5) cm long and 2-3 mm in diameter, pink, rarely with cartilaginous teeth at base. Floral bracts muricate, densely short, white pubescent both abaxially and marginally, elliptic to oblanceolate, basally narrowed, apically rounded, 17-30 mm long and 7-13(-l7) mm broad, pale pinkish-green or whitish-green, usually with small, red, clavate glands abaxially. Pedicels bluntly angled, densely short pilose, often fimbriate, 6-14 mm long and 1-1.5 mm in diameter, pink but turning green. Bracteoles linear to subulate, rarely oblong, 2-4.5 mm long and to 1 mm broad, densely pubescent and glandular-fimbriate. Calyx pubescent with densely matted, white or tan trichomes, glandular-fimbriate, 5.5-6.5(-9) mm long; tube cylindric, 2.5-4 mm long, nonapophysate, green; limb campanulate or spreading, (2.5-)3-5 mm long, whitishto pinkish-green; lobes oblong, broadly triangular, obtuse, or broadly rounded and apiculate, 1.5-2(-3) mm long, connivent after anthesis, pinkish-green; sinus obtuse. Corolla cylindric or bottie-shaped, sHghtly constricted basaUy, narrowed to throat, (14-)17-19(-22) mm long and 8 mm in diameter, white or tinted with pink with age, densely short pilose with white or tawny trichomes; lobes triangular, wide spreading at anthesis. Stamens 11-15.5 mm long; filaments alternately either 2.5-4 mm or 3.5-6 mm long, white; anthers including tubules alternately either 8-11 mm or 9.5-13 mm long, brownish-orange; thecae 2.5-4 mm long. Style glabrous or rarely pilose distally, 13.5-17 mm long. Berry densely puberulent, 8-14 mm in diameter. Phenology: Flowering December-June in Panama.
Thibaudia pubescens H.B.K., Nov. Gen. & Sp. Pl. 3: 273. 1818. Type: Venezuela: Federal District. Near Caracas, Humboldt & Bonpland s.n. (Lectotype: B, not seen, presumably destroyed; isolectotype: P, not seen, photo of Paris type DUKE! F!).
Proclesia pubescens (H.B.K.) Klotzsch, Linnaea 24: 33, 1851.
Thibaudia septemnerina Willd. ex Walp., Ann. Bot. Syst. 2: 1087. 1852, as a synonym, nom. illegit. Art. 34.
Thibaudia cinnamomifolia Willd. ex Walp., Ann. Bot. Syst. 2: 1087. 1852, as a synonym, nam. illegit. Art. 34.
Chupalon pubescens (H.B.K.) Kuntze, Rev. Gen. Pl. 2: 383, 1891.
Panama, C. pubescens is common on the western side of Volcan Chiriqui along the steep roadside slopes northwest of El Hato. It is readUy distinguished by the pale pinkish to whitish-green floral bracts, the densely short pilose, white corollas, the densely pilose to almost woolly calyces, and by the persistently puberulent leaves and fruits. The densely matted hairs of the calyx are in themselves enough to distinguish the taxon.
Cavendishia pubescens is most closely related to the C crassifolia-complex and its allies in South America. It is readily distinguished from them in the coloration and texture of the bracts and corollas. The members of the C. crassifolia complex have nitid, waxy, fleshy bracts and corollas, whereas C. pubescens has opaque, soft, membranaceous parts. Other distinctive features of C. pubescens are found in the calycine pubescence and the persistently short, soft pubescent leaves, stems, and fruits.
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