Monographs Details:
Authority:
Smith, Albert C. 1952. Plants collected in Ecuador by W. H. camp. Vaceiniaceae. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 8 (1): 41-85.
Smith, Albert C. 1952. Plants collected in Ecuador by W. H. camp. Vaceiniaceae. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 8 (1): 41-85.
Family:
Ericaceae
Ericaceae
Description:
Latin Diagnosis - Frutex epiphyticus pendulus, ramulis gracillimis elongatis cinereis juventute obscure puberulis mox glabratis; petiolis subteretibus incrassatis rugulosis 2-2.5 mm. longis; laminis in vivo succulentibus inflatisque in sicco coriaceis fuscis, ovato-ellipticis, 3.5-6 cm. longis, 1.5-3.2 cm. latis, ad basim truncatorotundatum vel minute auriculatum gradatim angustatis, apice in acuminem circiter 1 cm. longum acutum terminantibus, margine incrassatis et leviter recuryatis, supra glabris, subtus pilos breves castaneos glandulosos in foveolis minutis depressos gerentibus, e basi ut videtur 5-nerviis, costa et nervis secundariis supra inconspicue impressis vel ut venulis immersis; floribus supra-axillaribus ut videtur solitariis vel paucis in rhachi minuta subfasciculatis, bracteis oblongis acutis haud 1 mm. longis hispidulo-marginatis; pedicellis gracilibus sub anthesi 12-17 mm. longis leviter curvatis pilis albidis 0.2-0.3 mm. longis copiose hispidulopuberulis basim versus obscure bibracteolatis, bracteolis subulatis haud 0.5 mm. longis caducis; calyce turbinato sub anthesi 5-6 mm. longo et circiter 4 mm. apice diametro ut pedicellis puberulo, tubo inconspicue 5-angulato 3-4 mm. longo, limbo suberecto quam tubo breviore intus glabro inconspicue 5-lobato, lobis late deltoideis apiculatis 0.5-1 mm. longis, sinibus rotundatis; disco annulari-pulvmato glabro; corolla glabra tenuiter carnosa late urceolata circiter 7 mm. longa et medium versus 4.5 mm. diametro, basi et apice paullo angustata, lobis 5 deltoideis subacutis circiter 1.5 x 2 mm. sub anthesi reflexis; staminibus 10 longitudine corollam fere aequantibus leviter inaequalibus, filamentis pallidis ligulatis liberis alternatim circiter 1.5 mm. et 1.8 mm. longis superne pilis circiter 0.5 mm. longis dorso hispidulis, antheris 4.5-5 mm. longis, thecis granulatis 1.7-2 mm. longis basi obscure mucronulatis, tubulis gracillimis quam thecis longioribus et multo angustioribus per rimas circiter 0.5 mm. longas dehiscentibus; stylo tereti corollam subaequante basim versus leviter incrassato, stigmate minuto.
Species Description - (hanging epiphyte; leaves crispsucculent, to 4 mm. thick, dark translucent-green, inflated above, pale below with stomata, the surface with numerous pits, the bases of glands; lower 1/3 of the leaf in cross-section with chlorenchyma, the upper 2/3 with apparently 4 cell-layers of hydrenchyma; corolla cream-white, the anthers orange).
Latin Diagnosis - Frutex epiphyticus pendulus, ramulis gracillimis elongatis cinereis juventute obscure puberulis mox glabratis; petiolis subteretibus incrassatis rugulosis 2-2.5 mm. longis; laminis in vivo succulentibus inflatisque in sicco coriaceis fuscis, ovato-ellipticis, 3.5-6 cm. longis, 1.5-3.2 cm. latis, ad basim truncatorotundatum vel minute auriculatum gradatim angustatis, apice in acuminem circiter 1 cm. longum acutum terminantibus, margine incrassatis et leviter recuryatis, supra glabris, subtus pilos breves castaneos glandulosos in foveolis minutis depressos gerentibus, e basi ut videtur 5-nerviis, costa et nervis secundariis supra inconspicue impressis vel ut venulis immersis; floribus supra-axillaribus ut videtur solitariis vel paucis in rhachi minuta subfasciculatis, bracteis oblongis acutis haud 1 mm. longis hispidulo-marginatis; pedicellis gracilibus sub anthesi 12-17 mm. longis leviter curvatis pilis albidis 0.2-0.3 mm. longis copiose hispidulopuberulis basim versus obscure bibracteolatis, bracteolis subulatis haud 0.5 mm. longis caducis; calyce turbinato sub anthesi 5-6 mm. longo et circiter 4 mm. apice diametro ut pedicellis puberulo, tubo inconspicue 5-angulato 3-4 mm. longo, limbo suberecto quam tubo breviore intus glabro inconspicue 5-lobato, lobis late deltoideis apiculatis 0.5-1 mm. longis, sinibus rotundatis; disco annulari-pulvmato glabro; corolla glabra tenuiter carnosa late urceolata circiter 7 mm. longa et medium versus 4.5 mm. diametro, basi et apice paullo angustata, lobis 5 deltoideis subacutis circiter 1.5 x 2 mm. sub anthesi reflexis; staminibus 10 longitudine corollam fere aequantibus leviter inaequalibus, filamentis pallidis ligulatis liberis alternatim circiter 1.5 mm. et 1.8 mm. longis superne pilis circiter 0.5 mm. longis dorso hispidulis, antheris 4.5-5 mm. longis, thecis granulatis 1.7-2 mm. longis basi obscure mucronulatis, tubulis gracillimis quam thecis longioribus et multo angustioribus per rimas circiter 0.5 mm. longas dehiscentibus; stylo tereti corollam subaequante basim versus leviter incrassato, stigmate minuto.
Species Description - (hanging epiphyte; leaves crispsucculent, to 4 mm. thick, dark translucent-green, inflated above, pale below with stomata, the surface with numerous pits, the bases of glands; lower 1/3 of the leaf in cross-section with chlorenchyma, the upper 2/3 with apparently 4 cell-layers of hydrenchyma; corolla cream-white, the anthers orange).
Discussion:
This very distinct species is most closely allied to the Colombian T. rostrata A. C. Smith, from which it differs in having its leaf-blades somewhat smaller, narrower at base, thicker and inflated when fresh, and with immersed venation and gland-hairs sunk in small pits on the lower surface. The new species is further distinguished by its very slender anther-tubules, which are not characteristic of Themistoclesia. Slender tubules of this type have been noted in the Colombian T. crassijolia Sleumer (Bot. Jahrb. 71: 392. 1941), to which T. inflata is also allied. However, T. crassifolia has much larger and obviously cordate leaf-blades and an elongate inflorescence, among other characters which distinguish it from the new species.
This very distinct species is most closely allied to the Colombian T. rostrata A. C. Smith, from which it differs in having its leaf-blades somewhat smaller, narrower at base, thicker and inflated when fresh, and with immersed venation and gland-hairs sunk in small pits on the lower surface. The new species is further distinguished by its very slender anther-tubules, which are not characteristic of Themistoclesia. Slender tubules of this type have been noted in the Colombian T. crassijolia Sleumer (Bot. Jahrb. 71: 392. 1941), to which T. inflata is also allied. However, T. crassifolia has much larger and obviously cordate leaf-blades and an elongate inflorescence, among other characters which distinguish it from the new species.
Distribution:
Ecuador South America|
Ecuador South America|