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Family:

Ericaceae (Magnoliophyta)

Primary Citation:

Pl. Aequinoct. 2: 124, t. 120.. 1813

Accepted Name:

This name is currently accepted.

Common Names:

meloso, pegosito

Description:

Description: Shrub to 2 m tall, bark smooth or striate, glandular-hispid, gray; twigs subterete, dark gray, hispid. Leaves coriaceous, longitudinally-curled, ovate to narrowly ovate when flattened, 1.15-1.9(-3) x 0.45-1.2 cm, base obtuse or rarely cuneate, apex obtuse to acute, bluntly mucronate, margin glandular-ciliate, both surfaces glandular-hispid or usually abaxially glabrous; petiole slightly flattened in cross-section, 0.5-2.5 mm long, glandular-hispid. Inflorescence terminal, racemose, 5-11-flowered; rachis 2-5.4 cm long and 1.3-2 mm in diam., brown or black, glandular-hispid; pedicels ascending, 5.8-14.5 mm long and 0.4-1.1 mm diam., glandular-hispid; bracteoles inserted on lower 1/2 of pedicel, narrowly ovate, elliptic, or oblong, flat, (1.4-)2.2-4 x 0.4-1 mm, base cuneate or truncate, apex acute to acuminate, margin glandular-ciliate, abaxial surface glandular-hispid; floral bracts narrowly ovate to ovate or elliptic to narrowly elliptic, longitudinally-curled, 3.8-8.5 x 0.8-2 mm, base cuneate (obtuse), apex acute to acuminate, margin glandular-hispid, both surfaces glandular-hispid or adaxial surface glabrous. Flowers (5-)7-merous; calyx 5.1-6.5 mm long; tube 1-2 mm long and 2.8-4 mm in diam., dark brown or dark maroon, glandular-hispid; lobes ovate to narrowly ovate, (2.4-)3.7-5(-5.7) x 1.6-2.7 mm, longest lobe (3.2-)3.9-5.7 mm long, apex acuminate to acute, margin erose, glandular-ciliate (entire), abaxial surface glandular-hispid; corolla tubular or fusiform, pink to red, petals undulate, narrowly obovate, 13-23 x 3-7 mm, margin entire or distally ciliolate, distally slightly tomentose; stamens subequal to corolla or usually long exserted (1-1.6 times the petals length), 15-29 mm long; filaments tomentose; anthers 1.5-2.6 mm long and 0.7-1.2 mm diam., glabrous; ovary glabrous; style exserted, 15-35.5 mm long; stigma capitate and sometimes slightly lobed. Capsules depressed obovoid, 4.7-6 mm long and 6.2-11 mm diam., brown, exocarp not separating from the valves; seeds 0.8-1.7 mm long and 0.26-0.5 mm diam.

Distribution: Endemic to Venezuela, to the highest shrublands of the Coastal Cordillera, N of Caracas, at 1990-2765 m. It flowers sporadically throughout the year and bears fruit from January to July and in October.

Type: Venezuela. Distrito Federal: Silla de Caracas, 1936 m, no date, Humboldt 645 (lectotype: B-W, n.v., photo B neg. 4261, F neg. 18287, IDC Willdenow herb. #9127; isotypes: H, P (Humboldt & Bonpland herb.), n.v., photo IDC Humboldt & Bonpland herb. 79: III. 2.).

Source: http://www.nybg.org/bsci/res/lut2/

Flora and Monograph Treatment(s):

Bejaria ledifolia Bonpl.: [Article] 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.