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Family:

Ericaceae (Magnoliophyta)

Primary Citation:

Pl. Hartw. 142. 1844

Accepted Name:

This name is currently accepted.

Description:

Description: Terrestrial shrub to 2 m tall, often arising from lignotubers, glabrous throughout; stem terete; twigs subterete to complanate and angled, striate. Leaves coriaceous, lanceolate to elliptic-lanceolate, (2.5-)3.5-7 x (1-)1.5-2.5(-3.5) cm, basally cuneate to broadly obtuse, sometimes ± short-decurrent, apically acute to short-acuminate, the apex itself blunt; pinnately nerved with 3-5 lateral nerves per side, midrib thickened and raised proximally and plane to weakly impressed distally above, raised beneath, lateral nerves and reticulate veinlets plane to slightly raised above and raised beneath but inconspicuous; petiole subterete, rugose, 2-5 mm long. Inflorescence axillary, short-racemose, (4-)7-12-flowered; rachis angled, rugose, striate, congested, 0.5-20(-30) mm long; floral bract ovate, acuminate, 1.5-3 mm long, glabrous but marginally ciliate and glandular-fimbriate; pedicel subterete, stout, ribbed, rugose, 8-13 mm long; bracteoles basal, similar to floral bract but to 2.5 mm long. Flowers with calyx apparently continuous with pedicel, 6-8 mm long; hypanthium obconic, rugose, 3-6 mm long; limb campanulate-spreading, 2-3 mm long; lobes ovate, apiculate, 1.5-2 mm long, frequently each bearing an inconspicuous callose gland dorsally near the base; sinuses acute; corolla cylindric, terete but broadly and bluntly pentagonal with conspicuous furrows between angles, basally somewhat ventricose, 16-20 mm long and 8-9 mm diam. at base, red, the lobes wide-spreading, completely reflexed so as to touch corolla tube, exposing the stamens and style at anthesis, narrowly triangular, 6-8 mm long; stamen 10, alternately slightly unequal, 15-18 mm long; filaments distinct, about equal, 2-2.5 mm long, glabrous; anthers alternately slightly unequal, 15-17.5 mm long; thecae alternately slightly unequal, 5.5-8 mm long; tubules about equal, connate almost to apex, longer than thecae, 8-9 mm long, dehiscing by short, oblique pores ca. 1 mm long; style slightly exserted, glabrous. Berry not seen.

Distribution: Endemic to Ecuador; southern Ecuadorean scrub vegetation, premontane dry forest, montane forest, and subpáramo at 1800-3300 m altitude.

Cultivated: E, NY.

Type: Ecuador. Loja: nr Loja, Jul (fl), Hartweg 787 (holotype, K-Herb. Hook.; isotypes, BM, CGE, K, OXF).

Flora and Monograph Treatment(s):

Ceratostema loranthiflorum Benth.: [Article] 1844. Pl. Hartw. 142.
Ceratostema loranthiflorum Benth.: [Article] Smith, Albert C. 1952. Plants collected in Ecuador by W. H. camp. Vaceiniaceae. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 8 (1): 41-85.