Taxon Profile:

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Family:

Ericaceae (Magnoliophyta)

Primary Citation:

Brittonia 31(1): 162. 1979

Accepted Name:

This name is currently accepted.

Type Specimens:

Specimen 1: Holotype -- J. L. Luteyn

Description:

Description: Erect, spreading terrestrial subshrubs to 2 m tall with branches pendent; stems subterete or bluntly angled, glabrous; twigs subterete or bluntly angled, densely puberulous. Leaves ovate, 1-3.5(-4.3) x 0.5-1.5(-1.8) cm, base rounded, sometimes subcordate, apex short- to long-acuminate, the tip blunt or rarely sharply acute, eciliate or with apical tufts of hairs, margin flat, lamina with sparse glandular hairs on both surfaces; 3-5 plinerved from base, midrib impressed above and slightly raised beneath, lateral nerves obscure, slightly impressed above and raised beneath, tertiary veinlets obscure on both surfaces; petiole subterete, slightly flattened dorsally, 1-1.5 mm long, puberulent when young. Inflorescences axillary, flowers solitary or in fascicles of 2-3 but usually only 1 maturing, loosely and conspicuously pendent (cernuous), usually conspicuously exceeding the subtending leaves; floral bract 1, ovate, 0.2-0.3 mm long, ciliate; pedicel 15-22 mm long, glabrate, with sparse glandular hairs; bracteoles 2, nearly basal, opposite to subopposite, ovate, 0.2-0.3 mm long, ciliate. Flowers 4-merous, diplostemonous; calyx 3-4 mm long, densely to sparsely puberulent outside, the hairs eglandular, often also with sparse glandular hairs, sometimes glabrate; tube obconic to campanulate, ca. 2-2.5 mm long; limb campanulate, 1-2 mm long; lobes triangular, acute, ca. 0.5 mm long, ciliate with eglandular hairs; sinuses rounded; corolla infundibuliform, broadest above middle, constricted at throat, terete, 18-22 mm long and ca. 5-7 mm in diam. at widest point, bright red to maroon, puberulent to moderately or densely short-hirsute with eglandular hairs without, glabrous within, the lobes wide-spreading and tightly reflexed exposing stamen tips at anthesis, ovate, obtuse to acute, ca. 1-2 mm long; stamens 8, equal in length, 18-20 mm long, shortly exserted at anthesis; filaments essentially distinct although slightly coherent at extreme base, 13-15 mm long, densely pilose with spreading hairs; anthers 4.5-6 mm long; thecae ca. 2 mm long, the base straight, sometimes with basal appendage, softly foveolate; tubules ca. 2.5-4 mm long, dehiscing by oblique pores, 0.4-0.5 mm long; style 18-22 mm long, included or slightly exserted. Berry spherical, 5-6 mm in diam., light purple, glabrous; embryo color unknown.

Type: Ecuador. Carchi: Tulcán-Maldonado rd, 41-45 km W of Tufiño, 2500-2700 m, 13 Apr 1978 (fl), Luteyn & Lebrón-Luteyn 5733 (holotype: NY; isotypes: AAU, F, GH, K, L, MO, P, QCA, U, US).

Distribution: Only found in the area of extreme southwestern Colombia and northwestern Ecuador. It grows in premontane and montane cloud forest, at 1770–2900 m.

Conservation status: Vulnerable (VU B1ab(iii)).

Updates and other relevant taxonomic sources: Description updated on Jan 2013. For generic synopsis, keys, and evaluation of conservation status see Phytotaxa.