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Family:

Ericaceae (Magnoliophyta)

Primary Citation:

Brittonia 3: 181, Fig. 5(14-17). 1939

Accepted Name:

This name is currently accepted.

Type Specimens:

Specimen 1: Holotype -- G. H. H. Tate

Description:

Description: Shrub 0.1-0.3(-1) m tall; mature stems subterete, striate, minutely verrucose, glabrate; bark cracking longitudinally; twigs subterete, striate, densely short-pilose with ferruginous to cinereous hairs. Leaves thick-coriaceous, strongly convex above and concave beneath, often falcate, oblong-elliptic, 0.6-2.6 x 0.3-0.7 cm, base rounded, obtuse to broadly cuneate, decurrent, apex obtuse or rounded (with a subapical, blunt protrusion to 1 mm long appearing as the actual apex), margin strongly revolute over entire length, actual margins not visible, bearing 1-2 pairs of pustular glands at base of lamina or on petiole, weakly to moderately short-white-pilose above when young then glabrate, densely whitish- or more often ferruginous-tomentose beneath so surfaces, obscure; pinnately nerved with midrib impressed above and raised beneath, lateral nerves (apparently 3-4 per side) obscure; petiole subterete, narrowly canaliculate above, rugose, 2-4 mm long, densely short-pilose. Inflorescence 1-4(-5)-flowered; rachis subterete, striate, 2-8 mm long, glabrous (glaucous to densely short-white-pilose); floral bract concave, ovate, up to 1 mm long, acute, glabrous to short-pilose; pedicel subterete to somewhat angled, striate to ribbed, 3-10 mm long, glabrous (glaucous to moderately short-white-pilose); bracteoles broadly ovate, 1-2 mm long, glabrous to weakly short-pilose. Flowers nodding, with calyx 7-11 mm long, essentially glabrous or lobes sometimes puberulent at tips, lobes striate or rugose, ovate, ca. 6-9 mm long, long-acuminate; corolla 9-14.5 mm long, glabrous, pink to scarlet when fresh, lobes ovate-deltoid, 1-1.5 mm long, acute to obtuse, reflexed; stamens 8 mm long (measurements from corollas 14-14.5 mm long); filaments curved, ca. 6 mm long; anthers ca. 3.3 mm long, base mucronate; thecae ca. 2.3 mm long; tubules 0.8-1 mm long, dehiscing by obliquely, terminal pores; ovary glabrous; style ca. 7-8 mm long, glabrous. Berry ± spherical, to 1.6 cm diam., red when mature.

Distribution: Endemic to the Venezuela Guayana and known only from Auyán-tepui and the Chimantá Massif, where it is found in open, wet, low-shrub, often rocky, savannas, or rooted in crevices on exposed igneous or sandstone rock, at elevations from 1500 to 2500 m. Flowering specimens have been collected from Jan to Sep, and fruiting in Feb and Mar.

Illustrated: Steyermark, Acta Bot. Venez. 2(5-8): 310, fig. 24. 1967.

Type: Venezuela. Bolívar: Auyán-tepui, 2200 m, Dec 1937 (fl), Tate 1351 (holotype, NY, photo NY neg. 10134).

Flora and Monograph Treatment(s):

Tepuia venusta Camp: [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.
Tepuia venusta Camp: [Article] Maguire, Bassett. 1978. The botany of the Guayana Highland--part X. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 29: 1-288.