Monographs Details:
Authority:
Luteyn, James L. 1983. Ericaceae--part I. Cavendishia. Fl. Neotrop. Monogr. 35: 1-290. (Published by NYBG Press)
Luteyn, James L. 1983. Ericaceae--part I. Cavendishia. Fl. Neotrop. Monogr. 35: 1-290. (Published by NYBG Press)
Family:
Ericaceae
Ericaceae
Description:
Species Description - Epiphytic shrub, twigs terete, somewhat rugose, moderately hispid with tan to tawny-yellow trichomes 1-2 mm long or glabrate. Leaves elliptic or oblong-elliptic, (4.5-)9-14 X (1-)2-4.5(-6) cm, basally narrowing and obtuse, apically acuminate, sparsely short-pilose along nerves above, moderately pilose beneath with tawny-yellow trichomes or glabrate; 3(-5)-plinerved, midrib weakly impressed or plane above, raised and prominent beneath, lateral nerves weakly impressed or more commonly raised on both surfaces as are veinlets; petioles terete or infrequently flattened adaxially, rugose, 4-7 mm long and 2 mm in diam., hirsute. Inflorescence obconic or fusiform-shaped at anthesis, ca. 20-flowered, the flowers restricted to distal 1/3-¾ of inflorescence; rachis smooth, glabrous, 3-8 cm long and 5-6 mm in diam. at middle, nodes congested and often imbricate; floral bracts: those of proximal 2/3-¼ of inflorescence subtending sterile nodes, caducous, striate, oblong, to 12 mm long, those of distal 1/3-¾ subtending flowers, subcoriaceous, striate, appressed to and concealing calyx and proximal ¾ corolla at anthesis, oblong-obovate, 25-35 x 13-18 mm, basally narrowing and rounded, apically rounded and emarginate (commonly tearing), marginally scarious, glabrous, with subsessile, capitate, red glands located at base; pedicels subterete, glabrous, 1 mm long and 1—1.5 mm in diam.; bracteoles oblong or oblanceolate, basally clasping calyx and imbricate, 25-30 X ca. 10 mm, apically rounded and shallowly emarginate, with subsessile capitate, red glands as on floral bracts. Flowers: calyx glabrous, 11-15 mm long; hypanthium barrel-shaped, smooth, 2.5-4 mm long; limb erect or spreading, submembranaceous, striate, 9-12 mm long; lobes linear-oblong, acute, 3-6 mm long, erect after anthesis, marginally with few, stout, glandular fimbriae which may fuse distally; sinus obtuse to broadly rounded; corolla glabrous, 34-35 mm long and 6-7 mm in diam.; stamens alternately 10-11.5 mm and 12-13.5 mm long; filaments distinct or slightly coherent basally, glabrous, alternately 1-2 mm and 3.5-4.5 mm long, the long ones conspicuously narrowed and thin distally; anthers alternately 9-10.5 mm and 8-9 mm long; thecae smooth, 2.5-3 mm long; tubules dehiscing by short, oblique pores or oval clefts 1-1.5 mm long; style 33-37 mm long. Berry not seen.
Species Description - Epiphytic shrub, twigs terete, somewhat rugose, moderately hispid with tan to tawny-yellow trichomes 1-2 mm long or glabrate. Leaves elliptic or oblong-elliptic, (4.5-)9-14 X (1-)2-4.5(-6) cm, basally narrowing and obtuse, apically acuminate, sparsely short-pilose along nerves above, moderately pilose beneath with tawny-yellow trichomes or glabrate; 3(-5)-plinerved, midrib weakly impressed or plane above, raised and prominent beneath, lateral nerves weakly impressed or more commonly raised on both surfaces as are veinlets; petioles terete or infrequently flattened adaxially, rugose, 4-7 mm long and 2 mm in diam., hirsute. Inflorescence obconic or fusiform-shaped at anthesis, ca. 20-flowered, the flowers restricted to distal 1/3-¾ of inflorescence; rachis smooth, glabrous, 3-8 cm long and 5-6 mm in diam. at middle, nodes congested and often imbricate; floral bracts: those of proximal 2/3-¼ of inflorescence subtending sterile nodes, caducous, striate, oblong, to 12 mm long, those of distal 1/3-¾ subtending flowers, subcoriaceous, striate, appressed to and concealing calyx and proximal ¾ corolla at anthesis, oblong-obovate, 25-35 x 13-18 mm, basally narrowing and rounded, apically rounded and emarginate (commonly tearing), marginally scarious, glabrous, with subsessile, capitate, red glands located at base; pedicels subterete, glabrous, 1 mm long and 1—1.5 mm in diam.; bracteoles oblong or oblanceolate, basally clasping calyx and imbricate, 25-30 X ca. 10 mm, apically rounded and shallowly emarginate, with subsessile capitate, red glands as on floral bracts. Flowers: calyx glabrous, 11-15 mm long; hypanthium barrel-shaped, smooth, 2.5-4 mm long; limb erect or spreading, submembranaceous, striate, 9-12 mm long; lobes linear-oblong, acute, 3-6 mm long, erect after anthesis, marginally with few, stout, glandular fimbriae which may fuse distally; sinus obtuse to broadly rounded; corolla glabrous, 34-35 mm long and 6-7 mm in diam.; stamens alternately 10-11.5 mm and 12-13.5 mm long; filaments distinct or slightly coherent basally, glabrous, alternately 1-2 mm and 3.5-4.5 mm long, the long ones conspicuously narrowed and thin distally; anthers alternately 9-10.5 mm and 8-9 mm long; thecae smooth, 2.5-3 mm long; tubules dehiscing by short, oblique pores or oval clefts 1-1.5 mm long; style 33-37 mm long. Berry not seen.
Discussion:
Cavendishia fusiformis is the only member of subgen. Chlamydantha found north of Colombia. It is characterized by the combination of subcoriaceous striate and emarginate floral bracts, long and emarginate bracteoles which are basally glandular, distinct filaments, and elongate calyx limb. It is most closely related to C. pseudopedunculata, having in common elongate bracteoles and a rachis in which the lowest inflorescence bracts are caducous at anthesis and therefore the inflorescence appears pedunculate. It also bears a superficial resemblance to C. speciosa but differs in the texture and venation of the floral bracts, presence and size of bracteoles, and calyx glands.
Cavendishia fusiformis is the only member of subgen. Chlamydantha found north of Colombia. It is characterized by the combination of subcoriaceous striate and emarginate floral bracts, long and emarginate bracteoles which are basally glandular, distinct filaments, and elongate calyx limb. It is most closely related to C. pseudopedunculata, having in common elongate bracteoles and a rachis in which the lowest inflorescence bracts are caducous at anthesis and therefore the inflorescence appears pedunculate. It also bears a superficial resemblance to C. speciosa but differs in the texture and venation of the floral bracts, presence and size of bracteoles, and calyx glands.
Distribution and Ecology: Scandent epiphytic shrub endemic to the mossy cloud forests of Cerro Pirre along the border between Panama and Colombia at elevations of 1000-1675 m, and on Cerro Garagará (Darién Prov., Panama) in the Sambú River basin at 500-974 m. It has been collected in flower in December, March, and April; fruiting specimens have not been seen.
Distribution:
Panama Central America| Darién Panamá Central America| Colombia South America| Chocó Colombia South America|
Panama Central America| Darién Panamá Central America| Colombia South America| Chocó Colombia South America|
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