Monographs Details:
Authority:

Luteyn, James L. 1983. Ericaceae--part I. Cavendishia. Fl. Neotrop. Monogr. 35: 1-290. (Published by NYBG Press)
Family:

Ericaceae
Synonyms:

Thibaudia martii Meisn., Cavendishia paniculata Rusby, Chupalon viridiflorum Kuntze, Thibaudia viridiflora (Kuntze) K.Schum., Cavendishia muschleriana Hoerold
Description:

Species Description - Terrestrial shrub (sometimes scrambling or somewhat scandent) to 4 m tall; stems terete to subterete, often hollow when dry, large pith to wood ratio, smooth to striate, glabrous or densely short white pilose to glabrate. Leaves ovate or ovate-oblong, 9-20 x 4-9.5 cm, basally rounded or subcordate, apically acute to long-acuminate, margins often thin and then becoming revolute when dry, glabrous to short-pilose along nerves above, glabrous, puberulent, or sparsely pilose on lamina and dense along nerves beneath, usually glandular-fimbriate on both surfaces but more persistent and noticeable beneath, sometimes fimbriae recessed and after breaking off the leaves appear punctate; 5-7-plinerved from near base or with inner pair of lateral nerves arising to 1.5 cm up, midrib, lateral and reticulate veins usually impressed above (often deeply thus leaves somewhat bullate) and raised beneath, reticulate veinlets rarely raised on both surfaces; axillary buds often with outer perulae narrowly ovate and long-acuminate thus giving the appearance of stipules; petioles subterete often flattened and narrowly winged dorsally, rugose, glabrous to densely short-pilose, 5-11 mm long and 2-4 mm diam. Inflorescence paniculate, 50-175-flowered, panicles (3-)5-7(-9)-branched, encircled at base by numerous caducous broadly ovate, apiculate, marginally glandular-fimbriate bracts to 8 mm long and broad; rachis and lateral branches subterete, angled, glabrous, the primary axis 8-30(-33) cm long and to 4-5 mm in diam., secondary lateral branches 3-17 cm long, tertiary lateral branches sometimes present and to 6 cm long; floral bracts caducous, oblong, 6-11 X 3-4.5 mm, marginally glandular-fimbriate, green suffused with red when fresh, the bracts at base of primary rachis and subtending lateral branches oblong-lanceolate, 17-22 X 6 mm; pedicels subterete, angled or striate, glabrous, 5-13 mm long (to 20 mm after anthesis) and ca. 1 mm diam., glandular-fimbriate at articulation with calyx; bracteoles membranaceous, ovate, 3-4 X 2-2.5 mm, basally clasping, apically acuminate, marginally glandular-fimbriate. Flowers: calyx glabrous (rarely short-pilose), ca. 5 mm long, green when fresh; hypanthium subcylindric, 10-ribbed, 1.5-2.5 mm long, basally apophysate; limb spreading to campanulate, 23 mm long; lobes ovate to oblong-ovate, apiculate, 1-1.8 X 2.5-2.8 mm, erect after anthesis, margins irregularly thickened and lacerate-glandular, red when fresh; corolla subcylindric to bottle-shaped, glabrous, 8-12.5 mm long and to 8 mm diam., green becoming yellowish-green distally, lobes deltoid, ca. 1 mm long, tinged with red within in late anthesis; stamens alternately 8-9.2 mm and 8.3-9.5 mm long; filaments densely short-pilose ventrally in middle, alternately 1.92 mm and 2.6-2.8 mm long; anthers alternately 7.2-8 mm and 6.6-7.5 mm long; thecae ca. 2.5-3.5 mm long; style ca. 8-12 mm long. Mature berry not seen.

Discussion:

Cavendishia martii is characterized by paniculate inflorescence, short (8-12 mm) green corollas, and ovate to oblong-ovate leaves. Few of the specimens available to me are in flower, most in early fruiting or bud stages. In general, collections made below 2000 m have pilose stems and leaf undersurfaces, while those above 2000 m are glabrous. Although Smith (1932) mentioned that tertiary branches of the inflorescence may be 6 cm long, their occurrence is rare. The axillary buds of C. martii do not always lie exactly in the leaf axil, but are usually found 2-3 mm above the node.

The relationships between C. martii and C. punctata are discussed with the latter species.

Distribution and Ecology: Northcentral Peru to N Bolivia (Brazil?) in humid lower montane to montane subtropical forest, open woods and on roadbanks, and along river banks of the eastern cordilleras at elevations of 750-3000 m. Although the type collection is said to be from Brazil (location unknown), the species has not been collected there in recent times and I would not expect it there. Perhaps the specimen was sent to Martius from eastern Peru or Bolivia, or it was at one time cultivated in Brazil, or the label was mixed with another collection. Flowering occurs in nearly every month; immature fruiting specimens have been collected in February, April, May, and July. The flowers of Luteyn & Lebrón-Luteyn 6368 were visited by the black, hovering trigonid bee Trigona (Trigona) hyalinata var. amazonensis (Ducke) (determination kindly provided by M. Favreau, American Mus. Nat. Hist.), which was apparently collecting nectar through holes at the base of the corollas.

Distribution:

Peru South America| Ayacucho Peru South America| Cusco Peru South America| Puno Peru South America| San Martín Peru South America| Bolivia South America| Cochabamba Bolivia South America| La Paz Bolivia South America|

Common Names:

monte frutilla
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