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
Synonyms:
Cavendishia cryptantha A.C.Sm.
Cavendishia cryptantha A.C.Sm.
Description:
Species Description - Terrestrial shrub to 2 m tall; mature branches terete, glabrous; bark gray, cracking in longitudinal strips; twigs terete or subterete and bluntly angled, striate, reddish-brown, usually glabrous but lectotype specimen (K) minutely puberulent, glandular-fimbriate. Leaves ovate, oblong- or elliptic-ovate to oblong, rarely lance-elliptic, 2.5-7.5(-9) X l-2.5(-4) cm, basally rounded often subcordate, apically subacute, obtuse, bluntly short-acuminate, or cuspidate, if acuminate then acumen less than 1.5 cm long, glabrous but glandular-fimbriate on both surfaces (more noticeable beneath); 3-5(-7)-plinerved, nerves arising from near to 3 cm above base, midrib impressed above and raised beneath, lateral veins impressed to plane or slightly raised above and raised beneath, reticulate veinlets raised on both surfaces; petioles subterete to slightly flattened above, glabrous or puberulous, 2-3(-6) mm long and 1-1.7(-2) mm in diam. Inflorescence subglobose to subcylindric, 8-20-flowered, congested, the lowest few nodes sterile with their bracts obovate, emarginate, marginally glandular-fimbriate, often caducous, to 10 x 6 mm; rachis subterete, bluntly angled, glabrous, 1-3(-4) cm long and 1.5-3 mm in diam.; floral bracts subcoriaceous to papyraceous, persistent, somewhat involute and clasping flowers at anthesis but spreading at an angle of 45° as fruits mature, smooth or striate with the veins prominent, concave or somewhat keeled when fresh, oblong to obovate-elliptic, (7-)8-13(-15) x (7-)8-10(-12) mm, apically rounded sometimes emarginate, marginally glandular-fimbriate, glabrous, red or greenish suffused with red when fresh; pedicels subterete, striate, glabrous but often glandular-fimbriate, 0.6-2(-3.5) mm long; bracteoles located at or above middle of pedicel, similar to floral bracts, (1.5-)7-8(-11) x 2-4.5(-7) mm. Flowers: calyx glabrous, (3.5-)5-7 mm long; hypanthium campanulate to short-cylindric, (1-)2-3(-3.5) mm long; limb suberect to campanulate, 2.5-3.5(-5) mm long; lobes ovate, apiculate, 1-2(-3) mm long, suberect after anthesis, marginally lacerate-glandular and thinner than lamina; sinus acute; corolla subcylindric but narrowed at throat, bluntly 5-angled opposite lobes, glabrous but often bearing glandular fimbriae, (8-)9-12(-13) mm long and 3-4 mm diam., red when fresh; lobes triangular, subacute, 0.6-1 mm, red to whitish when fresh (fide label data); stamens unequal, alternately 6.3-8 mm and 6.7-8.4 mm long; filaments ventrally puberulous in distal half, alternately 1.4-2.5 mm and 2.5-4 mm long; anthers alternately 5-7 mm and 4.2-5.8 mm long; thecae 1.2-3 mm long; style slightly shorter than the corolla. Berry 8-13 mm in diam.
Species Description - Terrestrial shrub to 2 m tall; mature branches terete, glabrous; bark gray, cracking in longitudinal strips; twigs terete or subterete and bluntly angled, striate, reddish-brown, usually glabrous but lectotype specimen (K) minutely puberulent, glandular-fimbriate. Leaves ovate, oblong- or elliptic-ovate to oblong, rarely lance-elliptic, 2.5-7.5(-9) X l-2.5(-4) cm, basally rounded often subcordate, apically subacute, obtuse, bluntly short-acuminate, or cuspidate, if acuminate then acumen less than 1.5 cm long, glabrous but glandular-fimbriate on both surfaces (more noticeable beneath); 3-5(-7)-plinerved, nerves arising from near to 3 cm above base, midrib impressed above and raised beneath, lateral veins impressed to plane or slightly raised above and raised beneath, reticulate veinlets raised on both surfaces; petioles subterete to slightly flattened above, glabrous or puberulous, 2-3(-6) mm long and 1-1.7(-2) mm in diam. Inflorescence subglobose to subcylindric, 8-20-flowered, congested, the lowest few nodes sterile with their bracts obovate, emarginate, marginally glandular-fimbriate, often caducous, to 10 x 6 mm; rachis subterete, bluntly angled, glabrous, 1-3(-4) cm long and 1.5-3 mm in diam.; floral bracts subcoriaceous to papyraceous, persistent, somewhat involute and clasping flowers at anthesis but spreading at an angle of 45° as fruits mature, smooth or striate with the veins prominent, concave or somewhat keeled when fresh, oblong to obovate-elliptic, (7-)8-13(-15) x (7-)8-10(-12) mm, apically rounded sometimes emarginate, marginally glandular-fimbriate, glabrous, red or greenish suffused with red when fresh; pedicels subterete, striate, glabrous but often glandular-fimbriate, 0.6-2(-3.5) mm long; bracteoles located at or above middle of pedicel, similar to floral bracts, (1.5-)7-8(-11) x 2-4.5(-7) mm. Flowers: calyx glabrous, (3.5-)5-7 mm long; hypanthium campanulate to short-cylindric, (1-)2-3(-3.5) mm long; limb suberect to campanulate, 2.5-3.5(-5) mm long; lobes ovate, apiculate, 1-2(-3) mm long, suberect after anthesis, marginally lacerate-glandular and thinner than lamina; sinus acute; corolla subcylindric but narrowed at throat, bluntly 5-angled opposite lobes, glabrous but often bearing glandular fimbriae, (8-)9-12(-13) mm long and 3-4 mm diam., red when fresh; lobes triangular, subacute, 0.6-1 mm, red to whitish when fresh (fide label data); stamens unequal, alternately 6.3-8 mm and 6.7-8.4 mm long; filaments ventrally puberulous in distal half, alternately 1.4-2.5 mm and 2.5-4 mm long; anthers alternately 5-7 mm and 4.2-5.8 mm long; thecae 1.2-3 mm long; style slightly shorter than the corolla. Berry 8-13 mm in diam.
Discussion:
Cavendishia guatapeensis displays much variation in leaf shape, which in the type collection is ovate, basally subcordate, and apically bluntly short-acuminate. Other collections, however, show oblong to lance-elliptic leaves rounded or obtuse, rarely broadly cuneate at base and subacute to cuspidate, rarely long-acuminate at apex (but the acumen then less than 1.5 cm long). The inflorescence also varies, being sometimes short, few-flowered and subglobose, sometimes elongating, with more numerous flowers and appearing subcylindric. Smith’s C. cryptantha is a local variant with relatively large oblong leaves (to 9.5 cm) and elongate inflorescences (to 4 cm).Occasionally, C. guatapeensis may be confused with small-leaved, small-flowered forms of C. bracteata, but is distinguished by shorter pedicels bearing longer bracteoles, angled (often fimbriate) corollas, an elongate calyx limb, and calyx lobe margins lacerate-glandular (not glandular-fimbriate).Cavendishia guatapeensis and C. caudata are characterized by relatively short congested inflorescences with persistent concave clasping floral bracts, short pedicels, relatively long bracteoles located at or above the middle of the pedicel, short bluntly angled corollas, and calyx lobe margins which are thin and lacerate-glandular. I have chosen to maintain C. caudata separate from C. guatapeensis because of its decidedly larger leaves with long acuminate apices, and different corolla color. Admittedly these are not strong characters upon which to base a species of Cavendishia but until more material of caudata is collected and the variation can be determined, it appears distinctive.
Cavendishia guatapeensis displays much variation in leaf shape, which in the type collection is ovate, basally subcordate, and apically bluntly short-acuminate. Other collections, however, show oblong to lance-elliptic leaves rounded or obtuse, rarely broadly cuneate at base and subacute to cuspidate, rarely long-acuminate at apex (but the acumen then less than 1.5 cm long). The inflorescence also varies, being sometimes short, few-flowered and subglobose, sometimes elongating, with more numerous flowers and appearing subcylindric. Smith’s C. cryptantha is a local variant with relatively large oblong leaves (to 9.5 cm) and elongate inflorescences (to 4 cm).Occasionally, C. guatapeensis may be confused with small-leaved, small-flowered forms of C. bracteata, but is distinguished by shorter pedicels bearing longer bracteoles, angled (often fimbriate) corollas, an elongate calyx limb, and calyx lobe margins lacerate-glandular (not glandular-fimbriate).Cavendishia guatapeensis and C. caudata are characterized by relatively short congested inflorescences with persistent concave clasping floral bracts, short pedicels, relatively long bracteoles located at or above the middle of the pedicel, short bluntly angled corollas, and calyx lobe margins which are thin and lacerate-glandular. I have chosen to maintain C. caudata separate from C. guatapeensis because of its decidedly larger leaves with long acuminate apices, and different corolla color. Admittedly these are not strong characters upon which to base a species of Cavendishia but until more material of caudata is collected and the variation can be determined, it appears distinctive.
Distribution and Ecology: Endemic to Colombia where it is rare in the Cordillera Oriental of Boyacá Dept., relatively common in the Cordillera Central of Antioquia and Tolima Depts., and rare in the Cordillera Occidental of Antioquia and Chocó Depts. The species is found in dense or open humid forest, in the shrub zone below paramo, on stream edges, in thickets, and on exposed roadsides and pastureland at elevations of 1500-2800(-3050) m. Flowering occurs throughout the year; fruiting specimens have been collected in March-April, August, and October.
Distribution:
Colombia South America| Antioquia Colombia South America| Boyacá Colombia South America| Chocó Colombia South America| Tolima Colombia South America|
Colombia South America| Antioquia Colombia South America| Boyacá Colombia South America| Chocó Colombia South America| Tolima Colombia South America|
Common Names:
uvito
uvito
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