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 pseudospicata Sleumer
Cavendishia pseudospicata Sleumer
Description:
Variety Description - Inflorescence (including rachis, pedicels, calyces, and corollas) glabrous or pilose, also usually provided with glandular fimbriae. Calyx with hypanthium basally rounded, subtruncate, or rarely with a minute rim, slightly constricted at junction with limb; lobes ovate, oblong-ovate, or triangular, cuspidate or acute, at anthesis imbricate, contiguous, or separate (then often imbricate when in bud or just prior to anthesis), marginally with distinct glandular fimbriae or the distal ones rarely fusing; sinus none (when lobes imbricate) to narrowly U-shaped or obtuse.
Variety Description - Inflorescence (including rachis, pedicels, calyces, and corollas) glabrous or pilose, also usually provided with glandular fimbriae. Calyx with hypanthium basally rounded, subtruncate, or rarely with a minute rim, slightly constricted at junction with limb; lobes ovate, oblong-ovate, or triangular, cuspidate or acute, at anthesis imbricate, contiguous, or separate (then often imbricate when in bud or just prior to anthesis), marginally with distinct glandular fimbriae or the distal ones rarely fusing; sinus none (when lobes imbricate) to narrowly U-shaped or obtuse.
Discussion:
Cavendishia isernii is very pretty when living and is distinguished by its small leaves, numerous long and thin multi-flowered racemes, and small dark burgundy-red and white corollas.The two varieties herein recognized display variation similar to that in the varieties of C. tarapotana, viz, a low-elevation variety (var. pseudospicata) with distinct rarely fusing glandular fimbriae along the calyx lobe margins, and a higher elevation counterpart (var. isernii) with glandular-callose margins. Although the geographical ranges of C. isernii and C. tarapotana are similar, this pattern of variation is coincidental since there is no close relationship between them.Cavendishia isernii var. isernii is morphologically quite stable. I also place two Peruvian collections here with some hesitation as they bear few mature flowers and their calyx lobe margins seem to bear fused and callose fimbriae. More collections are needed from this isolated region of Peru before a firm placement can be made. Variety pseudospicata is quite variable in its pubescence and calyx lobe features. Plants may be completely glabrous or the stems, leaves, and inflorescences (including rachises, pedicels, calyces, and corollas) may be densely pilose. Since both the extreme and intermediate forms occur within the same population, or at least in close proximity (fide label data), this variation is of minor consequence. A more perplexing variation occurs in the calyx lobes where some collections show imbricate lobes (at least in bud and preanthesis stages) while others have completely separate lobes even in bud (see Fig. 46C-E). An intermediate, narrowly U-shaped sinus, is also common. I do not see any correlation between this lobe feature with any other character, and therefore simply accept it as part of the morphological variability of the variety.In Luteyn & Lebrón-Luteyn 6743, the pigmentation of the corolla seems to be restricted to the cells of the inner epidermis (as in C. divaricata, C. dulcis, and C. palustris). In C. palustris and C. isernii var. isernii (Lutevn & Lebrón-Luteyn 5674) the pigmentation of the calyx limb was also of a similar nature.Within ser. Deciduae, C. isernii is remotely related to C. chocoensis, C. spicata, and C. palustris. These species have in common long thin racemose inflorescences with numerous small flowers and minute bracteoles (or bracteoles absent). These four species show a trend towards lateral fusion of fimbriae into continuous callose glands on the calyx lobe margins. Cavendishia isernii var. pseudospicata has numerous distinct fimbriae; C. spicata shows 2-4 short, stout fimbriae which may fuse laterally; C. isernii var. isernii has callose lobes but these often also bear 12 stout fimbriae at their bases (near the sinus); C. chocoensis has the distal 1/3 glandular but not particularly thickened in texture; and finally C. palustris has definite callose lobe margins which may obscure the lobe itself. The above trend shown by the calyx lobe glands is a good example of the probable evolutionary progression in gland development detailed in Indumentum and Glands.Cavendishia isernii and C. palustris seem more closely related to each other than they are to either C. chocoensis or C spicata. They tend to have in common fewer-flowered inflorescences (16-30 not 20-60 flowers), longer pedicels (5-18 mm not 5-6.5 mm), longer corollas (7-12 mm not 6.6-7 mm), and similar distribution of chromoplasts in the inner epidermal cell layer of the corolla and calyx limb. It is difficult for me, however, to assess the exact relationships between these species as I have not seen C. spicata or chocoensis in the field and have only collected immature material of C. palustris. Also, these taxa are poorly represented in herbaria (C. spicata and C. chocoensis being known with certainty only from the type collections).A weak relationship between ser. Deciduae and ser. Imbricatae is also suggested via C. isernii var. pseudospicata and C. complectens, respectively, due to similarities in the general calyx shape and corolla size and texture, populations of C. isernii var. pseudospicata possessing imbricate calyx lobes which twist around the style after anthesis, and distinct glandular fimbriae on the calyx lobe and bracteole margins. In the eastern foothills of the Ecuadorian Andes their ranges and habitats are also very similar, the two often growing together.
Cavendishia isernii is very pretty when living and is distinguished by its small leaves, numerous long and thin multi-flowered racemes, and small dark burgundy-red and white corollas.The two varieties herein recognized display variation similar to that in the varieties of C. tarapotana, viz, a low-elevation variety (var. pseudospicata) with distinct rarely fusing glandular fimbriae along the calyx lobe margins, and a higher elevation counterpart (var. isernii) with glandular-callose margins. Although the geographical ranges of C. isernii and C. tarapotana are similar, this pattern of variation is coincidental since there is no close relationship between them.Cavendishia isernii var. isernii is morphologically quite stable. I also place two Peruvian collections here with some hesitation as they bear few mature flowers and their calyx lobe margins seem to bear fused and callose fimbriae. More collections are needed from this isolated region of Peru before a firm placement can be made. Variety pseudospicata is quite variable in its pubescence and calyx lobe features. Plants may be completely glabrous or the stems, leaves, and inflorescences (including rachises, pedicels, calyces, and corollas) may be densely pilose. Since both the extreme and intermediate forms occur within the same population, or at least in close proximity (fide label data), this variation is of minor consequence. A more perplexing variation occurs in the calyx lobes where some collections show imbricate lobes (at least in bud and preanthesis stages) while others have completely separate lobes even in bud (see Fig. 46C-E). An intermediate, narrowly U-shaped sinus, is also common. I do not see any correlation between this lobe feature with any other character, and therefore simply accept it as part of the morphological variability of the variety.In Luteyn & Lebrón-Luteyn 6743, the pigmentation of the corolla seems to be restricted to the cells of the inner epidermis (as in C. divaricata, C. dulcis, and C. palustris). In C. palustris and C. isernii var. isernii (Lutevn & Lebrón-Luteyn 5674) the pigmentation of the calyx limb was also of a similar nature.Within ser. Deciduae, C. isernii is remotely related to C. chocoensis, C. spicata, and C. palustris. These species have in common long thin racemose inflorescences with numerous small flowers and minute bracteoles (or bracteoles absent). These four species show a trend towards lateral fusion of fimbriae into continuous callose glands on the calyx lobe margins. Cavendishia isernii var. pseudospicata has numerous distinct fimbriae; C. spicata shows 2-4 short, stout fimbriae which may fuse laterally; C. isernii var. isernii has callose lobes but these often also bear 12 stout fimbriae at their bases (near the sinus); C. chocoensis has the distal 1/3 glandular but not particularly thickened in texture; and finally C. palustris has definite callose lobe margins which may obscure the lobe itself. The above trend shown by the calyx lobe glands is a good example of the probable evolutionary progression in gland development detailed in Indumentum and Glands.Cavendishia isernii and C. palustris seem more closely related to each other than they are to either C. chocoensis or C spicata. They tend to have in common fewer-flowered inflorescences (16-30 not 20-60 flowers), longer pedicels (5-18 mm not 5-6.5 mm), longer corollas (7-12 mm not 6.6-7 mm), and similar distribution of chromoplasts in the inner epidermal cell layer of the corolla and calyx limb. It is difficult for me, however, to assess the exact relationships between these species as I have not seen C. spicata or chocoensis in the field and have only collected immature material of C. palustris. Also, these taxa are poorly represented in herbaria (C. spicata and C. chocoensis being known with certainty only from the type collections).A weak relationship between ser. Deciduae and ser. Imbricatae is also suggested via C. isernii var. pseudospicata and C. complectens, respectively, due to similarities in the general calyx shape and corolla size and texture, populations of C. isernii var. pseudospicata possessing imbricate calyx lobes which twist around the style after anthesis, and distinct glandular fimbriae on the calyx lobe and bracteole margins. In the eastern foothills of the Ecuadorian Andes their ranges and habitats are also very similar, the two often growing together.
Distribution:
Ecuador South America| Pastaza Ecuador South America|
Ecuador South America| Pastaza Ecuador South America|
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