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 - Terrestrial shrub to 3 m tall; stems subterete, bluntly angled, striate, glabrous but black glandular-punctate. Leaves oblong-elliptic or lanceolate, (7.5-) 12-18 (-27) X (3-)5-7(-12) cm, basally rounded, obtuse, or short-attenuate, apically acuminate often abruptly short-acuminate, glabrous but densely glandular-fim-briate beneath, appearing reddish-punctate after fimbriae break off; 5(-7)-pli-nerved with inner pair of lateral nerves arising 2-3 cm above base, midrib conspicuously raised and thickened through proximal 2-3 cm otherwise thin and impressed above and raised beneath, lateral nerves impressed above and raised beneath, reticulate veinlets raised on both surfaces but inconspicuous beneath; petioles terete, rugose, 7-12(-l 9) mm long and 2.5-3(-4.5) mm in diam., glabrous. Inflorescence potentially 125-140-flowered but with seemingly only 1-2 flowers open at any given time, frequently two inflorescences per axil with the inflorescence basally encircled by numerous ovate to obovate bracts to 25 mm long and broad; rachis subterete, bluntly angled, internodes congested, glabrous, ca. 7 mm long when first flowering but elongating to 35 cm and still flowering towards the tip, old rachises found as long as 52 cm, averaging 4-5 mm diam.; floral bracts subcoriaceous, subpersistent, appressed to the flowers and seemingly falling with fruit, oblong to ovate, 25 mm long and broad, basally truncate, apically rounded, marginally eglandular, glabrous, punctate with minute spherical glands, bright red when fresh; pedicels subterete, 4 mm long and in diam., glabrous but densely glandular with nearly spherical minute fimbriae; bracteoles basal, tightly enclosing hypanthium and thus imbricate, similar to floral bracts except 17 mm long and broad, marginally weakly glandular-fimbriate. Flowers: calyx glabrous, 25-27 mm long; hypanthium cylindric, smooth, 7-8 mm long and 9-10 mm in diam., basally truncate; limb cylindric ca. 19-20 mm long; lobes imbricate, oblong, obtuse, 1819 mm long, erect and tightly imbricate after anthesis, marginally scarious and seemingly glandular over entire length, also punctate as bracts; corolla cylindric but slightly swollen basally, nearly completely enclosed by calyx lobes with only the distal few millimeters showing, glabrous, 21-22 mm long and ca. 8 mm in diam., white, lobes oblong, acute 2 mm long and broad, flaring at anthesis; stamens 15-16.5 mm long; filaments densely short-pilose distal ½-1/3, alternately 3-3.7 mm and 5-6 mm long; anthers alternately 14-14.5 mm and 12-12.5 mm long; thecae 6.5-7 mm long; style ca. 20-21 mm long. Berry not seen.
Species Description - Terrestrial shrub to 3 m tall; stems subterete, bluntly angled, striate, glabrous but black glandular-punctate. Leaves oblong-elliptic or lanceolate, (7.5-) 12-18 (-27) X (3-)5-7(-12) cm, basally rounded, obtuse, or short-attenuate, apically acuminate often abruptly short-acuminate, glabrous but densely glandular-fim-briate beneath, appearing reddish-punctate after fimbriae break off; 5(-7)-pli-nerved with inner pair of lateral nerves arising 2-3 cm above base, midrib conspicuously raised and thickened through proximal 2-3 cm otherwise thin and impressed above and raised beneath, lateral nerves impressed above and raised beneath, reticulate veinlets raised on both surfaces but inconspicuous beneath; petioles terete, rugose, 7-12(-l 9) mm long and 2.5-3(-4.5) mm in diam., glabrous. Inflorescence potentially 125-140-flowered but with seemingly only 1-2 flowers open at any given time, frequently two inflorescences per axil with the inflorescence basally encircled by numerous ovate to obovate bracts to 25 mm long and broad; rachis subterete, bluntly angled, internodes congested, glabrous, ca. 7 mm long when first flowering but elongating to 35 cm and still flowering towards the tip, old rachises found as long as 52 cm, averaging 4-5 mm diam.; floral bracts subcoriaceous, subpersistent, appressed to the flowers and seemingly falling with fruit, oblong to ovate, 25 mm long and broad, basally truncate, apically rounded, marginally eglandular, glabrous, punctate with minute spherical glands, bright red when fresh; pedicels subterete, 4 mm long and in diam., glabrous but densely glandular with nearly spherical minute fimbriae; bracteoles basal, tightly enclosing hypanthium and thus imbricate, similar to floral bracts except 17 mm long and broad, marginally weakly glandular-fimbriate. Flowers: calyx glabrous, 25-27 mm long; hypanthium cylindric, smooth, 7-8 mm long and 9-10 mm in diam., basally truncate; limb cylindric ca. 19-20 mm long; lobes imbricate, oblong, obtuse, 1819 mm long, erect and tightly imbricate after anthesis, marginally scarious and seemingly glandular over entire length, also punctate as bracts; corolla cylindric but slightly swollen basally, nearly completely enclosed by calyx lobes with only the distal few millimeters showing, glabrous, 21-22 mm long and ca. 8 mm in diam., white, lobes oblong, acute 2 mm long and broad, flaring at anthesis; stamens 15-16.5 mm long; filaments densely short-pilose distal ½-1/3, alternately 3-3.7 mm and 5-6 mm long; anthers alternately 14-14.5 mm and 12-12.5 mm long; thecae 6.5-7 mm long; style ca. 20-21 mm long. Berry not seen.
Discussion:
Cavendishia longirachis is characterized by its extremely long rachis which may attain a length of 52 cm with up to 140 flowers, its clasping and persistent floral bracts, short pedicels, clasping bracteoles to 17 mm long, and elongate calyx lobes (18-19 mm long). Apparently only 1 or 2 flowers are in anthesis at any given time, and therefore its flowering period must be long.It is similar to C. compacta in general appearance but is most closely related to C. amplexa under which its relationships are discussed. The locality from which the type was collected was very interesting, a highly disturbed roadside/ pastureland dominated by numerous ericaceous shrubs. Species of Cavendishia collected in the general vicinity included C. guatapeensis, C. bracteata, and C. pubescens as well as C. longirachis. Here longirachis appeared to be hybridizing with C. bracteata ( Luteyn & Lebrón-Luteyn 7124, 7125, and 7127) and pubescens ( Luteyn & Lebrón-Luteyn 7123), both common to abundant species in the general area of La Unión (although C. pubescens was not seen at that exact locality). The putative hybrids were morphologically intermediate and very rare, occurring only on the disturbed roadside slopes. Many more collections are needed to determine their status.
Cavendishia longirachis is characterized by its extremely long rachis which may attain a length of 52 cm with up to 140 flowers, its clasping and persistent floral bracts, short pedicels, clasping bracteoles to 17 mm long, and elongate calyx lobes (18-19 mm long). Apparently only 1 or 2 flowers are in anthesis at any given time, and therefore its flowering period must be long.It is similar to C. compacta in general appearance but is most closely related to C. amplexa under which its relationships are discussed. The locality from which the type was collected was very interesting, a highly disturbed roadside/ pastureland dominated by numerous ericaceous shrubs. Species of Cavendishia collected in the general vicinity included C. guatapeensis, C. bracteata, and C. pubescens as well as C. longirachis. Here longirachis appeared to be hybridizing with C. bracteata ( Luteyn & Lebrón-Luteyn 7124, 7125, and 7127) and pubescens ( Luteyn & Lebrón-Luteyn 7123), both common to abundant species in the general area of La Unión (although C. pubescens was not seen at that exact locality). The putative hybrids were morphologically intermediate and very rare, occurring only on the disturbed roadside slopes. Many more collections are needed to determine their status.
Distribution:
Colombia South America| Antioquia Colombia South America|
Colombia South America| Antioquia Colombia South America|
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