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 1.5 m tall; mature branches terete, striate, glabrous or puberulent, dull reddish-brown; twigs subterete or bluntly angled, striate, puberulent. Leaves subcoriaceous, ovate to ovate-elliptic, (3.5-)5.5-11 x (1.5-)3-4.5 cm, basally rounded or somewhat truncate or obtuse, apically long-acuminate, glabrous except for midrib which is pubescent above; pinnately veined, midrib raised above and beneath and conspicuously thickened through proximal 1/3-¼, lateral veins 6-8 per side, arising at an angle of 30-55° from midrib, slightly impressed above and raised beneath, anastomosing near margins, reticulate veinlets raised above but obscure beneath; petioles terete, slightly rugose, 3-6 mm long and 1.5 mm in diam., puberulent. Inflorescence 9-13-flowered; rachis subterete, bluntly angled, muricate, glabrous, 3.5-5 cm long and 2-3.5 mm in diam., pale green but suffused with orange when fresh, drying orangish-brown; floral bracts oblanceolate, 17-30 X 10-15 mm, glabrous, deep reddish-orange when fresh but drying dark wine-red; pedicels terete when fresh but drying flat, glabrous, 6-13 mm long and 1 mm in diam., pale green but suffused with orange when fresh, distally (at articulation with calyx) provided with angular (sometimes partially atrophied) flesh-colored glands which secrete a white, sticky latex; bracteoles located just below middle of pedicel, ovate-lanceolate, ca. 0.5 mm long, glabrous, margin and upper 1/3 glandular-callose. Flowers: calyx glabrous, 4-5 mm long; hypanthium cylindric but weakly 5-10-ribbed, 1.5-1.8 mm long, basally apophysate with apophysis margin shallowly to deeply undulate; limb cylindric to somewhat spreading, 2.7-3.2 mm long; lobes 0.8-1 mm long and 1.5 mm broad at base, slightly connivent after anthesis, margins glandular-callose over their length with glands contiguous at apex or almost the entire lobe glandular-callose; sinus broadly rounded; corolla basically cylindric becoming swollen distally then abruptly constricting into the short throat and lobes, glabrous, ca. 15.5 mm long and 4.5-5.5 mm in diam. (upper constricted to 2.5 mm in diam.), light to bright orange below and white at constricted apex when fresh, lobes ca. 1 mm long, slightly spreading at anthesis; stamens ca. 12.5 mm long; filaments short-pilose medially on ventral surface, alternately ca. 1.5 mm and 3.5 mm long; anthers alternately ca. 11.5 mm and 10 mm long; thecae granular, 2-3 mm long, basally drawn-out into a short appendix (prognathous) 0.5 mm long; style 16 mm long. Berry not seen.
Species Description - Terrestrial shrub to 1.5 m tall; mature branches terete, striate, glabrous or puberulent, dull reddish-brown; twigs subterete or bluntly angled, striate, puberulent. Leaves subcoriaceous, ovate to ovate-elliptic, (3.5-)5.5-11 x (1.5-)3-4.5 cm, basally rounded or somewhat truncate or obtuse, apically long-acuminate, glabrous except for midrib which is pubescent above; pinnately veined, midrib raised above and beneath and conspicuously thickened through proximal 1/3-¼, lateral veins 6-8 per side, arising at an angle of 30-55° from midrib, slightly impressed above and raised beneath, anastomosing near margins, reticulate veinlets raised above but obscure beneath; petioles terete, slightly rugose, 3-6 mm long and 1.5 mm in diam., puberulent. Inflorescence 9-13-flowered; rachis subterete, bluntly angled, muricate, glabrous, 3.5-5 cm long and 2-3.5 mm in diam., pale green but suffused with orange when fresh, drying orangish-brown; floral bracts oblanceolate, 17-30 X 10-15 mm, glabrous, deep reddish-orange when fresh but drying dark wine-red; pedicels terete when fresh but drying flat, glabrous, 6-13 mm long and 1 mm in diam., pale green but suffused with orange when fresh, distally (at articulation with calyx) provided with angular (sometimes partially atrophied) flesh-colored glands which secrete a white, sticky latex; bracteoles located just below middle of pedicel, ovate-lanceolate, ca. 0.5 mm long, glabrous, margin and upper 1/3 glandular-callose. Flowers: calyx glabrous, 4-5 mm long; hypanthium cylindric but weakly 5-10-ribbed, 1.5-1.8 mm long, basally apophysate with apophysis margin shallowly to deeply undulate; limb cylindric to somewhat spreading, 2.7-3.2 mm long; lobes 0.8-1 mm long and 1.5 mm broad at base, slightly connivent after anthesis, margins glandular-callose over their length with glands contiguous at apex or almost the entire lobe glandular-callose; sinus broadly rounded; corolla basically cylindric becoming swollen distally then abruptly constricting into the short throat and lobes, glabrous, ca. 15.5 mm long and 4.5-5.5 mm in diam. (upper constricted to 2.5 mm in diam.), light to bright orange below and white at constricted apex when fresh, lobes ca. 1 mm long, slightly spreading at anthesis; stamens ca. 12.5 mm long; filaments short-pilose medially on ventral surface, alternately ca. 1.5 mm and 3.5 mm long; anthers alternately ca. 11.5 mm and 10 mm long; thecae granular, 2-3 mm long, basally drawn-out into a short appendix (prognathous) 0.5 mm long; style 16 mm long. Berry not seen.
Discussion:
Cavendishia aurantiaca is easily recognized by its pinnately veined leaves, reddish-orange floral bracts, orange corolla with white apex, and peculiar corolla shape. It is very similar to C. violacea in overall vegetative appearance (although the leaves of C. violacea may be either pinnate or weakly plinerved) and in the unusual corolla shape. The most obvious and striking differences lie in the color patterns of the floral bracts and corollas. Cavendishia violacea has purple floral bracts and a basally white corolla with the upper constricted portion purple; C. aurantiaca is described above. Both species are very striking and seemingly quite rare in their natural habitats.Cavendishia aurantiaca has in common with violacea and endresii pinnate (or incipiently pinnate) leaves, and angular glands at the calyx/pedicel articulation. In the first two species these glands are known to secrete a white, viscid latex, which may indicate a remote relationship with ser. Lactiviscidae (sect. Engleriana).
Cavendishia aurantiaca is easily recognized by its pinnately veined leaves, reddish-orange floral bracts, orange corolla with white apex, and peculiar corolla shape. It is very similar to C. violacea in overall vegetative appearance (although the leaves of C. violacea may be either pinnate or weakly plinerved) and in the unusual corolla shape. The most obvious and striking differences lie in the color patterns of the floral bracts and corollas. Cavendishia violacea has purple floral bracts and a basally white corolla with the upper constricted portion purple; C. aurantiaca is described above. Both species are very striking and seemingly quite rare in their natural habitats.Cavendishia aurantiaca has in common with violacea and endresii pinnate (or incipiently pinnate) leaves, and angular glands at the calyx/pedicel articulation. In the first two species these glands are known to secrete a white, viscid latex, which may indicate a remote relationship with ser. Lactiviscidae (sect. Engleriana).
Distribution:
Colombia South America| Chocó Colombia South America|
Colombia South America| Chocó Colombia South America|
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