Authority:

Luteyn, James L., et al. 1995. Ericaceae, Part II. The Superior-Ovaried Genera (Monotropoideae, Pyroloideae, Rhododendroideae, and Vaccinioideae P.P.). Fl. Neotrop. Monogr. 66: 560. (Published by NYBG Press)

Family:

Ericaceae

Description:

Species Description - Shrub to 3 m tall; bark fissured, densely glandular-hispid or glabrous, gray and brown; twigs subterete, brownish-gray to black, glandular-hispid (tomentose). Leaves coriaceous, flat or slightly revolute, elliptic to widely elliptic, 2.7-4.6 × 1.4-2.7 cm, base cuneate, obtuse, or truncate, apex obtuse, bluntly mucronate, margin entire, adaxial surfaces sparsely hispid, abaxial surfaces tomentose, usually glandular-hispid especially along midvein (glabrous); petiole semiterete, flattened abaxially, 3.5-6 mm long, glandular-hispid (tomentose or glabrous). Inflorescence terminal, axillary, or both, racemose, 9- 13-flowered; rachis 3-15 cm long, 1.4-2.8 mm diam., orange to brown, densely glandular-hispid, often tomentose (glabrous); pedicel ascending, 13-46 mm long, 0.5-1 mm diam., glandular-hispid or tomentose (glabrous); bracteoles inserted on basal 1/2 of pedicel, narrowly ovate or oblong, flat or slightly involute, 1.3-4.7 × 0.4-1 mm, apex acute to acuminate, margin glandular-ciliate, both surfaces glandular-hispid or tomentose (glabrous); floral bracts narrowly ovate to ovate, flat or revolute, 6.7-7(-30) × 1.2-2.8 mm, base cuneate or obtuse, apex acute to obtuse, margin entire, both surfaces glandular-hispid, sometimes tomentose (glabrous). Flowers 7(-8)-merous; calyx 4.9-5.8 mm long, tube 1.9-3.1 mm long, 4-6.4 mm diam., brown, sometimes with maroon edges, glandular-hispid, lobes ovate to widely ovate or triangular, apex acute to obtuse, 1.8-3.9 × 1.8-3.9, longest lobe 2.8-3.9 mm long, margin entire or glandular-ciliate (ciliolate), abaxial surface glandular-hispid or tomentose; corolla infundibular, white, pink, dark magenta, or purple, petals spatulate, 30-39 × 8-13 mm, margin undulate, distally slightly tomentose; stamens included or subequal to corolla, 26-41 mm long, filaments tomentose, anther 2.3-3.5 mm long, 1- 1.4 mm broad, glabrous; ovary glabrous, style slightly to long exserted, 33-46 mm long, stigma capitate or slightly lobed. Capsules depressed obovoid, 5-6 mm long, 9-10 mm diam., brown, exocarp not separating from the valves; seeds 1.1-1.9 mm long, 0.3-0.4 mm diam.

Discussion:

Bejaria infundibula is characterized by its unique funnel-shaped corolla as well as its elliptic to widely elliptic leaves and its included stamens. It is often difficult to separate from B. aestuans because some of the extremes in the extensive variation in the later species may approach the characteristic traits of B. infundibula. For example, some populations of B. aestuans from the Antioquia and Merida regions of Colombia have salveriform flowers which on drying may resemble the funnel-shaped flowers of B. infundibula (the Colombian plants have smaller corollas); elsewhere, large flowers are found in populations of B. aestuans from Mexico (these populations have spreading or campanulate flowers), and elliptic leaves are found throughout the range of B. aestuans (but rarely are they widely elliptic).

Bejaria infundibula may also be mistaken for B. mathewsii and B. resinosa, both of which also have large flowers. However, B. mathewsii and B. resinosa have strictly tubular or fusiform flowers with exserted stamens, whereas B. infundibula has funnelshaped flowers with included stamens. Calyx size also differs: the longest calyx lobes are 2.8-3.9 mm long in B. infundibula vs. 3.4-5.6 mm long in B. mathewsii and 3.8-7.5 mm long in B. resinosa.

Distribution:

Peru South America| Amazonas Peru South America|

Common Names:

matamoscas, mupa sacha