Monographs Details:
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)
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
Ericaceae
Synonyms:
Ledothamnus guyanensis Meisn.
Ledothamnus guyanensis Meisn.
Description:
Genus Description - Decumbent to erect, terrestrial shrubs; bark thin, smooth to furrowed; indumentum consisting of unicellular hairs, multicellular, multiseriate, short- to long-stalked, glandular to eglandular hairs, and papillae; buds eperulate. Leaves ericoid, (opposite-) whorled, decussate, petiolate; blades succulent, brittle, glabrous to glandular-setose, apparently without venation, lamina also dorsiventrally compressed, thus producing apparent margins, then the apparent margins usually contiguous so as to ± obscure the seemingly papillate lower surface and forming a channel which opens up at the base, actual margins entire, strongly revolute. Inflorescence with flowers solitary, terminal or axillary (clustered at tips of new growth); floral bract one, leaf-like; bracteoles two, basal, usually leaf-like but reduced in size. Flowers perfect, (5-)6(-9)-merous with imbricate aestivation, erect or nodding; calyx continuous with pedicel, lobes distinct to base, persistent and woody in fruit; corolla polypetalous, rotate, spreading-campanulate, or ± campanulate-urceolate, petals spreading or somewhat erect, essentially glabrous; stamens usually the same number as petals, included, filaments distinct, flat, often dilated at base, glabrous, unappendaged, attached dorsally at middle of anther, anthers oblong (± pointed at base or at apex), smooth, unappendaged, dehiscing introrsely along entire length; pollen with viscin threads; ovary superior, ovoid, 5(-7?)locular, strongly vernicose, usually glabrous, placentation axile but ± apical and bifid with prominent basal lobes; ovules numerous; nectariferous disc present around base of ovary; style stout, inserted, cylindric, obconic to conic, slightly swollen at apex, glabrous; stigma truncate to depressed-capitate, ± prominently bluntly papillate. Fruit a septicidal capsule, woody, oblong to ovoid, verrucose (warty), brown; seeds few, ovoid-angular but ± trigonous, ca. 0.8 mm long, without wings or tails, orangish-brown, testa reticulate-foveolate, the cells slightly elongated, thin-walled, loose from the endosperm; embryo white; chromosome number unknown.
Genus Description - Decumbent to erect, terrestrial shrubs; bark thin, smooth to furrowed; indumentum consisting of unicellular hairs, multicellular, multiseriate, short- to long-stalked, glandular to eglandular hairs, and papillae; buds eperulate. Leaves ericoid, (opposite-) whorled, decussate, petiolate; blades succulent, brittle, glabrous to glandular-setose, apparently without venation, lamina also dorsiventrally compressed, thus producing apparent margins, then the apparent margins usually contiguous so as to ± obscure the seemingly papillate lower surface and forming a channel which opens up at the base, actual margins entire, strongly revolute. Inflorescence with flowers solitary, terminal or axillary (clustered at tips of new growth); floral bract one, leaf-like; bracteoles two, basal, usually leaf-like but reduced in size. Flowers perfect, (5-)6(-9)-merous with imbricate aestivation, erect or nodding; calyx continuous with pedicel, lobes distinct to base, persistent and woody in fruit; corolla polypetalous, rotate, spreading-campanulate, or ± campanulate-urceolate, petals spreading or somewhat erect, essentially glabrous; stamens usually the same number as petals, included, filaments distinct, flat, often dilated at base, glabrous, unappendaged, attached dorsally at middle of anther, anthers oblong (± pointed at base or at apex), smooth, unappendaged, dehiscing introrsely along entire length; pollen with viscin threads; ovary superior, ovoid, 5(-7?)locular, strongly vernicose, usually glabrous, placentation axile but ± apical and bifid with prominent basal lobes; ovules numerous; nectariferous disc present around base of ovary; style stout, inserted, cylindric, obconic to conic, slightly swollen at apex, glabrous; stigma truncate to depressed-capitate, ± prominently bluntly papillate. Fruit a septicidal capsule, woody, oblong to ovoid, verrucose (warty), brown; seeds few, ovoid-angular but ± trigonous, ca. 0.8 mm long, without wings or tails, orangish-brown, testa reticulate-foveolate, the cells slightly elongated, thin-walled, loose from the endosperm; embryo white; chromosome number unknown.
Discussion:
A neotropical genus of seven species endemic to the Guayana Highland of southern Venezuela (and one collection from adjacent Brazil).
A neotropical genus of seven species endemic to the Guayana Highland of southern Venezuela (and one collection from adjacent Brazil).