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
Description:
Species Description - Subshrub, 0.5 m tall; mature stems terete, smooth, lustrous, glabrous; twigs subterete to bluntly angled, striate, puberulent, glabrate. Leaves in whorls of 3, strongly imbricate, ascending to spreading at tips, oblong-elliptic, ± trigonous in cross-section, 3.2-5.2 × 1-1.4 mm, base broadly cuneate and decurrent, apex acute, short-mucronate, keeled, apparent margins short-ciliate with white hairs to 0.2 mm long, otherwise lamina glabrous except for puberulous base; petiole 1.5-2 mm long, puberulous. In-florescence axillary, flowers solitary; pedicels subterete, ribbed, to 4 mm long, densely short-white-puberulent; floral bracts not seen; bracteoles located about in middle of pedicel, ca. 4 mm long, apex long-mucronate. Flowers 5-6-merous; calyx campanulate, ca. 6 mm long, puberulent, lobes spreading, ovate, ca. 5.5 mm long, acuminate, mucronate, margin with very tiny, deciduous, acicular (branched), eglandular hairs ca. 0.1 mm long; petals apparently spreading, oblong-elliptic, ca. 6 × 1.5 mm, rounded, white when fresh, glabrous; stamens ca. 5 mm long; filaments ca. 3.6 mm long; anthers ca. 1.3 mm long; ovary glabrous; style ca. 1.3 mm long, glabrous. Capsule oblong, ca. 4 mm long.
Species Description - Subshrub, 0.5 m tall; mature stems terete, smooth, lustrous, glabrous; twigs subterete to bluntly angled, striate, puberulent, glabrate. Leaves in whorls of 3, strongly imbricate, ascending to spreading at tips, oblong-elliptic, ± trigonous in cross-section, 3.2-5.2 × 1-1.4 mm, base broadly cuneate and decurrent, apex acute, short-mucronate, keeled, apparent margins short-ciliate with white hairs to 0.2 mm long, otherwise lamina glabrous except for puberulous base; petiole 1.5-2 mm long, puberulous. In-florescence axillary, flowers solitary; pedicels subterete, ribbed, to 4 mm long, densely short-white-puberulent; floral bracts not seen; bracteoles located about in middle of pedicel, ca. 4 mm long, apex long-mucronate. Flowers 5-6-merous; calyx campanulate, ca. 6 mm long, puberulent, lobes spreading, ovate, ca. 5.5 mm long, acuminate, mucronate, margin with very tiny, deciduous, acicular (branched), eglandular hairs ca. 0.1 mm long; petals apparently spreading, oblong-elliptic, ca. 6 × 1.5 mm, rounded, white when fresh, glabrous; stamens ca. 5 mm long; filaments ca. 3.6 mm long; anthers ca. 1.3 mm long; ovary glabrous; style ca. 1.3 mm long, glabrous. Capsule oblong, ca. 4 mm long.
Discussion:
Ledothamnus jauaensis is characterized by eglandular leaves and sepals, short and eglandular pedicels, and white petals. It is very closely related to L. sessiliflorus, but differs by its puberulous leaf and sepal margins, leaf margins without acicular hairs, non-setose pedicels, axillary (not terminal) flowers, white (not scarlet) petals, and in its distribution. Both L. jauaensis and L. sessiliflora also show relationships to L. guyanensis, all three having in common densely short-pilose pedicels and calyces and similar leaves. More collections of L. jauaensis and L. sessiliflora are needed, however, to determine the exact relationships.
Ledothamnus jauaensis is characterized by eglandular leaves and sepals, short and eglandular pedicels, and white petals. It is very closely related to L. sessiliflorus, but differs by its puberulous leaf and sepal margins, leaf margins without acicular hairs, non-setose pedicels, axillary (not terminal) flowers, white (not scarlet) petals, and in its distribution. Both L. jauaensis and L. sessiliflora also show relationships to L. guyanensis, all three having in common densely short-pilose pedicels and calyces and similar leaves. More collections of L. jauaensis and L. sessiliflora are needed, however, to determine the exact relationships.
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