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)
Ericaceae
Arctostaphylos lanata (Small) Standl.
Species Description - Erect evergreen shrubs; young twigs densely hirsute with stalked, swollen-headed glandular hairs. Leaves congested at stem tips, coriaceous, narrowly ovate-elliptic to elliptic, 3.5-6.6 × 0.9-2.2 cm, base cuneate, apex acute, sometimes mucronate, margins entire, revolute, upper surface pubescent with stalked, swollen-headed glandular and eglandular trichomes, becoming less so with age but never glabrous, lower surface lanate with dense gray to tan eglandular trichomes, scattered glandular trichomes also present, especially along the midrib; petioles 2.0-4.5 mm long, densely glandular hirsute as with young twigs. Inflorescences paniculate, often much branched, 5.0-10.9 cm long, rachis, pedicels, bracts, bracteoles, and calyx densely hirsute with stalked, swollen-headed glandular hairs; floral bracts narrowly ovate to elliptic, 5-9 mm long, ciliate; pedicels 5-9 mm long; bracteoles basal to medial or slightly higher, to 2.8 × 1.3 mm, ciliate. Flowers with caylx lobes long triangular, 1.7-3.1 × 1.73.1 mm, acute to acuminate, ciliate; corollas white-yellowish (Gonzalez V., 1990b), 5.4-6.2 × 3.54.7 mm, subglabrous to pubescent with short hyaline hairs, lobes 0.9-1 × 1-1.4 mm; stamens 2.7-3.1 mm long; filaments 2.4-2.8 mm long, sparsely villous; anthers 1.1-1.3 mm long, spurs 0.4-0.6 mm long; ovary villous; style 3.1-3.3 mm long, glabrous. Fruit drupaceous, dark purple to black at maturity, 4-7 mm in diam.; seeds 1.6-1.8 × 1-1.1 mm, surface reticulate.
Comarostaphylis lanata is the least known species in the genus, and its relationships to other taxa are not clear. The much-branched inflorescences, leaf size, and leaf shape would suggest an affinity to the C. arbutoides- C. discolor- C. longifolia group of species. However, the entire, re volute margins and leaf pubescence are suggestive of some specimens of C. polifolia from Oaxaca. There may also be a relationship with C. sharpii which resembles C. lanata in inflorescence and pubescence characters, but has much larger and less revolute leaves. When all characters are considered, C. lanata remains a distinctive taxon of questionable affinities.
Distribution and Ecology: Comarostaphylis lanata is endemic to San Luis Potosi, known from only a few sites including the type locality and one nearby (Purpus station, Bargre [= Bagre 22?08'N, 100?20'W]) in south-central San Luis Potosi. Gonzalez Villarreal (1990b) indicates that C. lanata has an "ample distribution in the zone that corresponds to the surroundings of the Zimapan mine, municipio de Talpa de Allende" (Sierra de Cuale). It has one of th emost restricted ranges of any species in the genus. Associates include Pinus ayacahuite, P.herrerae, P. lumholtzii, P. douglasiana, Quercus sp., Clethra sp., Vaccinium stenophylum, Bejaria mexicana, Comarostaphylis glaucescens, and C. discolor (Gonzalez V. 1990b). Sousa (1969) states that the Bagre locality where Purpus collected was "en un encinar.: According to Gonzalez Villarreal (1990b), flowering occurs throughout the year but principally from March to April with fruiting in May. Fruiting specimens have also been collected in November
Mexico North America| San Luis Potosí Mexico North America|