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 - Evergreen small shrub to tree with longitudinally furrowed bark; twigs slightly to moderately angled, slender, sparsely lepidote, otherwise glabrous to sparsely pubescent; buds ovoid, 0.8-1.2 × ca. 0.8 mm, lepidote. Leaf blades ovate to elliptic, 3.5-9 × 2-6 cm, ± flat, usually thinly coriaceous, ca. 0.15-0.2 mm thick; base broadly cuneate to slightly cordate; apex acuminate, acute, to rounded or truncate; margin not revolute, apical portion clearly but finely and irregularly toothed, basal portion obscurely toothed; venation brochidodromous, 3° veins ± reticulate; adaxial surface lepidote but scales quickly deciduous, sparsely pubescent on basal portion of midvein, with 2° and higher-order veins obscure to slightly visible; abaxial surface sparsely lepidote, otherwise glabrous, the 3° and higher-order veins ± flat, obscure to very slightly and laxly reticulate, the 2° veins visible and slightly raised to obscure; scales rusty to golden, becoming whitish with age, usually persistent, ca. 0.08-0.17 mm in diam., entire to slightly irregular; petiole 2-6 mm long, lepidote, otherwise adaxially pubescent. Inflorescences fasciculate, ca. 3-8-flowered; pedicels ± clearly articulated with calyx, slender, ca. 2.5-4 mm long, lepidote, otherwise sparsely pubescent; bracteoles opposite, basal, narrowly triangular, ca. 0.8 mm long; floral bracts to ca. 1(?) mm long. Flowers 4-merous; calyx lobes triangular, with acuminate to nearly acute apices, 0.7-0.9 × 0.4-0.6 mm, adaxial side glabrous or very sparsely pubescent near apex, abaxial side lepidote, otherwise usually glabrous; corolla urceolate(?), white, only immature flowers seen, but possibly reaching 3 or 4 mm in length, abaxially moderately (or densely?) lepidote; filaments roughened; ovary lepidote, otherwise pubescent. Capsules narrowly ovoid, ca. 8 × ca. 3.5 mm, lepidote, otherwise pubescent, with pale, very thick sutures; seeds not seen.
Species Description - Evergreen small shrub to tree with longitudinally furrowed bark; twigs slightly to moderately angled, slender, sparsely lepidote, otherwise glabrous to sparsely pubescent; buds ovoid, 0.8-1.2 × ca. 0.8 mm, lepidote. Leaf blades ovate to elliptic, 3.5-9 × 2-6 cm, ± flat, usually thinly coriaceous, ca. 0.15-0.2 mm thick; base broadly cuneate to slightly cordate; apex acuminate, acute, to rounded or truncate; margin not revolute, apical portion clearly but finely and irregularly toothed, basal portion obscurely toothed; venation brochidodromous, 3° veins ± reticulate; adaxial surface lepidote but scales quickly deciduous, sparsely pubescent on basal portion of midvein, with 2° and higher-order veins obscure to slightly visible; abaxial surface sparsely lepidote, otherwise glabrous, the 3° and higher-order veins ± flat, obscure to very slightly and laxly reticulate, the 2° veins visible and slightly raised to obscure; scales rusty to golden, becoming whitish with age, usually persistent, ca. 0.08-0.17 mm in diam., entire to slightly irregular; petiole 2-6 mm long, lepidote, otherwise adaxially pubescent. Inflorescences fasciculate, ca. 3-8-flowered; pedicels ± clearly articulated with calyx, slender, ca. 2.5-4 mm long, lepidote, otherwise sparsely pubescent; bracteoles opposite, basal, narrowly triangular, ca. 0.8 mm long; floral bracts to ca. 1(?) mm long. Flowers 4-merous; calyx lobes triangular, with acuminate to nearly acute apices, 0.7-0.9 × 0.4-0.6 mm, adaxial side glabrous or very sparsely pubescent near apex, abaxial side lepidote, otherwise usually glabrous; corolla urceolate(?), white, only immature flowers seen, but possibly reaching 3 or 4 mm in length, abaxially moderately (or densely?) lepidote; filaments roughened; ovary lepidote, otherwise pubescent. Capsules narrowly ovoid, ca. 8 × ca. 3.5 mm, lepidote, otherwise pubescent, with pale, very thick sutures; seeds not seen.
Discussion:
The relationships of this rare and poorly known species to the other taxa of sect. Lyonia are very problematic. It may be related to L. latifolia or L. elliptica, but at present the plant is too poorly collected to determine the full range of morphological variation of its leaves, flowers, and fruits.
The relationships of this rare and poorly known species to the other taxa of sect. Lyonia are very problematic. It may be related to L. latifolia or L. elliptica, but at present the plant is too poorly collected to determine the full range of morphological variation of its leaves, flowers, and fruits.
Distribution:
Cuba South America|
Cuba South America|