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:
Leucothoe bradei Sleumer
Leucothoe bradei Sleumer
Description:
Variety Description - Shrub to 2 m tall; twigs glabrous to very sparsely pubescent. Leaves with petiole 4-11 mm long; blade ± oblong to slightly elliptic (slightly ovate), (2.4-) 3-7.5 × 0.6-2.5(-3) cm, base usually cuneate to rounded, abaxial surface with glandular dots usually extending along midvein from base to near apex. Inflorescence rachis to (2.5-)4.5-15(-20) cm long, glabrous to sparsely pubescent; pedicels glabrous to sparsely pubescent. Flowers with calyx lobes abaxially glabrous; corolla red, 8-11 mm long; ovary glabrous to moderately pubescent.
Variety Description - Shrub to 2 m tall; twigs glabrous to very sparsely pubescent. Leaves with petiole 4-11 mm long; blade ± oblong to slightly elliptic (slightly ovate), (2.4-) 3-7.5 × 0.6-2.5(-3) cm, base usually cuneate to rounded, abaxial surface with glandular dots usually extending along midvein from base to near apex. Inflorescence rachis to (2.5-)4.5-15(-20) cm long, glabrous to sparsely pubescent; pedicels glabrous to sparsely pubescent. Flowers with calyx lobes abaxially glabrous; corolla red, 8-11 mm long; ovary glabrous to moderately pubescent.
Discussion:
Agarista coriifolia probably is related closely to A. pulchra and A. subrotunda. It can be separated from the former by its larger, narrower leaves with a length/width quotient of (1.3-)1.8-6 (vs. 0.9-1.7) and its glabrous to densely pubescent (vs. glabrous) inflorescence axes, and from the latter by its abaxially glabrous leaves. This species may also be confused with A. pulchella var. pulchella or A. oleifolia (both varieties), but these taxa have more or less central placentae and usually less coriaceous leaves that always lack conspicuous abaxial glands (see key for other distinguishing features).Agarista coriifolia is extremely variable in unicellular indumentum, shape and size of the leaves, development of abaxial laminar glands, and color of the corolla. This variation has led to the description of numerous species and varieties (e.g., A. neriifolia, A. pohlii, L. bradei, or the various varieties of L. laxiflora) that cannot be maintained when the total pattern of variation is analyzed. Plants with glabrous inflorescence axes and often large leaves lacking abaxial glandular dots along the midvein have often been considered as A. neriifolia or A. coriifolia s. str., while individuals with pubescent inflorescence axes, and small to large leaves with few to many, conspicuous to inconspicuous abaxial glands along the midvein have been treated as A. pohlii. These characters, however, are not consistently correlated, and intermediate specimens are common (Judd, 1984). In addition, both morphological extremes, along with intermediates, grow in the same geographic regions. Thus, these plants are considered as representatives of a single variable species. Yet specimens previously referred to L. bradei (occurring in Minas Gerais, from Diamantina to Chapada in the Serra do Espinhaço) are distinctive due to their leaves that are more or less oblong to slightly elliptic, with cuneate to rounded bases and numerous very conspicuous glandular dots along the midvein abaxially. These populations are maintained as a very weakly delimited variety of A. coriifolia. The remaining more variable populations are all treated under var. coriifolia due to the absence of any internal discontinuities in the pattern of variation. The two varieties are, at least in part, geographically separate (Fig. 5A), but both may occur together in the Diamantina region, and the factors isolating them are in need of field investigation.
Agarista coriifolia probably is related closely to A. pulchra and A. subrotunda. It can be separated from the former by its larger, narrower leaves with a length/width quotient of (1.3-)1.8-6 (vs. 0.9-1.7) and its glabrous to densely pubescent (vs. glabrous) inflorescence axes, and from the latter by its abaxially glabrous leaves. This species may also be confused with A. pulchella var. pulchella or A. oleifolia (both varieties), but these taxa have more or less central placentae and usually less coriaceous leaves that always lack conspicuous abaxial glands (see key for other distinguishing features).Agarista coriifolia is extremely variable in unicellular indumentum, shape and size of the leaves, development of abaxial laminar glands, and color of the corolla. This variation has led to the description of numerous species and varieties (e.g., A. neriifolia, A. pohlii, L. bradei, or the various varieties of L. laxiflora) that cannot be maintained when the total pattern of variation is analyzed. Plants with glabrous inflorescence axes and often large leaves lacking abaxial glandular dots along the midvein have often been considered as A. neriifolia or A. coriifolia s. str., while individuals with pubescent inflorescence axes, and small to large leaves with few to many, conspicuous to inconspicuous abaxial glands along the midvein have been treated as A. pohlii. These characters, however, are not consistently correlated, and intermediate specimens are common (Judd, 1984). In addition, both morphological extremes, along with intermediates, grow in the same geographic regions. Thus, these plants are considered as representatives of a single variable species. Yet specimens previously referred to L. bradei (occurring in Minas Gerais, from Diamantina to Chapada in the Serra do Espinhaço) are distinctive due to their leaves that are more or less oblong to slightly elliptic, with cuneate to rounded bases and numerous very conspicuous glandular dots along the midvein abaxially. These populations are maintained as a very weakly delimited variety of A. coriifolia. The remaining more variable populations are all treated under var. coriifolia due to the absence of any internal discontinuities in the pattern of variation. The two varieties are, at least in part, geographically separate (Fig. 5A), but both may occur together in the Diamantina region, and the factors isolating them are in need of field investigation.
Distribution:
Brazil South America| Minas Gerais Brazil South America|
Brazil South America| Minas Gerais Brazil South America|