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)

Family:

Ericaceae

Synonyms:

Leucothoe ambigua var. longifolia Meisn., Leucothoe martii var. puberula Meisn., Leucothoe martii var. glabra Meisn., Leucothoe spectabilis Meisn., Leucothoe varnhageniana Reichardt, Leucothoe ambigua var. glabra Meisn., Leucothoe oleifolia var. glabra (Meisn.) Sleumer, Leucothoe oleifolia var. longifolia (Meisn.) Sleumer, Agarista spectabilis (Meisn.) Hook.f. ex Nied., Agarista varnhageniana (Reichardt) Nied.

Description:

Variety Description - Shrub (to small tree) to 3(-4) m tall; twigs glabrous. Leaves with petiole 4-11.5 mm long; blade (2.5-)3.5—10(-12.5) × 0.9-3.3 cm, base cuneate to rounded, abaxial surface glabrous. Inflorescences to 6-13 cm long; rachis glabrous or essentially so; pedicels glabrous. Flowers with corolla red (white), 10.5-16 mm long; filaments 6.5-8.5 mm long; anthers 2-2.2 mm long; ovary glabrous. Capsules 3.5-5.5 × 5.5-8 mm.

Discussion:

Agarista oleifolia is probably most closely related to A. pulchella, A. minensis, and A. paraguayensis. All four species have moderate to large and flat leaves and capsules with more or less centrally positioned placentae. Agarista oleifolia is distinguished easily from A. paraguayensis by its abaxially glabrous corollas and leaves and its solid to chambered pith, and from A. minensis by its longer inflorescences and often wider leaves. Agarista oleifolia is geographically separated from both of these species. It can be distinguished from the very similar but geographically separated A. pulchella var. pulchella by its differently shaped leaves and often longer petioles (see key); in addition, the sympatric A. pulchella var. cordifolia can be distinguished readily by its usually subapical placentae and its smaller leaves. Individuals of A. oleifolia are also sometimes confused with A. uleana, A. niederleinii var. acutifolia, and A. coriifolia; see distinguishing characters in key.

Populations of Agarista oleifolia are separable into two morphologically distinctive and geographically separate varieties. The more northern, var. glabra, is best distinguished from var. oleifolia by its glabrous (vs. sparsely to densely pubescent) inflorescence axis and its usually larger, more frequently red corollas.

Both taxa vary in the development of glandular indumentum and in leaf shape, which has led to the description of numerous species and varieties (see synonymy) that cannot be maintained when the entire range of variation is considered. Individuals with small, very narrowly ovate, acute-apexed leaves are frequent in the Serra do Itatiaia (and also occur in the Serra dos Orgaos). Such plants were described as Leucothoe stenophylla by Loesener (1889) and maintained as a distinct species by Sleumer (1959); however, this form intergrades completely with more typical A. oleifolia (Judd, 1984).

Distribution:

Brazil South America| Bahia Brazil South America| Distrito Federal Brazil South America|