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 minensis (Glaz. ex Sleumer) Glaz.
Leucothoe minensis (Glaz. ex Sleumer) Glaz.
Description:
Species Description - Shrub to 4 m tall; twigs glabrous to sparsely pubescent, with clearly chambered pith; buds to ca. 0.8 mm long, leaves revolute. Leaves coriaceous, slightly and narrowly ovate to narrowly oblong, (1-) 1.6-5.6 × 0.3-1 (-1.7) cm, base cuneate to truncate, apex acute- to rounded-mucronate, margin entire, plane to very slightly revolute, especially near base, adaxial surface sparsely to very sparsely pubescent on basal portion of midvein, abaxial surface glabrous (with few very inconspicuous glandular dots along mid vein); petiole 2-6 mm long. Inflorescences (fascicle-like) axillary racemes to 0.5-1.5(-2.5) cm long; rachis sparsely to densely pubescent; pedicels 4-10 mm long, very sparsely to moderately pubescent; bracteoles 2, alternate to subopposite, from nearly basal to near midpoint of pedicel, narrowly triangular to linear, to ca. 1.6 mm long; floral bracts to 1.2 mm long. Flowers with triangular calyx lobes, with acuminate (to acute) apices, 1.4-2.6 × 0.8-1.4 mm, abaxial surface glabrous to sparsely pubescent; corolla cylindrical, white, 6.5-11 × 2.5-4.5 mm, glabrous; filaments 5-5.5 mm long; anthers ca. 1.2 mm long; ovary glabrous to very slightly pubescent near apex. Capsules short-ovoid to subglobose, 3-5 × 4.5-7.5 mm, placentae ± central; seeds 1-1.5 mm long.
Species Description - Shrub to 4 m tall; twigs glabrous to sparsely pubescent, with clearly chambered pith; buds to ca. 0.8 mm long, leaves revolute. Leaves coriaceous, slightly and narrowly ovate to narrowly oblong, (1-) 1.6-5.6 × 0.3-1 (-1.7) cm, base cuneate to truncate, apex acute- to rounded-mucronate, margin entire, plane to very slightly revolute, especially near base, adaxial surface sparsely to very sparsely pubescent on basal portion of midvein, abaxial surface glabrous (with few very inconspicuous glandular dots along mid vein); petiole 2-6 mm long. Inflorescences (fascicle-like) axillary racemes to 0.5-1.5(-2.5) cm long; rachis sparsely to densely pubescent; pedicels 4-10 mm long, very sparsely to moderately pubescent; bracteoles 2, alternate to subopposite, from nearly basal to near midpoint of pedicel, narrowly triangular to linear, to ca. 1.6 mm long; floral bracts to 1.2 mm long. Flowers with triangular calyx lobes, with acuminate (to acute) apices, 1.4-2.6 × 0.8-1.4 mm, abaxial surface glabrous to sparsely pubescent; corolla cylindrical, white, 6.5-11 × 2.5-4.5 mm, glabrous; filaments 5-5.5 mm long; anthers ca. 1.2 mm long; ovary glabrous to very slightly pubescent near apex. Capsules short-ovoid to subglobose, 3-5 × 4.5-7.5 mm, placentae ± central; seeds 1-1.5 mm long.
Discussion:
Although this taxon was included in Agarista niederleinii by Sleumer (1959), the two species differ greatly in capsule morphology and inflorescence length, and probably are not closely related (Judd, 1984). Agarista minensis is probably related to A. pulchella var. pulchella, from which it is distinguished by its shorter inflorescences and its different leaf shape [length/width quotient (2.5-)3-6 vs. (1.4-)1.6-3(-3.5), base cuneate to truncate vs. cordate]; see Emrich and Rambo (1949: fig. 20) and Marques (1975: pl. 6, fig. 9). The ranges of the two taxa overlap only slightly (Fig. 7). Some hybridization, however, may be occurring between them, because a few specimens here identified as A. pulchella [e.g., Smith & Klein 8470 (L, US), from Santa Catarina] show some A. minensis-like characters. Agarista minensis can easily be confused with small and narrow-leaved individuals of A. oleifolia var. oleifolia. The two can be distinguished by the length of the inflorescences and shape of the leaf blades-especially the apex, which is never narrowly acute in A. minensis but is usually so in narrowleaved individuals of A. oleifolia var. oleifolia.The provenance of the type of Agarista minensis (Glaziou 19572) is very uncertain. These specimens are identical with Ule 1840 (HBJ, L) and 1841 (see Sleumer, 1959), collected in the state of Santa Catarina. However, Glaziou 19572 was supposedly collected in Minas Gerais near Diamantina. It is very probable that the specimens represented by Glaziou 19572 were actually sent to Glaziou by Ule and that the label information was altered by Glaziou; see discussion in Wurdack (1970) and Judd (1984).
Although this taxon was included in Agarista niederleinii by Sleumer (1959), the two species differ greatly in capsule morphology and inflorescence length, and probably are not closely related (Judd, 1984). Agarista minensis is probably related to A. pulchella var. pulchella, from which it is distinguished by its shorter inflorescences and its different leaf shape [length/width quotient (2.5-)3-6 vs. (1.4-)1.6-3(-3.5), base cuneate to truncate vs. cordate]; see Emrich and Rambo (1949: fig. 20) and Marques (1975: pl. 6, fig. 9). The ranges of the two taxa overlap only slightly (Fig. 7). Some hybridization, however, may be occurring between them, because a few specimens here identified as A. pulchella [e.g., Smith & Klein 8470 (L, US), from Santa Catarina] show some A. minensis-like characters. Agarista minensis can easily be confused with small and narrow-leaved individuals of A. oleifolia var. oleifolia. The two can be distinguished by the length of the inflorescences and shape of the leaf blades-especially the apex, which is never narrowly acute in A. minensis but is usually so in narrowleaved individuals of A. oleifolia var. oleifolia.The provenance of the type of Agarista minensis (Glaziou 19572) is very uncertain. These specimens are identical with Ule 1840 (HBJ, L) and 1841 (see Sleumer, 1959), collected in the state of Santa Catarina. However, Glaziou 19572 was supposedly collected in Minas Gerais near Diamantina. It is very probable that the specimens represented by Glaziou 19572 were actually sent to Glaziou by Ule and that the label information was altered by Glaziou; see discussion in Wurdack (1970) and Judd (1984).
Distribution:
Brazil South America| Rio Grande do Sul Brazil South America| Santa Catarina Brazil South America|
Brazil South America| Rio Grande do Sul Brazil South America| Santa Catarina Brazil South America|