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 angustissima (Taub.) Sleumer

Description:

Species Description - Shrub to ca. 2 m tall; twigs with or without glandheaded hairs, otherwise glabrous, with nonchambered pith; buds to ca. 1 mm long, leaves conduplicate. Leaves coriaceous, linear and curved, to narrowly ovate in juvenile leaves, (1.7-)3-9 × 0.1-0.5 cm, but appearing narrower because entire lamina strongly adaxially folded, thus obscuring adaxial surface, base narrowly cuneate, apex narrowly acute to short-acuminate, margin entire, to serrulate in juvenile leaves due to the presence of glandheaded hairs, plane, adaxial surface glabrous, abaxial surface with or without gland-headed hairs, otherwise glabrous, lacking or with few inconspicuous glandular dots along midvein; petiole 5.5-15(-20) mm long, slender, often flexuous. Inflorescences axillary racemes, or terminal racemes or panicles, to 2-6 cm long; rachis glabrous; pedicels 4.5-14 mm long, glabrous (very slightly pubescent); bracteoles 2, alternate to opposite, from nearly basal to within lower 1/4 of pedicel, narrowly triangular to linear, to ca. 1 mm long; floral bracts to ca. 3 mm long, grading into leaves. Flowers with triangular calyx lobes, with acuminate apices, 1-1.5 × 0.5-1.1 mm, abaxial surface glabrous; corolla cylindrical, white or cream, 6.5-10.5 × 2.5-3.5 mm, glabrous; filaments 4-5 mm long; anthers 1-1.7 mm long; ovary glabrous. Capsules short-ovoid to subglobose, 3.5-5.5 × 5-7 mm, placentae subapical to nearly central; seeds 1.5-2.9 mm long.

Discussion:

Agarista angustissima is a very distinctive species, recognizable by its very narrow, more or less linear/ curved leaves that are strongly adaxially folded and ca. 3-7 cm long, its glabrous stems, and its often terminal inflorescences. Most closely related to A. glaberrima and A. duartei, it can be distinguished from the former by its narrower, linear leaves and from the latter by its glabrous stems and its more elongated, terminal inflorescences. All three species are limited to the Serra do Espinhaço region of Minas Gerais.

Distribution:

Brazil South America| Minas Gerais Brazil South America|