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:

Tepuia tatei var. chimantana Steyerm. & Maguire

Description:

Species Description - Shrublet 0.1-0.3(-1) m tall; mature stem terete, striate to ribbed, moderately short-grayish-white-pilose to glabrate; twigs subterete to terete, striate to ribbed, densely to moderately short-white- to ferruginous-pilose (glabrate). Leaves coriaceous, basically flat to long-revolute, except apex, ovate-elliptic, 1.5-2.5(-3.8) × (0.3-)0.6-1(-1.3) cm, base broadly cuneate and short-decurrent, or obtuse, apex acute with actual apex conspicuously, bluntly, and stoutly mucronate, or rarely obtuse to rounded, margin bearing 1 pair of pustular glands at the base of the lamina, weakly short-white-pilose above when young then glabrate, densely short-tomentose over entire lower surface (except midrib and sometimes lateral nerves) with white, grayish-white, to tan or ferruginous hairs; pinnately nerved, midrib shallowly impressed above, raised beneath, lateral nerves (ca. 4 per side) obscure above, slightly raised beneath but usually obscure; petiole subterete, flat but not conspicuously canaliculate above, rugose (ribbed), 3-5 mm long, moderately and shortly white- or ferruginous-pilose. Inflorescence l-4(-8)-flowered; rachis subterete, bluntly angled, striate, rugose, 5-10(-20) mm long, moderately and shortly white- or ferruginous-pilose, or glabrate; floral bract concave, ovate, 1.5-1.8 mm long, acute to obtuse, moderately and shortly white- or ferruginous-pilose to glabrous; pedicel subterete, striate, 5-11 mm long, moderately and shortly white- or ferruginous-pilose, glabrate distally; bracteoles broadly ovate, keeled, 2-2.5 mm long, acute, pubescent as floral bract. Flowers nodding, with calyx (6-)8-10 mm long, essentially glabrous or lobes white- or ferruginous-puberulent in apical one-third, or only at tips both without and within, lobes themselves rugose, ovate, 6-8 mm long, acuminate; corolla 12-13 mm long, ca. 8 mm diam., pink to red when fresh, glabrous or weakly short-pilose along angles distally, lobes broadly triangular, 2-3 mm long, acute, reflexed; stamens ca. 8 mm long (from corolla 13 mm long); filaments ca. 5.2 mm long; anthers (2-)3-3.8 mm long; thecae ca. (l-)2.2 mm long, base conspicuously mucronate (ca. 0.3 mm long); tubules 1-1.3 mm long; style 5-7 mm long, glabrous (very rarely weakly pilose at apex); ovary glabrous or rarely very weakly pilose. Berry ± spherical, to ca. 1 cm diam., red.

Discussion:

Tepuia tatei is characterized by flat to strongly re volute leaves, bluntly mucronate, acute leaf apices, short-pilose rachis, pedicels, and bracts, and glabrous (rarely sparsely pilose) ovary. The variation between the populations on Auyan-tepui and Yuruani-tepui vs. those on Chimantá was recognized at the varietal level by Steyermark and Maguire (their var. chimantana came from the Chimantá Massif). The differences between the two are given below in the key taken from Maguire et al. (1978): 1. Calyx lobes glabrous without or gray-puberulose only at the apex, usually 5, rarely 10; leaf blades white or gray-silvery below; corolla and ovary 5-lobulate; plants 0.2-0.45 m tall.........................var. tatei.

1. Calyx lobes brownish-yellow puberulent without above the middle, often 10; leaf blades ferruginous below, or becoming brown or grayish; corolla and ovary often 6-lobulate; plants 0.4-0.8 m tall ....................... var. chimantana.

With several recent collections from Chimanta and many from Auyan-tepui and vicinity, the above characters are mostly seen to intergrade. For example, there is total overlap in plant height measurements, pubescence color may vary even on the same plant, and I have never seen specimens with 6- or 10-lobulate ovaries, a character which is questionable. Therefore, I do not recognize the varieties.

Tepuia tatei is very closely related to T. venusta, differing by the features mentioned in the key. Although few in number, these features- especially the essentially flat vs. extremely convex/concave leaf character- give the two species very different appearances. The characters of pubescence color and degree of leaf curvature may be the result of hybridization between T. tatei and T. venusta, but much more field work is needed to verify this observation which is based on relatively few herbarium collections.

Distribution:

Venezuela South America| Bolívar Venezuela South America|