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
Description:
Species Description - Erect shrub; mature stems subterete, glabrate; bark grayish-brown, cracking longitudinally; twigs terete to subterete, striate, densely puberulent, scattered strigose; buds ovate, the numerous scales ciliate, otherwise glabrous. Leaves apparently thick-coriaceous, somewhat concave, elliptic to oblong-elliptic, 1.3-2 × 0.7-1.1 cm, base rounded, apex rounded or obtuse and short-callose-mucronate, margin thickened and flat to recurved, conspicuously serrate, glabrous on both surfaces; midrib, lateral nerves (2-3 per side), and reticulate veinlets conspicuously impressed above, midrib and lateral nerves slightly raised but obscure beneath; petiole subterete, flat and canaliculate above, rugose 2-3 mm long, glabrous to weakly puberulent. Inflorescence axillary, flowers solitary; pedicels terete, 9-13 mm long, densely puberulent, rarely also with 1 or 2 glandular-setose hairs; bracteoles ca. 4-6, mostly borne near base of pedicel, caducous, not obscuring pedicel, membranous, ± clasping, oblong-ovate, obtuse, concave, to 5 × 3 mm, glabrous on lamina but ciliolate; floral bract similar to bracteoles but smaller, ca. 1.5 × 1.5 mm. Flowers with calyx 5-7 mm long, lobes ovate to oblong-ovate, 4-5 × 2.5-3 mm, long-acuminate, basically glabrous or densely puberulent at tips, ciliolate; corolla urceolate, 5-angled when fresh, strongly constricted at throat, 8-10 × 6 mm, glabrous within and without, red, lobes ovate, obtuse; stamens ca. 4.5 mm long; filaments 3 mm long, sparsely pilose; anthers ca. 2 mm long, awns short but noticeable; ovary densely short-pilose; style 3-4 mm long, pilose. Fruiting calyx not seen but at least 6-8 mm diam.
Species Description - Erect shrub; mature stems subterete, glabrate; bark grayish-brown, cracking longitudinally; twigs terete to subterete, striate, densely puberulent, scattered strigose; buds ovate, the numerous scales ciliate, otherwise glabrous. Leaves apparently thick-coriaceous, somewhat concave, elliptic to oblong-elliptic, 1.3-2 × 0.7-1.1 cm, base rounded, apex rounded or obtuse and short-callose-mucronate, margin thickened and flat to recurved, conspicuously serrate, glabrous on both surfaces; midrib, lateral nerves (2-3 per side), and reticulate veinlets conspicuously impressed above, midrib and lateral nerves slightly raised but obscure beneath; petiole subterete, flat and canaliculate above, rugose 2-3 mm long, glabrous to weakly puberulent. Inflorescence axillary, flowers solitary; pedicels terete, 9-13 mm long, densely puberulent, rarely also with 1 or 2 glandular-setose hairs; bracteoles ca. 4-6, mostly borne near base of pedicel, caducous, not obscuring pedicel, membranous, ± clasping, oblong-ovate, obtuse, concave, to 5 × 3 mm, glabrous on lamina but ciliolate; floral bract similar to bracteoles but smaller, ca. 1.5 × 1.5 mm. Flowers with calyx 5-7 mm long, lobes ovate to oblong-ovate, 4-5 × 2.5-3 mm, long-acuminate, basically glabrous or densely puberulent at tips, ciliolate; corolla urceolate, 5-angled when fresh, strongly constricted at throat, 8-10 × 6 mm, glabrous within and without, red, lobes ovate, obtuse; stamens ca. 4.5 mm long; filaments 3 mm long, sparsely pilose; anthers ca. 2 mm long, awns short but noticeable; ovary densely short-pilose; style 3-4 mm long, pilose. Fruiting calyx not seen but at least 6-8 mm diam.
Discussion:
Gaultheria stereophylla is characterized by large, solitary flowers with angled, red corollas and long calyx lobes, and glabrous, conspicuously callose-mucronate, elliptic leaves. Sleumer (pers. comm.) suspects that it is synonymous with G. amoena. Although it closely resembles that species in many features, its different habit, leaf shape, lack of glandular setae on the pedicels, and other features mentioned in the key warrant separate status at this time. Gaultheria stereophylla, although belonging to sect. Monanthemona ser. Antipodae, also is apparently similar to G. megalodonta (sect. Brossaea ser. Reticulatae) in leaf features. This similarity is more apparent than real, however, because G. megalodonta has a racemose inflorescence. In both species the leaves are concave, similarly shaped, and conspicuously serrate. Many more collections are needed before a proper evaluation of the status and relationships of this taxon can be made.
Gaultheria stereophylla is characterized by large, solitary flowers with angled, red corollas and long calyx lobes, and glabrous, conspicuously callose-mucronate, elliptic leaves. Sleumer (pers. comm.) suspects that it is synonymous with G. amoena. Although it closely resembles that species in many features, its different habit, leaf shape, lack of glandular setae on the pedicels, and other features mentioned in the key warrant separate status at this time. Gaultheria stereophylla, although belonging to sect. Monanthemona ser. Antipodae, also is apparently similar to G. megalodonta (sect. Brossaea ser. Reticulatae) in leaf features. This similarity is more apparent than real, however, because G. megalodonta has a racemose inflorescence. In both species the leaves are concave, similarly shaped, and conspicuously serrate. Many more collections are needed before a proper evaluation of the status and relationships of this taxon can be made.
Distribution:
Azuay Ecuador South America| Ecuador South America|
Azuay Ecuador South America| Ecuador South America|
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