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:

Brossea tomentosa (Kunth) Kuntze

Description:

Species Description - Erect shrub (0.2-)0.5-4 m tall; mature stems subterete, glabrate; bark reddish- to yellowish-brown, cracking in longitudinal strips; twigs subterete, densely floccose-tomentose with canescent to ferruginous, eglandular hairs, 1-2 mm long; buds ovate, complanate, scales reddish-brown, striate, glabrous but ciliolate. Leaves coriaceous, ovate to ovate-elliptic, (1.2-)2.5-5(-7.5) × 0.6-1.4(-2.4) cm, length/width ratio 3-5:1, base obtuse to narrowly rounded or cuneate, apex long-acuminate to acute and bluntly short-mucronate, margin entire but slightly revolute, glabrous or glabrate to sparsely floccose-tomentose above along main veins when mature, persistently floccose-tomentose beneath with canescent, brownish, or ferruginous, eglandular hairs; midrib, lateral nerves (4-6 per side), and reticulate veinlets impressed and conspicuous above, raised but mostly obscure beneath; petiole subterete, slightly canaliculate above, (2-)3-4 mm long, floccose-tomentose, glabrate. Inflorescence racemose, (4-)7-12-flowered, all exterior parts including rachis, pedicels, bracts, bracteoles, calyces, and corollas obscured by persistently lanate-villose to floccose-tomentose, canescent to ferruginous, eglandular hairs, basal inflorescence bracts ovate, striate, to 4 mm long; rachis subterete (2.5-)3.5-6(-8) cm long; pedicels 3-4(-6) mm long; bracteoles basal or within 1/3 of base, aristate to linear, ca. 2(-6) mm long, sometimes glabrate; floral bracts keeled, striate, ovate, 4-6(-10) × 2-2.5 mm, acuminate (glabrate). Flowers with calyx 3-5 mm long, lobes ovate, 1.5-3 × 1.5-2 mm, acute, glabrous within; corolla cylindric-urceolate, ca. 4-7 × 3-4(-5) mm, glabrous within, pink to rose-red at base with ferruginous indumentum, lobes oblong-ovate, obtuse; stamens 3-4.5 mm long, apparently alternately unequal; filaments 2.3-3.6 mm long, sparsely short-pilose to densely tomentose at apex; anther ca. 1.2 mm long, awns conspicuous; style 3-4 mm long, glabrous. Fruiting calyx globose, 6-10 mm diam., sparsely tomentose, blue-black. Chromosome number: n = 11, 2n = 22 (Luteyn & Cotton 11406).

Discussion:

According to Prieto P-101 (Ecuador), the fruit is "sweet pulpy" and is eaten by small children.

Gaultheria tomentosa is characterized by having the lower surfaces of the leaves, twigs, and inflorescences (including the rachises, pedicels, bracts, and flowers) densely floccose-tomentose, and small, narrowly elliptic to ovate leaves with length/width ratio about 3-5:1.

It is most closely related to the more southern G. eriophylla var. mucronata, the salient differences being given in the key.

Distribution:

Ecuador South America| Azuay Ecuador South America| Cañar Ecuador South America| Loja Ecuador South America| Peru South America| Amazonas Peru South America| Cajamarca Peru South America| Huancavelica Peru South America| Junín Peru South America|

Common Names:

duraznillo, shamsque, laurel