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 insipida (Benth.) Kuntze

Description:

Species Description - Erect shrub, sometimes scrambling, (0.3-)l-2 m tall; mature stems terete, striate, weakly puberulent but glabrate, appressed-strigose (or hairs sometimes spreading) with straight, basally swollen, ± tan to golden, eglandular hairs to 2 mm long; bark reddish-brown; twigs subterete, complanate, striate, puberulent and strigose as on mature stems; buds ovate, complanate, scales marginally ciliolate, otherwise glabrous, reddish-brown. Leaves coriaceous, surface somewhat to strongly bullate, ovate, (3-)5-10(-13) × (1.5-)2.5-4(-7.5) cm, base rounded sometimes subcordate, apex acuminate, margin crenate with each tooth terminating in a usually persistent, long-setose hair 2.5-3 mm long, plane to slightly incurved, blade glabrous or sparingly short-white-tomentose along basal 1/4 of midrib above, strigose beneath especially along veins, with appressed hairs to 2.3 mm long (glabrate); midrib and lateral nerves (3-4 per side) impressed above and conspicuously raised beneath, reticulate veinlets plane to weakly impressed above and raised beneath; petiole subterete, flattened and canaliculate above, (3-)5-7 mm long, strigose and also weakly puberulent above. Inflorescence racemose, (2-)7-12(-17)-flowered, with 6-8 decussate, sterile bracts at base; rachis subterete, angled, striate, 2-4(-5) cm long, weakly to moderately hirsute with straight to crisped hairs to 0.5 mm long and also densely to weakly white puberulent; pedicels subterete, striate, 4-10 mm long, hirsute and also puberulent as on rachis; bracteoles basal, continuous with and clasping pedicel, ovate, keeled, 2-3 × 2-2.2 mm, acuminate, glabrous or short-pilose distally along rib (also strigose along rib without), glabrous to distally pilose within, ciliolate; floral bract apparently continuous with rachis, ovate, keeled, ca. 3.5-6 x 2-2.5 mm, acuminate, indumentum as on bracteoles. Flowers with calyx glabrous (except lobe margins), 4-4.2 mm long, lobes ovate, (2.8-)3-3.2 x 1.5-2.2 mm, long-acuminate, ciliolate, glabrous within; corolla cylindric-urceolate, nearly terete to bluntly 5-angled, 4.5-7 × 3.5-5.5 mm, glabrous (with a few strigose hairs without), red when fresh, lobes oblong-ovate, acute to obtuse, whitish; stamens 3.2-4 mm long; filaments 2.7-3 mm long, glabrous or sparsely pilose along margins; anthers 1-1.5 mm long, awns minute; ovary pilose or glabrous; style ca. 3 mm long, glabrous. Fruiting calyx 7-12 mm diam., glabrous, white with pink tint, somewhat translucent. Chromosome number: n = 11, 2n = 22 (Luteyn et al. 8789).

Discussion:

The fruits are said to be edible (fide Acosta-Solis 14671).

Gaultheria insipida is characterized by its ovate, basally rounded leaves which are usually somewhat bullate and have prominent venation; rigid strigose hairs of the twigs and leaves; short and few-flowered inflorescences; floral bract and bracteoles apparently continuous (not articulate); and glabrous flowers. It is frequently collected and quite noticeable when fresh with small pink flowers and a large white to white-tinted-pink, somewhat translucent, fruiting calyx. Its relationship to G. strigosa has already been discussed under that species.

Distribution:

Colombia South America| Antioquia Colombia South America| Caldas Colombia South America| Cauca Colombia South America| Chocó Colombia South America| Nariño Colombia South America| Risaralda Colombia South America| Putumayo Colombia South America| Tolima Colombia South America| Valle Colombia South America| Ecuador South America| Azuay Ecuador South America| Bolívar Ecuador South America| Cañar Ecuador South America| Carchi Ecuador South America| Chimborazo Ecuador South America| Cotopaxi Ecuador South America| Imbabura Ecuador South America| Napo Ecuador South America| Pichincha Ecuador South America| Tungurahua Ecuador South America|

Common Names:

misijallo