Monographs Details:
Authority:
1996. Fl. Ecuador. 54: 241, fig. 16.
1996. Fl. Ecuador. 54: 241, fig. 16.
Family:
Ericaceae
Ericaceae
Description:
Species Description - Pendent, lianoid, epiphytic shrub; stem terete to ± complanate, striate, glabrous; bark peeling off in thin strips; twigs subterete, bluntly complanate, striate, dull or nitid, glabrous. Leaves coriaceous, subsessile, amplexicaul, broadly ovate, 8-14 x 5.5-9.5 cm, base rounded, deeply cordate, the auricles slightly overlapping when fresh, apex shortly and sharply acuminate, margin entire, flat, glabrous on both surfaces; pinnately nerved with 2-3 lateral nerves per side, midrib raised and conspicuous on both surfaces, lateral nerves raised on both surfaces, inconspicuous above but conspicuous beneath, reticulate veinlets plane to slightly raised on both surfaces but mostly obscure; petiole subterete, rugose, 1-2.5 mm long, glabrous. Inflorescence axillary, solitary, racemose, 2-4-flowered; rachis ± hidden by leaves, terete, ca. 1 cm long, nitid, weakly pilose, the floral nodes swollen; floral bract seemingly ovate, acute, ca. 1 mm long, glabrous; pedicel terete, bluntly angled, 5-8 mm long, moderately white pilose with hairs to 1 mm long; bracteoles located near the base, ovate, acute, 0.6-1 mm long, glabrous. Flowers with calyx 12-14 mm long; hypanthium turbinate, 5-winged, 3-4.5 mm long, weakly pilose as pedicel along wing margins, the wing itself to 0.8 mm broad; limb erect to spreading, 9-10 mm long, lobed to the base; lobes ovate, acute, 9-10 x ca. 5 mm, margin weakly ciliate and with scattered glandular fimbriae, nervation prominent and reticulate; sinuses acute; corolla cylindric to bluntly 5-angled, apparently not ventricose at base, 45-47 mm long and 8-10 mm diam. at center, glabrous or with a thin line of whitish hairs along the angles, dark purplish-black (fide label), the lobes reflexed, linear-lanceolate, 11-13 mm long, margins weakly pilose; stamen slightly unequal, but about equalling corolla in overall length, ca. 43 mm long; filaments connate into a tube 6-7 mm long, glabrous; anthers alternately ca. 39 mm and 40 mm long, the two ventral thecae shorter than the two dorsal; thecae alternately ca. 6 mm and 6.5 mm long; tubules alternately ca. 32 mm and 34 mm long, dehiscing by oblique, subterminal clefts, ca. 1.2 mm long; style 44-45 mm long, glabrous. Berry not seen.
Distribution and Ecology - Endemic to Ecuador, and only known from the type collection from forest at 900 m altitude.
Species Description - Pendent, lianoid, epiphytic shrub; stem terete to ± complanate, striate, glabrous; bark peeling off in thin strips; twigs subterete, bluntly complanate, striate, dull or nitid, glabrous. Leaves coriaceous, subsessile, amplexicaul, broadly ovate, 8-14 x 5.5-9.5 cm, base rounded, deeply cordate, the auricles slightly overlapping when fresh, apex shortly and sharply acuminate, margin entire, flat, glabrous on both surfaces; pinnately nerved with 2-3 lateral nerves per side, midrib raised and conspicuous on both surfaces, lateral nerves raised on both surfaces, inconspicuous above but conspicuous beneath, reticulate veinlets plane to slightly raised on both surfaces but mostly obscure; petiole subterete, rugose, 1-2.5 mm long, glabrous. Inflorescence axillary, solitary, racemose, 2-4-flowered; rachis ± hidden by leaves, terete, ca. 1 cm long, nitid, weakly pilose, the floral nodes swollen; floral bract seemingly ovate, acute, ca. 1 mm long, glabrous; pedicel terete, bluntly angled, 5-8 mm long, moderately white pilose with hairs to 1 mm long; bracteoles located near the base, ovate, acute, 0.6-1 mm long, glabrous. Flowers with calyx 12-14 mm long; hypanthium turbinate, 5-winged, 3-4.5 mm long, weakly pilose as pedicel along wing margins, the wing itself to 0.8 mm broad; limb erect to spreading, 9-10 mm long, lobed to the base; lobes ovate, acute, 9-10 x ca. 5 mm, margin weakly ciliate and with scattered glandular fimbriae, nervation prominent and reticulate; sinuses acute; corolla cylindric to bluntly 5-angled, apparently not ventricose at base, 45-47 mm long and 8-10 mm diam. at center, glabrous or with a thin line of whitish hairs along the angles, dark purplish-black (fide label), the lobes reflexed, linear-lanceolate, 11-13 mm long, margins weakly pilose; stamen slightly unequal, but about equalling corolla in overall length, ca. 43 mm long; filaments connate into a tube 6-7 mm long, glabrous; anthers alternately ca. 39 mm and 40 mm long, the two ventral thecae shorter than the two dorsal; thecae alternately ca. 6 mm and 6.5 mm long; tubules alternately ca. 32 mm and 34 mm long, dehiscing by oblique, subterminal clefts, ca. 1.2 mm long; style 44-45 mm long, glabrous. Berry not seen.
Distribution and Ecology - Endemic to Ecuador, and only known from the type collection from forest at 900 m altitude.
Discussion:
Conservation Status: Rare and endangered
Conservation Status: Rare and endangered
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