Monographs Details:
Authority:
1932. Contr. U. S. Natl. Herb. 28(2): 429.
1932. Contr. U. S. Natl. Herb. 28(2): 429.
Family:
Ericaceae
Ericaceae
Description:
Species Description - Shrub; stem terete, striate, nitid, glabrous; twigs subterete, sharply angled, striate, densely puberulent. Leaves oblong, elliptic, to ovate-oblong, 1.7-3.5 x 1-1.5 cm, base cuneate to rounded, subattenuate, apex acute to subacute, margin shallowly crenate-serrate, glabrous above but deciduously glandular-fimbriate beneath, also beneath at base provided with 1-2 pairs circular, concave glands ca. 0.3-0.4 mm diam.; obscurely 3(-5)-plinerved from the base, midrib impressed above and raised beneath, lateral nerves impressed above and raised but obscure beneath, reticulate veinlets impressed above but obscure on both surfaces; petiole subterete, flattened above, rugose, 2-4 mm long, puberulent, glabrate. Inflorescence axillary, solitary, subfasciculate, 3-6-flowered, surrounded at base by a series of deciduous, broadly ovate, glabrous bracts to ca. 3 x 3-4 mm; floral bract oblong-ovate, rounded, concave, ca. 12 x 5--6 mm, margin scarious, ciliolate; pedicel subterete, ribbed, ca. 1 cm long, densely yellowish-pilose with hairs ca. 0.7 mm long; bracteoles basal, linear, ca. 15 x 1 mm, weakly pilose, marginally glandular-fimbriate. Flower with calyx articulate, ca. 9-10 mm long, yellowish-woolly; hypanthium cylindric, 2.5-3 mm long, so densely woolly as to obscure surface, also glandular-fimbriate; limb erect, 6-7 mm long, moderately appressed tomentose to woolly; lobes elongate-deltate, acute, 3-4 mm long, marginally glandular-fimbriate; sinuses acute; corolla cylindric, terete, thin-carnose, 10-11 mm long, densely woolly, the lobes deltate, 1-1.5 mm long; stamen ca. 7 mm long; filaments connate into a tube ca. 2 mm long, densely pilose distally; anthers ca. 6 mm long; thecae smooth, ca. 4 mm long, the base narrowed to a caudate tip; tubules distinct, ca. 2 mm long, dehiscing by clefts ca. 1.3 mm long. Berry not seen.
Distribution and Ecology - Known only from the type collection, the exact locality of which is unknown (I would suspect S Ecuador or N Peru because the species is very distinct and its affinities lie with those from Peru).
Species Description - Shrub; stem terete, striate, nitid, glabrous; twigs subterete, sharply angled, striate, densely puberulent. Leaves oblong, elliptic, to ovate-oblong, 1.7-3.5 x 1-1.5 cm, base cuneate to rounded, subattenuate, apex acute to subacute, margin shallowly crenate-serrate, glabrous above but deciduously glandular-fimbriate beneath, also beneath at base provided with 1-2 pairs circular, concave glands ca. 0.3-0.4 mm diam.; obscurely 3(-5)-plinerved from the base, midrib impressed above and raised beneath, lateral nerves impressed above and raised but obscure beneath, reticulate veinlets impressed above but obscure on both surfaces; petiole subterete, flattened above, rugose, 2-4 mm long, puberulent, glabrate. Inflorescence axillary, solitary, subfasciculate, 3-6-flowered, surrounded at base by a series of deciduous, broadly ovate, glabrous bracts to ca. 3 x 3-4 mm; floral bract oblong-ovate, rounded, concave, ca. 12 x 5--6 mm, margin scarious, ciliolate; pedicel subterete, ribbed, ca. 1 cm long, densely yellowish-pilose with hairs ca. 0.7 mm long; bracteoles basal, linear, ca. 15 x 1 mm, weakly pilose, marginally glandular-fimbriate. Flower with calyx articulate, ca. 9-10 mm long, yellowish-woolly; hypanthium cylindric, 2.5-3 mm long, so densely woolly as to obscure surface, also glandular-fimbriate; limb erect, 6-7 mm long, moderately appressed tomentose to woolly; lobes elongate-deltate, acute, 3-4 mm long, marginally glandular-fimbriate; sinuses acute; corolla cylindric, terete, thin-carnose, 10-11 mm long, densely woolly, the lobes deltate, 1-1.5 mm long; stamen ca. 7 mm long; filaments connate into a tube ca. 2 mm long, densely pilose distally; anthers ca. 6 mm long; thecae smooth, ca. 4 mm long, the base narrowed to a caudate tip; tubules distinct, ca. 2 mm long, dehiscing by clefts ca. 1.3 mm long. Berry not seen.
Distribution and Ecology - Known only from the type collection, the exact locality of which is unknown (I would suspect S Ecuador or N Peru because the species is very distinct and its affinities lie with those from Peru).
Discussion:
Conservation status: Rare and endangered.
Conservation status: Rare and endangered.