Monographs Details:
Authority:
1996. Fl. Ecuador. 54: 321, fig. 22.
1996. Fl. Ecuador. 54: 321, fig. 22.
Family:
Ericaceae
Ericaceae
Description:
Species Description - Terrestrial, pendent shrub, on deeply shaded embankments, the leaves distichous giving the entire plant a very flat appearance, rooting wherever nodes contact soil; stem terete, striate, brownish-tan when dry, glabrous; twigs subterete to complanate, bluntly angled to strongly ribbed, striate, reddish-brown when dry, densely hirsute with reddish-brown hairs 0.4-0.6 mm long. Leaves coriaceous, distichous, usually somewhat asymmetric (i.e., one side more flattened), elliptic-lanceolate, 1.5-3 x 1-1.6 cm, base long-tapering, cuneate to acute, apex shortly and sharply acuminate to short-mucronate, margin mostly flat but becoming revolute in proximal 1/4, short-hirsute above with whitish hairs especially at the apex, base, and along the margin, glabrous beneath, also provided with scattered glandular fimbriae above; 3(-5)-plinerved from the base, midrib and lateral nerves weakly impressed above and slightly raised beneath but inconspicuous on both surfaces, reticulate veinlets obscure; petiole subterete, rugose, 1-2 mm long, puberulent. Inflorescence axillary, of solitary flowers, surrounded at the base by a few ovate, apically rounded, glabrous bracts, < 1 mm long; floral bract ovate or elliptic, rounded, ca. 1 mm long, glabrous; pedicel terete, striate, ca. 8 mm long, weakly short-hirsute distally; bracteoles basal, oblong to reniform, rounded, ca. 1 x 1.5 mm, glabrous. Flowers pendulous, with calyx ca. 6 mm long, glabrous; hypanthium spherical, smooth, ca. 4 mm long; limb campanulate, ca. 2 mm long; lobes deltate, acute, ca. 1.3 mm long; sinuses rounded; corolla urceolate, narrowed at the base and strongly constricted at the throat, ca. 9 mm long and 8 mm diam. (above middle), glabrous, the lobes reflexed, deltate, acute, ca. 2 mm long; stamen 10 (only 1 old corolla available), 8-9 mm long; filaments 2-2.6 mm long, short-hispid in distal half; anthers 6-7 mm long, the connectives distally thickened; thecae swollen, 3.3-3.5 mm long, papillate, separated distally; tubules thinner than thecae, 2.6-3.5 mm long, dehiscing by terminal, somewhat flaring pores; style not seen. Berry spherical, immature, ca. 7.5 mm diam., the pericarp brittle, dark green; seeds numerous, surrounded by a mucilaginous sheath, the embryo white.
Distribution and Ecology - Endemic to Ecuador (Pichincha) and known from only three collections, along roadside banks under shade of surrounding vegetation through premontane cloud forest, at 2040-2460 m altitude.
Species Description - Terrestrial, pendent shrub, on deeply shaded embankments, the leaves distichous giving the entire plant a very flat appearance, rooting wherever nodes contact soil; stem terete, striate, brownish-tan when dry, glabrous; twigs subterete to complanate, bluntly angled to strongly ribbed, striate, reddish-brown when dry, densely hirsute with reddish-brown hairs 0.4-0.6 mm long. Leaves coriaceous, distichous, usually somewhat asymmetric (i.e., one side more flattened), elliptic-lanceolate, 1.5-3 x 1-1.6 cm, base long-tapering, cuneate to acute, apex shortly and sharply acuminate to short-mucronate, margin mostly flat but becoming revolute in proximal 1/4, short-hirsute above with whitish hairs especially at the apex, base, and along the margin, glabrous beneath, also provided with scattered glandular fimbriae above; 3(-5)-plinerved from the base, midrib and lateral nerves weakly impressed above and slightly raised beneath but inconspicuous on both surfaces, reticulate veinlets obscure; petiole subterete, rugose, 1-2 mm long, puberulent. Inflorescence axillary, of solitary flowers, surrounded at the base by a few ovate, apically rounded, glabrous bracts, < 1 mm long; floral bract ovate or elliptic, rounded, ca. 1 mm long, glabrous; pedicel terete, striate, ca. 8 mm long, weakly short-hirsute distally; bracteoles basal, oblong to reniform, rounded, ca. 1 x 1.5 mm, glabrous. Flowers pendulous, with calyx ca. 6 mm long, glabrous; hypanthium spherical, smooth, ca. 4 mm long; limb campanulate, ca. 2 mm long; lobes deltate, acute, ca. 1.3 mm long; sinuses rounded; corolla urceolate, narrowed at the base and strongly constricted at the throat, ca. 9 mm long and 8 mm diam. (above middle), glabrous, the lobes reflexed, deltate, acute, ca. 2 mm long; stamen 10 (only 1 old corolla available), 8-9 mm long; filaments 2-2.6 mm long, short-hispid in distal half; anthers 6-7 mm long, the connectives distally thickened; thecae swollen, 3.3-3.5 mm long, papillate, separated distally; tubules thinner than thecae, 2.6-3.5 mm long, dehiscing by terminal, somewhat flaring pores; style not seen. Berry spherical, immature, ca. 7.5 mm diam., the pericarp brittle, dark green; seeds numerous, surrounded by a mucilaginous sheath, the embryo white.
Distribution and Ecology - Endemic to Ecuador (Pichincha) and known from only three collections, along roadside banks under shade of surrounding vegetation through premontane cloud forest, at 2040-2460 m altitude.
Discussion:
Conservation Status: Rare and endangered.
Conservation Status: Rare and endangered.
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