Monographs Details:
Authority:
Luteyn, James L. 1976. A revision of the Mexican Central American species of Cavendishia (Vacciniaceae). Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 28 (3): 1-138.
Luteyn, James L. 1976. A revision of the Mexican Central American species of Cavendishia (Vacciniaceae). Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 28 (3): 1-138.
Family:
Ericaceae
Ericaceae
Description:
Species Description - Terrestrial and epiphytic shrubs. Mature branches terete to subterete slightly angled, minutely striate, glabrous, reddish- to grayish-brown when dry immature branches and twigs of new growth subterete, ribbed, striate densely short pilose or glabrous. Petioles subterete, blundy angled, rugose, 4-6 mm long and 1.5-2 mm in diameter, densely puberulent becoming glabrous. Leaves oblong to oblong-elliptic, 5.5-10 cm long and 2.5-4.5 cm broad, basally subcordate, apically obtuse, with scattered, short hairs along base of midrib and lateral nerves, margins of young leaves short pilose or leaves glabrous; 5-plinerved, midrib and lateral nerves strongly impressed proximally, plane to slightly elevated distally along upper surface, raised and conspicuous beneath, leaves then bullate, veinlets raised and conspicuous above, slightly raised but obscure beneath. Infiorescence 26-28 flowered with lowest few (up to 5) nodes sterile, encircled at base by puberulent, ovate, apiculate bracts; rachis bluntly angled, striate, densely short pilose, 8.5-9.5 cm long and 2-2.5 mm in diameter. Floral bracts prominently striate on both surfaces with conspicuous midrib, lanceolate, (14.5-) 18.5-23 mm long and 6-9 mm broad, basally cuneate and strongly concave, apically long acuminate, marginally glandular-fimbriate, densely short hirsute on both surfaces with white trichomes 0.2-0.4 mm long, pink (according to label data). Pedicels subterete, 1-2.5 mm long and 0.5-1 mm in diameter, short white pilose. Bracteoles lanceolate, apically long acuminate, striate, (8-)13-16 mm long and 3.5-4.5(-6.5) mm broad, marginally glandular-fimbriate, densely short pilose as floral bract, clasping base of calyx, slightiy spreading distally. Calyx 7-9.5 mm long, abruptiy widened at junction of the tube and limb, short pilose from base of tube to tip of lobes; tube smooth, subglobose, slightly rugose, basally rounded, 2-2.5 mm long; limb cylindric to slightly spreading, conspicuously striate as lobes, 5.5-7 mm long including lobes; lobes long-triangular, 2-4 mm long and 2-2.5 mm broad, erect after anthesis, marginally scarious and eglandular, pubescent within; sinus obtuse. Corolla bluntly 5-angled opposite calyx sinus, densely short pilose without, glabrous within and at base where surrounded by calyx-limb, 11.5 mm long and 3-3.5 mm in diameter, with scattered, short, red, clavate fimbriae on corolla surface; lobes obtuse, erect. Stamens alternately either 8-8.5 mm or 8.5-9 mm long; filaments weakly short pubescent distally, alternately either 2-2.5 mm or 3.5-4 mm long; anthers alternately either 6-6.2 mm or 6.5-7 mm long; thecae 2-2.5 mm long. Style 9.5-10.5 mm long. Berry not seen. Phenology: In early fruit in April.
Species Description - Terrestrial and epiphytic shrubs. Mature branches terete to subterete slightly angled, minutely striate, glabrous, reddish- to grayish-brown when dry immature branches and twigs of new growth subterete, ribbed, striate densely short pilose or glabrous. Petioles subterete, blundy angled, rugose, 4-6 mm long and 1.5-2 mm in diameter, densely puberulent becoming glabrous. Leaves oblong to oblong-elliptic, 5.5-10 cm long and 2.5-4.5 cm broad, basally subcordate, apically obtuse, with scattered, short hairs along base of midrib and lateral nerves, margins of young leaves short pilose or leaves glabrous; 5-plinerved, midrib and lateral nerves strongly impressed proximally, plane to slightly elevated distally along upper surface, raised and conspicuous beneath, leaves then bullate, veinlets raised and conspicuous above, slightly raised but obscure beneath. Infiorescence 26-28 flowered with lowest few (up to 5) nodes sterile, encircled at base by puberulent, ovate, apiculate bracts; rachis bluntly angled, striate, densely short pilose, 8.5-9.5 cm long and 2-2.5 mm in diameter. Floral bracts prominently striate on both surfaces with conspicuous midrib, lanceolate, (14.5-) 18.5-23 mm long and 6-9 mm broad, basally cuneate and strongly concave, apically long acuminate, marginally glandular-fimbriate, densely short hirsute on both surfaces with white trichomes 0.2-0.4 mm long, pink (according to label data). Pedicels subterete, 1-2.5 mm long and 0.5-1 mm in diameter, short white pilose. Bracteoles lanceolate, apically long acuminate, striate, (8-)13-16 mm long and 3.5-4.5(-6.5) mm broad, marginally glandular-fimbriate, densely short pilose as floral bract, clasping base of calyx, slightiy spreading distally. Calyx 7-9.5 mm long, abruptiy widened at junction of the tube and limb, short pilose from base of tube to tip of lobes; tube smooth, subglobose, slightly rugose, basally rounded, 2-2.5 mm long; limb cylindric to slightly spreading, conspicuously striate as lobes, 5.5-7 mm long including lobes; lobes long-triangular, 2-4 mm long and 2-2.5 mm broad, erect after anthesis, marginally scarious and eglandular, pubescent within; sinus obtuse. Corolla bluntly 5-angled opposite calyx sinus, densely short pilose without, glabrous within and at base where surrounded by calyx-limb, 11.5 mm long and 3-3.5 mm in diameter, with scattered, short, red, clavate fimbriae on corolla surface; lobes obtuse, erect. Stamens alternately either 8-8.5 mm or 8.5-9 mm long; filaments weakly short pubescent distally, alternately either 2-2.5 mm or 3.5-4 mm long; anthers alternately either 6-6.2 mm or 6.5-7 mm long; thecae 2-2.5 mm long. Style 9.5-10.5 mm long. Berry not seen. Phenology: In early fruit in April.
Discussion:
Cavendishia darienensis is cladistically and phenetically most closely allied to C. allenii, another lowland species endemic to central Panama. The two taxa share similar gland types found on the calyx lobes and bracteoles, and in addition, both possess prominently nerved or striate floral bracts, bracteoles, and calyces.
Additional specimens examined. PANAMA. Darien: Between upper Rio Membrillo and Camp 7 on the construction road to San Bias, 100-800 m, Duke 10888(2) (MO); Rio Balsa, between Manene and Aretí, Duke 13509 (MO); Cerro Pirre, 950 m, Mori & Kallunki 5483 (MO).
Panama. Province of Darien. Rio Balsa, between Manene and Areti Duke 13509(6) (Holotype: US! photo of type DUKE! isotype: WIS!).
Distribution:
Colombia South America| Panama Central America|
Colombia South America| Panama Central America|