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.
Family:

Ericaceae
Description:

Species Description - Epiphytic shrub. Mature branches terete, smooth, glabrate, brown; immature branches and twigs of n e w growth terete, smooth, reddish-brown, densely pilose with white hairs to 4 mm long. Petioles terete, rugose, 5 mm long and 2 mm diameter, densely pilose with tan hairs to 3 mm long. Leaves elliptic to ovateelliptic, 8-13 cm long and 3.5-5.5 cm broad, basally rounded, apically abruptly acuminate, brownish-green when dry, densely pilose beneath with hairs to 2 mm long, scattered pilose above; 3(5)-plinerved, midrib, lateral nerves and primary veins impressed and conspicuous above, elevated beneath, veinlets slightly elevated above, obscure beneath. Infiorescence short racemose, 6 flowered; rachis terete, striate, densely pilose, about 2.5 cm long. Floral bracts lanceolate, long acuminate, 16-23 mm long and 4-6 mm broad, densely pilose marginally, scattered pilose on lamina, hairs to 2 mm long. Pedicels swollen distally, striate, densely pilose, 8-12 mm long. Bracteoles not seen. Calyx densely pilose, 13-13.5 mm long, pink (fide label data); tube spherical, 3.5-4.5 mm long and broad, non-apophysate; limb short-cylindric to spreading, 9-9.5 mm long including lobes; lobes linear-lanceolate, acute, 8 mm long and about 2 mm broad at base, erect after anthesis, marginally with 3-4 gland tipped fimbriae on each side; sinus acute. Corolla (past anthesis) cylindric, about 20 mm long, scattered pilose with hairs denser at lobe tips. Stamens 16 mm long; filaments alternately either 1 mm or 3 mm long; anthers including tubules alternately either 15 mm or 13 mm long; thecae 3-4 mm long. Style 21 mm long. Berry not seen. Phenology: Flowering Dec.-Jan.

Discussion:

Although C. gentryi keys out with C. revoluta, the two species are not related. Instead, C. gentryi is most closely related to C. darienensis. The two species are easily separated however, by the characters of leaf shape and by the shorter rachis with fewer flowers, the non-striate floral bracts, longer pedicels, more densely pilose calyx, and glandular calyx lobes of C. gentryi.

Type: Panama. Province of Darien. Cerro Tacarcuna. Elfin forest at top of W peak, 1800-1850 m. Gentry & Mori 13971 (Holotype: MO! isotypes: DUKE! NY!).

Distribution:

Panama Central America|