Smith, Albert C. 1952. Plants collected in Ecuador by W. H. camp. Vaceiniaceae. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 8 (1): 41-85.
Ericaceae
Latin Diagnosis - Frutex interdum epiphyticus, ramulis gracilibus obtuse angulatis juventute minute puberulis mox glabratis; stipulis obscuris pulvinatis; petiolis subteretibus rugulosis 1-2 mm. longis obscure puberulis glabrescentibus; laminis papyraceis in sicco fuscis ovato-lanceolatis, (4—)5—12 cm. longis, (1.5-)1.8-4 cm. latis, basilate obtusis vel rotundatis vel inconspicue subcordatis, in acuminem ad 2 cm. longum (apice ipso obtuso) angustatis, margine anguste recurvatis, utrinque glabris (juvenilibus basim versus puberulis) vel subtus dispersim et sparsissime glandulosostrigillosis, costa superne impressa subtus elevata, nervis secundariis utrinsecus 2 vel 3 basim versus orientibus (intimis cum costa ad 2 cm. concurrentibus) adscendentibus supra insculptis vel prominulis subtus paullo elevatis, rete venularum supra subplano subtus prominulo; floribus axi liar ibus solitariis, bracteis basalibus minutis; pedicellis gracillimis parce puberulis sub anthesi 10-13 mm. longis basim versus minute bibracteolatis; calyce sub anthesi 2.5-3.5 mm. longo et 2-3 mm. diametro pilis pallidis circiter 0.2 mm. longis copiose hispidulo acetiam obscure rubro-glanduloso demum subglabrescente, tubo cupuliformi 1.5-2 mm. longo, limbo subpatente quam tubo leviter breviore minute 5-dentato (dentibus circiter 0.5 mm. longis), sinibus rotundatis; disco carnoso annulari-pulvinatoglabro; corolla tenuiter carnosa cylindrica sub anthesi 10-11 mm. longa et circiter 3.5 mm. diametro glabra, lobis 5 deltoideis obtusis haud 1 mm. longis; staminibus 10 quam corolla paullo brevioribus, filamentis gracilibus ligulatis 5-6 mm. longis superne parce hispidulis, antheris 3.5-4 mm. longis, thecis 1.2-1.4 mm. longis basi rotundatis vel obscure mucronulatis, tubulis quam thecis longioribus per rimas elongatas dehiscentibus; stylo leviter exserto filiformi, stigmate minute peltato.
Species Description - (epiphytic; leaves shining; corolla crimson); (shrub; leaves shining beneath; corolla red); (epiphyte, flowering on old wood among the roots; leaves deep green and dull above, pale and shining beneath; corolla bright crimson).
Eleutherostemon oliganthum is characterized by its solitary flowers and elongate filaments, being readily distinguished from E. octandrum (Sleumer) A. C. Smith, apparently its closest relative, by these characters and by its pilose calyx, longer corolla, and more numerous stamens.
The following specimen probably also belongs here: Napo-Pastaza: Valley of the Rio Pastaza and adjacent uplands, on cliff-top, near El Topo, 4,400 ft. elev., Camp E-1687 (plants scrambling from mossy bank, or sometimes epiphytic; fruit solitary, immature, subglobose, about 8 mm. in diameter). It agrees with E. oliganthum in length of pedicel, pubescence of calyx, and the comparatively inconspicuous disk; however, its leaves are slightly different in shape and venation, and I hesitate to make a positive identification of it without flowers.
Ecuador South America|