Monographs Details:
Authority:
Smith, Albert C. 1952. Plants collected in Ecuador by W. H. camp. Vaceiniaceae. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 8 (1): 41-85.
Smith, Albert C. 1952. Plants collected in Ecuador by W. H. camp. Vaceiniaceae. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 8 (1): 41-85.
Family:
Ericaceae
Ericaceae
Description:
Latin Diagnosis - Frutex ad 3 m altus vel epiphyticus et subscandens ubique praeter ramulos et petiolos glaber, ramulis robustis subteretibus nigrescentibus primo et petiolis minute pallido-puberulis mox glabratis; petiolis crassis (2-5 mm diametro) subteretibus rugulosis 3-7 mm longis; laminis in sicco coriaceis fusco-viridibus suborbiculari-ovatis, (4-)6-15 cm longis, (3-)4-9.5 cm latis, basi rotundatis vel leviter cordatis, apice rotundatis (juventute forsan late obtusis), margine incras satis et leviter recurvatis, ubique dispersim punctato-glandulosis, pinnatinerviis, costa supra leviter insculpta subtus prominente, nervis secundariis utrinsecus 3 vel 4 supra subplanis vel prominulis subtus valde elevatis, inferioribus e costa basim versus orientibus curvato-adscendentibus, superioribus debilioribus, rete venularum immerso vel utrinque haud prominulo; inflorescentia axillari congesta breviter racemosa ut videtur 7-10-flora bracteis numerosis subcoriaceis oblongodeltoideis circiter 2 mm longis basi circumdata, bracteis floriferis reniformibus 1-1.5 mm longis, rhachi crassa sub fructu 5-7 mm longa; pedicellis crassis teretibus rugulosis sub anthesi ad 9 mm. sub fructu ad 20 mm longis, apice conspicue incrassatis et margine apicali obscure glandulosis, cum calyce manifeste articulatis, basim versus bibracteolatis, bracteolis late deltoideis 1-2 mm longis circiter 2.5 mm latis obtusis; calyce sub anthesi 7-8 mm longo et apice diametro ubique dispersim nigro-punctato-glanduloso, tubo cupuliformi circiter 5 mm longo, limbo suberecto carnoso 2-3 mm longo minute 5-denticulato, sinibus complanatis; corolla carnosa urceolato-cylindrica sub anthesi 13-14 mm longa et basim versus circiter 7 mm diametro, superne paullo angustata, lobis 5 deltoideis subacutis circiter 1.5 mm longis; staminibus 10 quam corolla multo brevioribus, filamentis ligulatis 1.5-2 mm longis, connectivis latis, antheris circiter 7 mm longis, thecis crassis quadrangularibus circiter 5 mm longis basi obtusis et incurvis in tubulos 2 graciles acutos circiter 2 mm longos saepe ad basim liberos rimis elongatis ovalibus dehiscentes abrupte angustatis; stylo filiformi corollam subaequante, stigmate minuto; fructibus elongato-subglobosis ad 1 cm. diametro calycis limbo coronatis.
Species Description - (shrub 1-3 m., arching from banks, arising from a burl up to 0.3 m. in diameter, also seen as a high-growing epiphyte and then also with burl; branches sooty-black; leaves very deep green above, pale to subglaucous beneath, with glands at first black and later conspicuous by the presence of a white fungus; hypanthium pale yellow to red, very shallowly grooved, the calyx margin and sometimes the base with notable pits; corolla deep crimson; fruit ripening deep purple-black, shining), E-1726B (NY only) (young plant of no. 1726A, showing the burl, this soft-parenchymatous, not woody). Same general locality, Cerro Corazon, 8,000-9,300 ft. elev., Camp E-1679 (NY only) (epiphytic and vinelike; twigs dark, blackish; leaves exceptionally dark green above, pale and glaucous beneath; immature fruits pale, subtranslucent).
Latin Diagnosis - Frutex ad 3 m altus vel epiphyticus et subscandens ubique praeter ramulos et petiolos glaber, ramulis robustis subteretibus nigrescentibus primo et petiolis minute pallido-puberulis mox glabratis; petiolis crassis (2-5 mm diametro) subteretibus rugulosis 3-7 mm longis; laminis in sicco coriaceis fusco-viridibus suborbiculari-ovatis, (4-)6-15 cm longis, (3-)4-9.5 cm latis, basi rotundatis vel leviter cordatis, apice rotundatis (juventute forsan late obtusis), margine incras satis et leviter recurvatis, ubique dispersim punctato-glandulosis, pinnatinerviis, costa supra leviter insculpta subtus prominente, nervis secundariis utrinsecus 3 vel 4 supra subplanis vel prominulis subtus valde elevatis, inferioribus e costa basim versus orientibus curvato-adscendentibus, superioribus debilioribus, rete venularum immerso vel utrinque haud prominulo; inflorescentia axillari congesta breviter racemosa ut videtur 7-10-flora bracteis numerosis subcoriaceis oblongodeltoideis circiter 2 mm longis basi circumdata, bracteis floriferis reniformibus 1-1.5 mm longis, rhachi crassa sub fructu 5-7 mm longa; pedicellis crassis teretibus rugulosis sub anthesi ad 9 mm. sub fructu ad 20 mm longis, apice conspicue incrassatis et margine apicali obscure glandulosis, cum calyce manifeste articulatis, basim versus bibracteolatis, bracteolis late deltoideis 1-2 mm longis circiter 2.5 mm latis obtusis; calyce sub anthesi 7-8 mm longo et apice diametro ubique dispersim nigro-punctato-glanduloso, tubo cupuliformi circiter 5 mm longo, limbo suberecto carnoso 2-3 mm longo minute 5-denticulato, sinibus complanatis; corolla carnosa urceolato-cylindrica sub anthesi 13-14 mm longa et basim versus circiter 7 mm diametro, superne paullo angustata, lobis 5 deltoideis subacutis circiter 1.5 mm longis; staminibus 10 quam corolla multo brevioribus, filamentis ligulatis 1.5-2 mm longis, connectivis latis, antheris circiter 7 mm longis, thecis crassis quadrangularibus circiter 5 mm longis basi obtusis et incurvis in tubulos 2 graciles acutos circiter 2 mm longos saepe ad basim liberos rimis elongatis ovalibus dehiscentes abrupte angustatis; stylo filiformi corollam subaequante, stigmate minuto; fructibus elongato-subglobosis ad 1 cm. diametro calycis limbo coronatis.
Species Description - (shrub 1-3 m., arching from banks, arising from a burl up to 0.3 m. in diameter, also seen as a high-growing epiphyte and then also with burl; branches sooty-black; leaves very deep green above, pale to subglaucous beneath, with glands at first black and later conspicuous by the presence of a white fungus; hypanthium pale yellow to red, very shallowly grooved, the calyx margin and sometimes the base with notable pits; corolla deep crimson; fruit ripening deep purple-black, shining), E-1726B (NY only) (young plant of no. 1726A, showing the burl, this soft-parenchymatous, not woody). Same general locality, Cerro Corazon, 8,000-9,300 ft. elev., Camp E-1679 (NY only) (epiphytic and vinelike; twigs dark, blackish; leaves exceptionally dark green above, pale and glaucous beneath; immature fruits pale, subtranslucent).
Discussion:
This new species is readily distinguished by its comparatively short corollas and anthers abruptly terminating in very short, slender tubules. It does not seem to have very close allies, but in some ways it suggests M. costeroides Sleumer (Bot. Jahrb. 71: 401. 1941), also of Ecuador. From this, M. coccoloboides differs in its larger leaf-blades with more highly connate nerves, its very short inflorescences, minutely denticulate calyx-limb, longer corolla, and stamens with free filaments and separate tubules.
This new species is readily distinguished by its comparatively short corollas and anthers abruptly terminating in very short, slender tubules. It does not seem to have very close allies, but in some ways it suggests M. costeroides Sleumer (Bot. Jahrb. 71: 401. 1941), also of Ecuador. From this, M. coccoloboides differs in its larger leaf-blades with more highly connate nerves, its very short inflorescences, minutely denticulate calyx-limb, longer corolla, and stamens with free filaments and separate tubules.
Distribution:
Ecuador South America|
Ecuador South America|