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 ubique filamentis exceptis glaber, ramis elongatis, ramulis robustis fuscis obtuse angulatis; petiolis crassis (3-5 mm diametro) 13-20 mm longis manifeste angulatis; laminis coriaceis in sicco fusco-olivaceis ovato-ellipticis, 20-30 cm longis, 10-17 cm latis, basi obtusis et in petiolum decurrentibus, apice ut videtur acutis vel breviter cuspidatis, margine integris et leviter recurvatis, pinnatinerviis, costa supra paullo subtus valde prominente, nervis secundariis utrinsecus plerumque 3 curvatis supra conspicue impressis subtus prominentibus, rete venularum supra subplano vel prominulo vel leviter impresso subtus conspicuo; inflorescentiis axillaribus breviter racemosis circiter 10-floris sed floribus saepe caducis, rhachi crassa superne angulata circiter 1.5 cm longa, bracteis caducis; pedicellis rugulosis sub anthesi 20-23 mm longis superne valde incrassatis basim versus bibracteolatis, bracteolis ovato-deltoideis obtusis circiter 2 mm longis, articulatione conspicuo; calyce coriaceo ruguloso cupuliformicylindrico sub anthesi haud apophysato 8-10 mm longo apice 6-10 mm diametro, tubo circiter 4 mm longo, limbo suberecto quam tubo longiore inconspicue 5-dentato, dentibus minute apiculatis haud 0.5 mm longis, sinibus complanatis; disco carnoso pulvinato; corolla crasso-carnosa cylindrica sub anthesi circiter 25 mm longa et basim versus 7 mm diametro, superne gradatim angustata, lobis 5 deltoideis obtusis circiter 1.5 x 2.5 mm; staminibus 10 corollam subaequantibus, filamentis liberis fuscis ligulatis circiter 5 mm longis intus superne puberulis, antheris circiter 23 mm longis crassis basi obtusis, thecis in tubulos 7-8 mm longos inferne lateraliter connatos rimis elongatis dehiscentes gradatim transeuntibus; stylo crasso sub anthesi leviter exserto, stigmate obscure papilloso.
Species Description - branches arching to 4 m.; leaves dark green above, pale beneath, dull on both surfaces; pedicels red, the bracteoles white, the "joint" green; calyx red; corolla pure white.
At the suggestion of the collector, this new species is named for Dr. William E. Martin, of the University of California, in whose company the type specimen was obtained. It is closely related only to T. pachypoda A. C. Smith, known from low elevations near the coast of El Valle, Colombia, but it differs in its more robust foliage, the leaf-blades being much larger and with more prominent secondary nerves. The new species also has shorter pedicels, a slightly shorter corolla, and anthers with short tubules which are laterally adnate nearly to the apex.
Another collection which may be mentioned here is Camp E-626 (NY only), from El Oro, in Moro-Moro region about 21 miles west of Portovelo, 3,400-4,200 ft. elev. (coarse shrub with branches to 3 m long, in dense rain-forest). As compared with the type of T. martiniana, no. 626, which is past anthesis, has shorter petioles, pedicels up to 33 mm. long, and a shorter calyx-limb with more obvious lobes. Without corroborating evidence from the corolla and stamens, I hesitate to expand the concept of the new species to include this specimen, although it does not suggest any other known species.
Ecuador South America|