Monographs Details:
Authority:
Maguire, Bassett. 1978. The botany of the Guayana Highland--part X. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 29: 1-288.
Maguire, Bassett. 1978. The botany of the Guayana Highland--part X. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 29: 1-288.
Family:
Ericaceae
Ericaceae
Description:
Latin Diagnosis - Frutex depressus vel decumbens; ramulis glabris; internodus brevissimis, epidermide albido, mox exfohato. Folia sessiha valde secus ramulos sursum confertis, laminis lineari-aciculatis, glabris, vulgo 5-11 mm longis, 1 mm latis, in cuspidem 0.5 mm longum productis, marginibus pectinatim brevi-spinulosis; faciebus ventrali leviter concavis, dorsah convexa sulcis 2 inter se parahelis longitrorus instructa. Flores axillares subterminales; pedicellis 2-3 cm longis, teretibus, valde glanduloso-hispiduhs; hypanthio nullo; sepalis 6, liberis, anguste lineari-lanceolatis, conspicue sed sparse glandular-hispiduhs, ca 6 mm longis, 1-1.5 mm latis, acutis, persistentibus; petahs 6, oblongo-oblanceolatis, liberis, 10-12 mm longis, ca 5 mm latis, apice rotundatis; staminibus 2-cychs, vulgo 6, filamentis teretibus 6-7 mm longis, antheris valde emarginatis, medio affixis, ca 2 mm longis; ovario depresso-globoso, dense et conspicue tuberculoso, 5(-6)-loculari, multiovulato; stylo tereti, ca 3 mm longo, stigmate subcapitato; capsula septicida, 5(-6)-valvata; seminibus ovatis.
Distribution and Ecology - Distribution. Known only from rocky open swampy summits of Chimantatepui.
Latin Diagnosis - Frutex depressus vel decumbens; ramulis glabris; internodus brevissimis, epidermide albido, mox exfohato. Folia sessiha valde secus ramulos sursum confertis, laminis lineari-aciculatis, glabris, vulgo 5-11 mm longis, 1 mm latis, in cuspidem 0.5 mm longum productis, marginibus pectinatim brevi-spinulosis; faciebus ventrali leviter concavis, dorsah convexa sulcis 2 inter se parahelis longitrorus instructa. Flores axillares subterminales; pedicellis 2-3 cm longis, teretibus, valde glanduloso-hispiduhs; hypanthio nullo; sepalis 6, liberis, anguste lineari-lanceolatis, conspicue sed sparse glandular-hispiduhs, ca 6 mm longis, 1-1.5 mm latis, acutis, persistentibus; petahs 6, oblongo-oblanceolatis, liberis, 10-12 mm longis, ca 5 mm latis, apice rotundatis; staminibus 2-cychs, vulgo 6, filamentis teretibus 6-7 mm longis, antheris valde emarginatis, medio affixis, ca 2 mm longis; ovario depresso-globoso, dense et conspicue tuberculoso, 5(-6)-loculari, multiovulato; stylo tereti, ca 3 mm longo, stigmate subcapitato; capsula septicida, 5(-6)-valvata; seminibus ovatis.
Distribution and Ecology - Distribution. Known only from rocky open swampy summits of Chimantatepui.
Discussion:
Type. VENEZUELA. Edo. Bolivar: Chimanta Massif, Central Section, frequent, rocky and swampy savanna between west and east branches of headwaters of Rio Tirica, 2200 m alt, 11 Feb 1955, stems spreading on rocks; calyx purplebrown, corolla salmon, Steyermark & Wurdack 737 (holotype NY, isotype s F, VEN). Ledothamnus decumbens is related to L. sessiliflorus from which it differs in 1) leaves not grooved on outer side (the papillate margins not converging but parahel along the length of the blade, 2) sepals densely long-stalked glandular, 3) elongate pedicels with many long-stalked glandular hairs, and 4) petals relatively broader.
Type. VENEZUELA. Edo. Bolivar: Chimanta Massif, Central Section, frequent, rocky and swampy savanna between west and east branches of headwaters of Rio Tirica, 2200 m alt, 11 Feb 1955, stems spreading on rocks; calyx purplebrown, corolla salmon, Steyermark & Wurdack 737 (holotype NY, isotype s F, VEN). Ledothamnus decumbens is related to L. sessiliflorus from which it differs in 1) leaves not grooved on outer side (the papillate margins not converging but parahel along the length of the blade, 2) sepals densely long-stalked glandular, 3) elongate pedicels with many long-stalked glandular hairs, and 4) petals relatively broader.