Monographs Details:
Authority:

Maguire, Bassett. 1978. The botany of the Guayana Highland--part X. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 29: 1-288.
Family:

Ericaceae
Description:

Latin Diagnosis - Frutex 1-3 m; foliis petiolatis, petiolis 1-3 mm longis glabrescentibus; laminis ovato-oblongis vel suborbiculari-ovatis apice obtuse acutis vel acutis basi rotundatis 2.5-5.5(-7.5) X 1.5-2.7(-4.5) cm demum glabris, marginibus paullo revolutis, nervis lateralibus utroque latere 5-6 paullo obscuris, venulis tertiariis subtus pauho reticulatis; inflorescentia axiUari fasciculata 4-5-flora; pedicellis 7-13 mm longis dense villosis pihs fulvo-ferrugineis instructis; bracteohs duobus infra medium basin versus pedicelh ovatis acuminatis carinatis 2-2.5 x 2 mm extus fulvo-ferrugineo-puberuhs et marginibus ciliatis; calyce campanulato apice truncato 5 x 4.5 mm extus pilis ferrugineo-fulvis plerumque non-glandulosis copiose villosuhs intus glabris, dentibus quinque minutis late triangularibus acutis 0.2 X 0.4 mm; coroha cylindrica 12 mm longa infra medium 4.5-5 mm diametro extus basi glabra excepta pilis fulvis dense hispidulo-villosula intus glabra, lobis quinque lanceolato-oblongis obtusis 2 x 1.5 mm; staminibus alternatim aequalibus; antheris 4-4.2 mm longis, thecis granulosis 1.5-2 mm longis basi incurvatis rotundatis, tubulis lanceolato-linearibus per poros anguste ellipticos 1-1.2 mm longos introrsos dehiscentibus, filamentis alternatim 3 mm et 4.5 mm longis ligulatis apice versus pihs paucis munitis; stylo 12 mm longo glabro.

Discussion:

Type. VENEZUELA. Territorio Amazonas: sabanita on cumbre along West Rim, Serrania Parii, Rio Pani, Caño Asisa, 2000 m alt, 31 Jan 1951, sprawling shrub to 1.5 m high; flowers red; Cowan & Wurdack 31061 (holotype NY). Paratypes. VENEZUELA. Amazonas: rocky sabanita along West Rim on cumbre, Serrania Paru, 2000 m alt, 4 Feb 1951, Cowan & Wurdack 31223; same locality, 2 Feb 1951, Cowan & Wurdack 31170; Bonnetia forest in cumbre, Serrania Paru, 2000 m alt, 11 Feb 1949, Phelps & Hitchcock 515, 477. This taxon is related to O. crinita of Ptari-tepui. It differs from that species in the bracteolate lower half of the pedicels, the mainly denser and non-glandular pubescence of the pedicels and calyx, the pubescence sufficiently dense to hide the underlying surface of the calyx, the shorter petioles, rounded leaf bases, and mainly narrower leaf blades.