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 epiphyticus subscandens, ramulis dense hispido-pilosis; fohis petiolatis, petiohs 2-3 mm longis dense hispido-pilosis; laminis lanceolato-ellipticis vel late ovatis apice abrupte caudato-acuminatis, acumine 5-12 mm longo, basi obtusis 4.5-8.5 X 1.5-4.5 cm juvenilibus supra sparse longe hispidis vetustioribus glabrescentibus subtus sparse vel moderatim pilis longis 1-2 mm longis hispidopilosis, costa media supra sparse hispida subtus moderatim vel dense hispida, nervis lateralibus tenuibus utroque latere 6-7 supra obsolescentibus subtus vix elevatis, venulis tertiariis non visis; inflorescentia axihari, 1-2-flora; pedicelhs 3-5 mm longis infra bracteolas glabris vel sparse hispidis; bracteolis suborbicularibus vel suborbiculari-ovads rotundatis vel obtusis 1-1.5 x 3 mm ciliatis ceterum glabris; calyce profunde campanulato 8 mm longo extus pilis adscendentibus 5-6 mm longis dense ferrugineo-hirsutis, tubo 3.5-4 mm longo apice truncato minute dentato, dentibus paullo manifestis basi 1 mm lafis; corolla subcylindrica supra medium manifeste angustiore 26 mm longa basi 5 mm lata infra medium 6 mm lata apicem versus 2.5-3 mm lata extus glabra intus glabra, lobis ligulato-lanceolatis obtusis 3-3.5 x 1 mm extus glabris intus marginibusque dense papillatis; staminibus alternatim aequalibus 6.5-7 mm et 8 mm longis, antheris 4-4.5 mm longis, thecis 2 mm longis, tubuhs ligulato-hnearibus 2.2-2.8 x 0.5 mm ad apicem obtusum oblique angustatis per poros ovali-rhomboideos 0.8-1 mm longos terminales dehiscentibus, filamends alternatim 3-4 mm et 5.5 mm longis dorso apice pilis 1-2 brevibus munids, connectivorum ramulis in tubulos transeuntibus; stylo 25 mm longo.

Discussion:

Type. GUYANA. Pakaraima Mountains, Membaru-Kurupung Trail, locahy frequent in Cunuria forest, 1000 m alt, 29 Oct-4 Nov 1951; scrambler 4 m with arching shoots; flowers red, pointed; Maguire & Fanshawe 32339 (holotype NY). This species is related to O. hispida A. C. Smith, also of Guyana, from which it differs in the long-pubescent leaves, larger corolla and calyx, pedicels bibracteolate at base or below the middle, and often glabrous below the bracteoles, the more numerous lateral nerves of the leaf blades, and the long acuminate leaves. Smith keys out O. hispida under ''anthers opening by oblique clefts" as contrasted with "anthers opening by terminal or essentiaUy terminal pores," but it is obvious in the present species that the pores are obliquely terminal, making it impossible to place them clearly in one or the other category.