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
Discussion:
An examination of the various taxa related to V. puberulum, based upon the abundant material now available for study, indicates a network of variants which intergrade one into the other, or are at most separated from one another by characters of slight and unreliable values. Some of these described taxa, such as V. tepuiense Camp & A. C. Smith, V. subcrenulatum KL, and V. puberulum KL, are found scattered broadly over the Guayana Highland. Others, such as V. spathulatum Camp & A. C. Smith, V. cardonae A. C. Smith and V. hitchcockii Camp appear to be of more restricted occurrence. Vaccinium puberulum itself is most variable as regards the shape and size of leaves and the leaf margins vary from entire to serrulate. The leaf shape in V. puberulum varies from large oblong-obovate to elliptic-oblong leaves 4.5 x 2.5 cm (Maguire & Maguire 35273), 5 X 3 cm (Maguire & Maguire 35236), 6.5 x 3 cm (Maguire & Maguire 35226) to small oblong or elliptic-oblong leaves 1.5-2 x 0.7-1 cm, represented by Maguire & Politi 28231 and 28663 from Sipapo, Steyermark & Wurdack 1015 from Chimanta Massif, and various other specimens. Of the V. puberulum complex, probably V. cardonae, with its longer bracts of the inflorescence, is the most distinct and may merit subspecific or even specific category. However, on the present evidence, it would appear best treated as an addifional variation of V. puberulum.
An examination of the various taxa related to V. puberulum, based upon the abundant material now available for study, indicates a network of variants which intergrade one into the other, or are at most separated from one another by characters of slight and unreliable values. Some of these described taxa, such as V. tepuiense Camp & A. C. Smith, V. subcrenulatum KL, and V. puberulum KL, are found scattered broadly over the Guayana Highland. Others, such as V. spathulatum Camp & A. C. Smith, V. cardonae A. C. Smith and V. hitchcockii Camp appear to be of more restricted occurrence. Vaccinium puberulum itself is most variable as regards the shape and size of leaves and the leaf margins vary from entire to serrulate. The leaf shape in V. puberulum varies from large oblong-obovate to elliptic-oblong leaves 4.5 x 2.5 cm (Maguire & Maguire 35273), 5 X 3 cm (Maguire & Maguire 35236), 6.5 x 3 cm (Maguire & Maguire 35226) to small oblong or elliptic-oblong leaves 1.5-2 x 0.7-1 cm, represented by Maguire & Politi 28231 and 28663 from Sipapo, Steyermark & Wurdack 1015 from Chimanta Massif, and various other specimens. Of the V. puberulum complex, probably V. cardonae, with its longer bracts of the inflorescence, is the most distinct and may merit subspecific or even specific category. However, on the present evidence, it would appear best treated as an addifional variation of V. puberulum.