Authority:

Pedraza-Peñalosa, Paola. 2010. (Ericaceae, Vaccinieae). Fl. Neotrop. Monogr. 108: 1-126. (Published by NYBG Press)

Family:

Ericaceae

Description:

Species Description - Epiphytic or terrestrial shrubs, scandent or erect, 0.5–2 m tall. Young branchlets ridged or not ridged, ± smooth, villous, the hairs eglandular and brown, the indumentum of the mature branches similar but glabrate. Leaves 1–4 per cm, apparently distichous, diffuse or patent; petiole 1–2.8 mm long, puberulous, the hairs eglandular; lamina ovate or narrowly elliptic, 1.2–3.4 × (0.3–)0.7–1.7 cm, basally obtuse or cuneate, marginally entire, apically ciliolate with eglandular hairs (especially in young leaves), apically acute or acuminate, adaxially and abaxially glabrate with eglandular hairs, the venation adaxially hyphodromous with the midvein impressed, abaxially 3-nerved with the midvein raised. Axillary solitary flowers and rarely 2-flowered fascicles; bracts 8–11, chartaceous, elliptic, suborbicular or transverse-elliptic, 1.2–4.4 × 2–6 mm, marginally eciliate, apically obtuse, abaxially glabrous or glabrate with glandular hairs; pedicel 0.8 mm long, reduced and hidden by overlapping bracts, glabrous or glabrate with glandular hairs; differentiated apical bracteoles 2, distinct, chartaceous, extending beyond calyx 2.5–4 mm (covering 100% of calyx), obovate or broadly elliptic, (5.2–)6–9 × 5.2–6.3 mm, marginally eciliate, apically obtuse (and usually splitting), the surface smooth, abaxially glabrous or sometimes glabrate with glandular hairs, adaxially glabrous. Flowers 4- merous. Calyx aestivation valvate, campanulate or cylindric, 2.8–3.6(–4.5) mm long; tube weakly angled, 1.5–1.8 mm long, abaxially glabrate with glandular hairs; limb 1–1.7(–2.5) mm long, abaxially glabrate or apically puberulous, the hairs minute, eglandular, and deciduous, adaxially glabrous; lobes triangular, 1–1.7(–2) × 1.4–2 mm, marginally eciliate, apically acute; sinuses acute (V-shaped). Corolla pink and white or sometimes light green and white, thin-fleshy, bistratose, urceolate (inflated at the middle or more distally), (6.8–)7.5–10.7 mm long, 4.8–6.5 mm diam. (4 mm when dry), 3–3.5 mm wide at throat (2.4 mm when dry), abaxially glabrate with glandular hairs, adaxially glabrous; lobes 1.2–2.8 × 1.2–2.5 mm, apically acute, adaxially rugose. Stamens (7–)8, 6–8(–10) mm long, included; filaments distinct, straight, broader at base, 3.6–4(–7) mm long, abaxially pilulose, adaxially glabrate; anthers distinct, papillae only on thecae; thecae 1.6–2.1 mm long, without or sometimes with basal appendages; tubules 2, (2–)2.4–2.8 mm long, dehiscing introrsely by longitudinal slits, (0.8–)1–1.7 mm long. Ovary 4-locular; style 7.2–9 mm long, exserted (the style often remains enclosed by the enveloping differentiated apical bracteoles after the corolla is shed; when the fruit matures it falls off and the bracteoles spread out). Berry white, ± spherical, 7–9 mm diam., the persistent calyx lobes erect or spreading, becoming succulent (at least at base), same color as mature berry; embryo white.

Distribution and Ecology - Although not very abundant, Disterigma cryptocalyx is known from localities throughout the three cordilleras in Colombia and from scattered localities in the Ecuadorian Andes (Fig. 21). The species is found mainly at 1000–2750 m, in both primary and secondary vegetation within the premontane and montane cloud forest. Flowering year-round; fruiting in Apr, Aug, and Nov.

Distribution:

Colombia South America| Antioquia Colombia South America| Boyacá Colombia South America| Caquetá Colombia South America| Chocó Colombia South America| Huila Colombia South America| Meta Colombia South America| Nariño Colombia South America| Putumayo Colombia South America| Santander Colombia South America| Valle del Cauca Colombia South America| Ecuador South America| Napo Ecuador South America| Pastaza Ecuador South America| Zamora-Chinchipe Ecuador South America|