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. Young branchlets not ridged, ± smooth, villosulous, the hairs eglandular, brown, the indumentum of the mature branches similar but glabrate. Leaves 5–9 per cm, apparently distichous, mostly diffuse or patent; petiole 0.5 mm long, puberulous, the hairs eglandular; lamina elliptic, less often ovate or obovate, (0.4–)0.5–1.3 × (0.1–)0.2–0.4(–0.6) cm, basally cuneate, marginally entire, apically ciliolate with eglandular hairs (especially in young leaves), apically obtuse or sometimes acute, adaxially glabrous or glabrate with eglandular hairs, abaxially glabrate with glandular hairs, the venation adaxially obscure or hyphodromous with the midvein impressed, abaxially 3-nerved with the midvein raised. Axillary solitary flowers; bracts 2–5, chartaceous, ovate, 0.4–0.5 × 0.8–1.2 mm, marginally eciliate, apically obtuse, abaxially glabrous; pedicel 0.8–1.6(–2) mm long, reduced and hidden by overlapping bracts or with a portion not completely obscured, glabrate with minute glandular hairs; differentiated apical bracteoles 2, distinct, chartaceous, enveloping the base of calyx tube, covering 12–18(–29)% of calyx, orbicular, transverse-elliptic, or reniform, 1.2–2 × 1.6–2 mm, occasionally marginally ciliolate with minute eglandular or glandular hairs, apically obtuse or truncate, the surface smooth, abaxially and adaxially glabrous. Flowers 4-merous. Calyx aestivation valvate, campanulate, 2.8–4 mm long; tube shortly winged, 1.2–1.6 mm long, abaxially glabrate with glandular or eglandular hairs (especially over the wings); limb 1.6–2.4 mm long, abaxially glabrate with glandular hairs, adaxially glabrous; lobes triangular, 1.2–1.6 × 1.6–2.8 mm, marginally ciliate with eglandular hairs, apically acute; sinuses acute (V-shaped). Corolla red, chartaceous, not bistratose, campanulate, 6.4–8.8 mm long, (4.8–)6.4 mm diam., 3.2–4 mm wide at throat, abaxially glabrate with glandular hairs, adaxially glabrous; lobes 1.2–2.4 × 2.8–3.6 mm, apically obtuse and apiculate, adaxially smooth. Stamens (7–)8, (3.6–) 4.8–5.6 mm long, included; filaments distinct, straight, elliptic, (1.6–)2 mm long, abaxially puberulous, adaxially pubescent (especially apically); anthers distinct, papillae only on thecae; thecae basally prognathous, 1.6–2 mm long, without basal appendages; tubules 2, distinct, (1.2–)1.6–2.4 mm long, dehiscing apically by oblique pores, 0.3 mm long. Ovary 4-locular; style 5.2– 5.6 mm long, included. Berry white, hemispherical, 6.8–7.1 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 - Disterigma dumontii is found in the Chocó biogeographic region. It is found only on the western slopes of the southernmost Dept of Colombia, Nariño, and the nearby Ecuadorian Provs. Carchi, Esmeraldas, and Imbabura (Fig. 21). This species grows at 250–1500(–1890) m, in very humid tropical rainforests and premontane forests, in both primary and secondary vegetation. Flowering year-round, except Oct; fruiting in Feb, Apr, May, Sep, and Nov. On one occasion, ants from the subfamily Myrmicinae (P. Pedraza & C. Pedraza 1006, kindly identified by Roberto Keller) were found nesting in the twigs and leaves of Disterigma dumontii.

Local Names and Uses - In Nariño, Colombia, this plant is known as "chaquilulo" and its fruits are eaten by local people. In Carchi, Ecuador, it is called "los reales."

Distribution:

Colombia South America| Nariño Colombia South America| Carchi Ecuador South America| Esmeraldas Ecuador South America| Imbabura Ecuador South America|

Common Names:

chaquilulo, los reales