Monographs Details:
Authority:

Pedraza-Peñalosa, Paola & Luteyn, James L. 2011. Andean (Ericaceae: Vaccinieae): Seven new species from South America. Brittonia. 63 (2): 257-275.
Family:

Ericaceae
Description:

Latin Diagnosis - Vaccinio amazonico affinis foliis obovatis vel obo-vato-ellipticis apice rotundato vel late obtuso atque valde et persistenter mucronato, mucrone usque 2 mm longo, sed lamina folii marginibus integris, in pagina inferiore pilis fasciculatis nullis, venatione triplinervia (non remote crenata, pilis fasciculatis praesentibus, venatione pinnata) differt.

Description - Low terrestrial to epiphytic shrubs 0.8-1.3 m tall. Twigs broadly and bluntly angled, sparsely puberulous, the hairs simple, unicellular, and eglandular, the mature branches subterete to angled, the bark smooth, glabrescent; buds axillary, prophylls 2, opposite, valvate, ovate, inconspicuous, ca. 0.5 mm long, marginally eciliate, apically obtuse, sparsely puberulous, the hairs simple, unicellular, and eglandular. Leaves alternate, diffuse; petioles not twisted, subterete, 2.4-3.5 mm long, puberulous, the hairs simple, unicellular and eglandular; blades coriaceous, elliptic to obovate, 1.3-2.4(-2.8)x 0.7-1.7 cm, basally cuneate to sometimes obtuse, marginally entire, inconspicuously revolute in proximal 1/4 when dry, apically obtuse or acute, mucronate, the mucro conspicuous, 1.2-2 mm long, ciliolate around the mucro (especially in young leaves) with hairs simple, unicellular and eglandular, glabrate on both sides with hairs inconspicuous and simple, the hairs above very few and of two types: unicellular and eglandular, and multicellular and glandular, the hairs beneath multicellular and glandular; venation obscure, the midrib weakly impressed above and sometimes raised beneath towards apex, the two basal lateral nerves arching toward apex and sometimes raised. Inflorescences axillary, fascicles with up to 4-pedicellate flowers; bracts and brac-teoles undifferentiated, chartaceous, ovate, 1— 1.8 x 0.6-1.3 mm, marginally ciliolate with simple hairs both unicellular and eglandular, and multicellular and glandular, apically acute or acuminate, the bracteoles 2, persistent, opposite, inserted at base of pedicel; pedicels subterete, 3-5 mm long, articulate with calyx, densely puberulous with simple hairs unicellular and eglandular, and few multicellular and glandular (these mostly concentrated at articulation). Flowers 4-merous, diplostemonous. Calyx aestivation valvate, campanulate overall, 4-4.7 mm long, densely puberulous with simple hairs unicellular and eglandular, and multicellular and glandular; tube subcylindric, 4-angled, 1.5-2 mm long; limb erect to slightly spreading, 2.5-3.2 mm long; lobes ovate to lanceolate, 2-2.7x 0.8-1 mm, marginally ecili-ate, apically acuminate; sinuses acute (V-shaped). Corolla aestivation valvate, white, cylindric or infundibuliform, 7-8.5 mm long, 2-2.2 mm diam., moderately puberulous without with hairs simple, unicellular and eglandular, glabrous within; lobes deflate, 0.8-1.3 x 0.81 mm, apically acute, spreading, reflexed. Stamens 8, equal, included , 6.8-7.2 mm long; filaments equal, distinct, long-triangular, more or less straight, 4.34-.5 mm long, pilosulose distally with hairs simple, unicellular and eglandular; anthers equal, distinct, 3.2-3.3 mm long; thecae 1.6-1.7 mm long, minutely papil-

Discussion:

Phenology.-Flowering in July and August; fruiting in September.

Etymology.- The epithet is derived from the prominent and persistent leaf mucro.

Vaccinium aristatum is characterized by having obovate to elliptic leaves that are 1.3-2.4 (-2.8) cm long; obtuse or acute leaf apices that are always conspicuously mucronate; shortly pedicellate and 4-merous flowers; densely puberulous calyces; white, cylindrical to infun-dibuliform corollas; and translucent white berries. Vaccinium aristatum and V amazonicum are both morphologically similar to V elvirae. These taxa are compared in Table I.