Monographs Details:
Authority:
Pedraza-Peñalosa, Paola & Luteyn, James L. 2011. Andean (Ericaceae: Vaccinieae): Seven new species from South America. Brittonia. 63 (2): 257-275.
Pedraza-Peñalosa, Paola & Luteyn, James L. 2011. Andean
Family:
Ericaceae
Ericaceae
Description:
Description - Species nova foliis marginibus planis atque integris, in apice acuminatis vel acutis, floribus in fascículos vel solitariis, pedicellis conspicuis 4-10 mm longis, calyce pedicello continuo, corolla rubra, urceolata, 7-8.5 longa distincta; a Vaccinio continuo perulis axillaribus, brevibus, inconspicuis (non supra-axillaribus, longis, conspicuis), foliis in pagina inferiore pilis fasciculatis atque dendroideis carentibus (non pilis fasciculatis atque dendroideis), bracteolis 1 (non 2) differt. Epiphytic shrubs, the branches long-pendent. Twigs subterete, sparsely pilosulose, the hairs simple, unicellular and eglandular, the mature stems terete, the bark dark brown, fissured, glabrescent; buds axillary, prophylls 2, opposite, valvate, ovate, inconspicuous, ca. 1 mm long, marginally eciliate, glabrescent, the hairs simple, unicellular and eglandular, apically acute. Leaves alternate, imbricate, adpressed to ascendent, subsessile; petioles twisted ca. 180°, subterete, 1.5-2 mm long, pilosulose, the hairs simple, unicellular, and eglandular; blades coriaceous, succulent, drying wrinkled, ovate to lanceolate, (2-)2.3- 3 x 0.8-1 cm, basally rounded, marginally entire, ciliolate especially distally in young leaves with hairs simple, unicellular and eglandular, basally revolute when dry, apically acuminate or sometimes acute, glabrescent on both sides with hairs simple, unicellular and eglandular, beneath also with few, inconspicuous, simple, multicellular and glandular hairs; venation obscure when dry, but apparently pinnate, sometimes with the midrib raised beneath. Inflorescences axillary, 2-flowered fascicles or flowers solitary, flowers pedicellate; all bracts undifferentiated, chartaceous, ovate, ca. 0.5x0.5 mm, marginally eciliate, apically obtuse, glabrous; pedicels terete, slightly widening distally, 0.4-1 cm long, continuous with calyx, glabrescent with hairs simple, unicellular and eglandular, also with few, simple, multicellular and glandular hairs distally; bracteoles 1, persistent, inserted at base of pedicel, transverse-elliptic, 1-1.2 x 1.6-1.8 mm, marginally ciliolate with hairs simple, unicellular and eglandular, apically obtuse and obcordate, glabrous. Flowers 4- merous, diplostemonous. Calyx aestivation valvate, campanulate overall, 3.7-4.5 mm long, puberulous, the hairs simple, unicellular and eglandular; tube obconic, terete, 1.5- 1.7 mm long; limb spreading, 2.2-2.3 mm long; lobes deltate, 1.6-2x0.8-1.2 mm, marginally eciliate, apically acute; sinuses acute. Corolla aestivation valvate, red, urceolate, 7- 8.5 mm long, ca. 4.5 mm diam., 2.5 mm wide at throat, glabrescent without with hairs simple, unicellular and eglandular, glabrous within; lobes ovate, ca. lxl mm, apically acute. Stamens 8, equal, basally adherent to corolla, included, 6.5-7 mm long; filaments equal, distinct, long-triangular, straight, 3- 3.5 mm long, glabrous; anthers equal, 4- 4.5 mm long; thecae 1.8-2 mm long, minutely papillose; tubules 2, distinct to base, 2.2-2.4 mm long, dehiscing by introrse longitudinal slits, 1.2 - 1.6 mm long. Ovary 4- locular, placentation axile; nectariferous disc pulvinate, glabrose; style included, filiform, terete, 8 mm long, glabrous; stigma simple. Berry not seen.
Description - Species nova foliis marginibus planis atque integris, in apice acuminatis vel acutis, floribus in fascículos vel solitariis, pedicellis conspicuis 4-10 mm longis, calyce pedicello continuo, corolla rubra, urceolata, 7-8.5 longa distincta; a Vaccinio continuo perulis axillaribus, brevibus, inconspicuis (non supra-axillaribus, longis, conspicuis), foliis in pagina inferiore pilis fasciculatis atque dendroideis carentibus (non pilis fasciculatis atque dendroideis), bracteolis 1 (non 2) differt. Epiphytic shrubs, the branches long-pendent. Twigs subterete, sparsely pilosulose, the hairs simple, unicellular and eglandular, the mature stems terete, the bark dark brown, fissured, glabrescent; buds axillary, prophylls 2, opposite, valvate, ovate, inconspicuous, ca. 1 mm long, marginally eciliate, glabrescent, the hairs simple, unicellular and eglandular, apically acute. Leaves alternate, imbricate, adpressed to ascendent, subsessile; petioles twisted ca. 180°, subterete, 1.5-2 mm long, pilosulose, the hairs simple, unicellular, and eglandular; blades coriaceous, succulent, drying wrinkled, ovate to lanceolate, (2-)2.3- 3 x 0.8-1 cm, basally rounded, marginally entire, ciliolate especially distally in young leaves with hairs simple, unicellular and eglandular, basally revolute when dry, apically acuminate or sometimes acute, glabrescent on both sides with hairs simple, unicellular and eglandular, beneath also with few, inconspicuous, simple, multicellular and glandular hairs; venation obscure when dry, but apparently pinnate, sometimes with the midrib raised beneath. Inflorescences axillary, 2-flowered fascicles or flowers solitary, flowers pedicellate; all bracts undifferentiated, chartaceous, ovate, ca. 0.5x0.5 mm, marginally eciliate, apically obtuse, glabrous; pedicels terete, slightly widening distally, 0.4-1 cm long, continuous with calyx, glabrescent with hairs simple, unicellular and eglandular, also with few, simple, multicellular and glandular hairs distally; bracteoles 1, persistent, inserted at base of pedicel, transverse-elliptic, 1-1.2 x 1.6-1.8 mm, marginally ciliolate with hairs simple, unicellular and eglandular, apically obtuse and obcordate, glabrous. Flowers 4- merous, diplostemonous. Calyx aestivation valvate, campanulate overall, 3.7-4.5 mm long, puberulous, the hairs simple, unicellular and eglandular; tube obconic, terete, 1.5- 1.7 mm long; limb spreading, 2.2-2.3 mm long; lobes deltate, 1.6-2x0.8-1.2 mm, marginally eciliate, apically acute; sinuses acute. Corolla aestivation valvate, red, urceolate, 7- 8.5 mm long, ca. 4.5 mm diam., 2.5 mm wide at throat, glabrescent without with hairs simple, unicellular and eglandular, glabrous within; lobes ovate, ca. lxl mm, apically acute. Stamens 8, equal, basally adherent to corolla, included, 6.5-7 mm long; filaments equal, distinct, long-triangular, straight, 3- 3.5 mm long, glabrous; anthers equal, 4- 4.5 mm long; thecae 1.8-2 mm long, minutely papillose; tubules 2, distinct to base, 2.2-2.4 mm long, dehiscing by introrse longitudinal slits, 1.2 - 1.6 mm long. Ovary 4- locular, placentation axile; nectariferous disc pulvinate, glabrose; style included, filiform, terete, 8 mm long, glabrous; stigma simple. Berry not seen.
Discussion:
Phenology - the type was in flower in September
Etymology - Named after the Prov. Urubamba, in Cusco, Peru, where the plant is endemic.
Vaccinium urubambensis has a distinctive habit with pendent branches and leaves that are imbricate, adpressed to ascendent, and with short petioles twisted ca. 1 80°. Its prophylls are inconspicuous; flowers pedicellate and 4-mer- ous; pedicels continuous with calyx and bear- ing only one obcordate bracteole; and corollas long, red, and urceolate. The similarities and differences with other species are discussed under V. continuum and in Table II