Cavendishia nobilis var. capitata (Benth.) Luteyn

  • Authority

    Luteyn, James L. 1983. Ericaceae--part I. Cavendishia. Fl. Neotrop. Monogr. 35: 1-290. (Published by NYBG Press)

  • Family

    Ericaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Cavendishia nobilis var. capitata (Benth.) Luteyn

  • Type

    Type. Ecuador. Loja: Mt. Yangana, Oct 1841 (fl), Hartweg 786*(holotype, K, photo NY neg. 9440; isotypes, BM, CGE 2 sheets, G, K, LD, LE, W, photos ACS neg. 117, F neg. 28919, NY neg. 9439).

  • Synonyms

    Thibaudia capitata Benth., Proclesia capitata (Benth.) Klotzsch, Chupalon capitatum (Benth.) Kuntze, Cavendishia capitata (Benth.) Hoerold

  • Description

    Variety Description - Leaves (9-)11-16(-19) X (3.5-)4-9.5 cm, usually less than 3 times as long as broad; 5(-7)-plinerved with the outer pair of lateral nerves usually very weak, inner pair of lateral nerves arising 0.5-1.5 cm above base, veinlets usually drying a lighter color than lamina and therefore very conspicuous. Inflorescence bracts glabrous; pedicels (2-)3.5-8 mm long and 2-3.5 mm diam., relatively stout; bracteoles usually linear, sometimes oblong, (4-)7-8(-10) mm long, usually touching hypanthium base or overlapping it nearly to the limb junction. Flowers: calyx 7-10 mm long; lobes 2.5-4.5 mm long; corolla (22-)26-34 mm long, glabrous.

  • Discussion

    Cavendishia nobilis is distinguished by the following combination of characters: usually large, somewhat coarse shrubby growth with upper branches conspicuously flattened, bluntly angled and stramineous; large leaves with veinlets often prominent; large and conspicuous, spherical axillary buds; capitate inflorescences with short, thick rachis; inflorescence bracts coriaceous, nitid, and stramineous; deeply-lobed, although sometimes inconspicuously apophysate, hypanthium; relatively large corollas; and a habitat preference for lower to middle elevation forest or somewhat protected sites. The species is divided into two varieties characterized by a number of morphological features (see key) as well as distinct geographical ranges. Variety nobilis has been infrequently collected and more material is sorely needed.

    Both varieties seem to hybridize locally with other members of ser. Cavendishiae as evidenced by intermediate populations where range or habitat overlap. Variety nobilis seems to have formed extensive hybrid populations with bracteata sensu lato in Huanuco Dept, in the vicinity of Paso de Carpish between Huanuco and Tingo Marla. This area has been heavily disturbed and lies along the transition zone between wet forest and cloud forest (ceja). Both “parental” types occur in the area with pilose forms of C. bracteata particularly abundant. The intermediate forms are common along the roadside slopes. They possess the flattened stems, ± narrowly lanceolate leaves, large axillary buds, short thick rachises, and usually pilose habit of var. nobilis; but their leaves are usually thinner in texture and smaller (7-15 cm long) in size, the stems are reddish-brown, the hypanthium is basally rounded or truncate not apophysate and lobed, and fimbriae of the calyx lobes are usually fused to some degree—characters common in the C. bracteata forms of the area. These putative hybrids look more like nobilis var. nobilis than any of the forms of C. bracteata which occur in the area; therefore, I have annotated them as “ Cavendishia nobilis Lindley var. nobilis (apparent hybrid with C. bracteata s.l.).” Three collections {Killip & Smith 24489, 24882, and 25938) from Junín Dept., annotated as “C. pubescens (HBK) Hemsley form” by A. C. Smith in 1930 are probably also hybrids with pilose forms of bracteata s.l.

    In Ecuador, C. nobilis var. capitata seems to have hybridized with bracteata to form intermediate populations in the areas between Sevilla de Oro-Méndez (Azuay Prov.) and in the Cordillera Cutucú (Morona-Santiago Prov.). These possess the flattened stems, capitate inflorescence with short thick rachis, usually lobed hypanthium, and calyx lobes with distinct fimbriae of var. capitata-, but the stems are brownish-red, leaves are narrow, thinner in texture, and smaller [9-13(-17) cm long], axillary buds are small, bracteoles may be oblong-linear but do not touch the hypanthium, corollas are shorter [12-21 mm not (22-)26-34 mm], and the habit is thinner (wiry) and pilose—characters of the C. bracteata forms in the area. Camp E-785 and E-5007, furthermore, show calyx lobes with the fimbriae fusing. These putative hybrids look more like C. bracteata s.l. than C. nobilis var. capitata-, therefore, I have annotated them as “Cavendishia bracteata (R. & P. ex J. St.-Hilaire) Hoerold sensu lato (apparent hybrid with C. nobilis var. capitata).” These collections were previously annotated as either C. campii (=C. bracteata s.l.) or C. capitata by A. C. Smith.

    Øllgaard & Balslev 9133 may represent a hybrid between var. capitata and C. cuatrecasasii. The major features of this collection fit those of C. nobilis var. capitata, however; the vegetative bracts are persistent, the bracteoles are short (1.5 mm long), the calyx lobes remain erect after anthesis, and the coloration of the dried calyx is dark brown (hypanthium) and light brown (limb) as in cuatrecasasii. Also, the collection was made just north of Mera (Pastaza Prov.) at a point intermediate between the ranges of the two taxa.

  • Distribution

    Endemic to S Ecuador where it is found at the provincial border of Loja and Zamora-Chinchipe E into Zamora-Chinchipe Prov, at elevations of 825-3050(-3500) m. Flowering specimens have been collected in April-July, and October-December; fruiting in June, July, and October.

    Ecuador South America| Loja Ecuador South America| Zamora-Chinchipe Ecuador South America|