Cavendishia quercina A.C.Sm.

  • Authority

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

  • Family

    Ericaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Cavendishia quercina A.C.Sm.

  • Type

    Type. Costa Rica. San José: Summit of Cerro Caricias, 1900 m, Sep 1900 (fl), Pittier 14030 (holotype, US; photo ACS neg. 1 and DUKE; isotype, NY, photo NY neg. 9814).

  • Description

    Species Description - Terrestrial and epiphytic shrub, 0.5-2 m tall; stem base to 8 cm in diam.; mature branches terete or subterete, minutely striate, densely puberulent becoming glabrate, reddish-brown; bark grayish; twigs subterete or bluntly angled, sometimes conspicuously striate, usually densely short-pilose with grayish or whitish trichomes. Leaves oblong, oblong-ovate, or ovate, 2.5-7.5 X (1-)1.5-3.5 cm, basally rounded and subcordate with sinus often as deep as petiole is long thus causing leaves to appear sessile and somewhat clasping, apically rounded, obtuse, or subacute (then most common in young leaves or leaves produced at end of season), usually densely short-pilose on both surfaces along leaf margins, midrib, and lateral nerves when young, usually persistent only on upper surface; 3-5(-7)-plinerved with lateral nerves often arising well above base thus leaves sometimes appearing pinnate distally, midrib and lateral nerves slightly impressed above but conspicuously raised beneath, lateral nerves sometimes slightly raised above, veinlets impressed, plane, or raised above and usually slightly raised but inconspicuous beneath; petioles subterete and often flattened adaxially, often coarsely rugose, (1-)2-4(-6) mm long and 1.5-2 mm in diam., densely short, white puberulent often glabrate. Inflorescence 12-20(-5 3)-flowered; rachis obtusely angled, frequently muricate, glabrous or densely hirsute, 2-12 cm long and 2-3 mm in diam., dark pink but turning greenish at anthesis; floral bracts smooth or rarely ribbed when dry, oblong or oblong-elliptic, (9.5-)11-18(-23) X 6-10(-13) mm, basally rounded and often somewhat clasping, apically obtuse or rounded, glabrous or marginally short-ciliate, commonly marginally glandular-fimbriate (fimbriae often caducous), red; pedicels subterete, often angled, striate and rugose, swollen at both ends, sparsely to densely hirsute or rarely glabrate, (6.5-)10-14(-18) mm long and 0.5-2 mm in diam., dark pink but turning greenish at anthesis; bracteoles oblong or oblong-ovate, 1-3(-5.5) X 0.5-1(-2.5) mm, marginally densely glandular-fimbriate and glabrous, ciliate, or short-pilose at apex. Flowers: calyx sparsely to densely hirsute, rarely glabrous, (5.5-)6-8(-9) mm long; hypanthium short-cylindric, often 5-ribbed, rugose, 1.5-2.5(-3) mm long, basally apophysate this being very conspicuous and diverging at almost right angles, apophysis margin undulate or only slightly lobed, dark purplish-pink but turning greenish at anthesis; limb cylindric, erecto-patent, or rarely campanulate, smooth, rugose, or sometimes ribbed, (3.5-)4-6(-6.5) mm long, red basally and green above but totally red at anthesis; lobes narrowly or sometimes broadly triangular, 1-2.5 X 1.5-3 mm, erect after anthesis, marginally short-ciliate and provided along each side of lobe with 3-5 very stout, glandular-callose fimbriae, rarely these fimbriae fusing into one oblong, concave gland to 0.5 mm long; sinus broadly rounded, ciliate; corolla slightly constricted and glabrous basally, densely pilose distally (rarely glabrous), (8.5-)11.5-15(-l 7.5) mm long and 2.5-4.5 mm in diam., tube pale pinkish basally, pale green above, limb and lobes whitish- to pinkish-green, lobes oblong, obtuse, to 2 mm long, erect or slightly spreading at anthesis; stamens 8-15 mm long; filaments pilose distally, alternately 2-5 mm and 3-8 mm long; anthers alternately 6.5-12 mm and 5-9.5 mm long; thecae 1-4 mm long; style 9-16 mm long. Berry 9-10 mm in diam.

  • Discussion

    On the basis of herbarium material, C. quercina may be characterized by its 1) short oblong-ovate leaves with subcordate base and rounded or subacute apex; 2) by hirsute rachises, pedicels, and calyces, and short-pilose to almost woolly corollas; and 3) by stout calyx lobe glands and densely glandular-fimbriate bracteoles. In the field it is easily recognized by the leaves, the deep red floral bracts and calyces, and the pale green corollas with whitish tips. The single collection from Volcán Chiriquí, Panama (White & White 89), shows no significant variation from the Costa Rican material.

    Although Smith (1932) stated that the species was without close relatives, the recently discovered C. ruiz-teranii from Venezuela provides a near ally. This relationship is discussed more fully with C. ruiz-teranii. A more remote affinity may also be noted with C. capitulata, in which occasionally the glandular fimbriae of the calyx lobes seem to fuse to form the stout, more or less oblong glands characteristic of C. quercina. Also extremes in leaf variation in each taxon are virtually identical.

  • Distribution

    Endemic to Costa Rica and Panama where it is found in cloud forest from the eastern Cordillera de Tilaran south and east through the Central Valley and Cordilleras de Talamanca of Costa Rica to western Panama at Volcan Bani at elevations of 1050-2300 m. Flowering occurs in every month but is most abundant October-March; fruiting specimens have been collected in January-February and June.

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