Cavendishia rhynchophylla 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 rhynchophylla A.C.Sm.

  • Type

    Type. Colombia. Valle: Cordillera Occidental, San Antonio, 1800 m, Jui 1853 (fl), Triana 2670 (holotype, BM, photo NY neg. 9143; isotypes, BR, G, K, NY, P, photos F neg. 26618, NY neg. 9708).

  • Description

    Species Description - Shrub; mature branches terete, smooth, glabrous; twigs terete to subterete, smooth, puberulent or densely hispidulous then glabrate. Leaves elliptic, lanceolate, or ovate-elliptic, (3.3-)4-8 x (1.6-)2-3 cm, basally rounded, obtuse, or cuneate, apically caudate-acuminate, glabrous or sparsely hirsute above, densely hirsute to glabrate beneath; 5(-7)-plinerved, midrib raised and thickened through proximal 1 cm otherwise slightly raised or impressed above, inner pair of lateral nerves impressed proximal half otherwise slightly raised above, veinlets impressed or slightly raised above, all nerves and veinlets raised beneath but only midrib and inner lateral nerves prominent; petioles terete, slightly rugose, 1-4 mm long and 0.8-1 mm diam., puberulent to short-pilose. Inflorescence 9-10-flowered, encircled at base by ca. 12 caducous, ovate to oblong, apically densely appressed-pilose and fimbriate bracts; rachis subterete, bluntly angled, 3.5-5.3 cm long and ca. 0.8 mm diam., scattered pilose to hispid; floral bracts oblong-elliptic, conspicuously 3-5-ribbed, 6-9 X 4.5 mm, apically rounded, marginally ciliate and bearing squamulate fimbriae distally, dorsally densely squamulate-fimbriate centrally the length of bract; pedicels subterete, angled, striate, 9-10 mm long, moderately pilose to densely hispid especially distally at articulation; bracteoles basal, ovate or semiorbicular, 1.5 mm long and broad, marginally ciliate and moderately to densely squamulate-fimbriate, the fimbriae sometimes deciduous. Flowers: calyx densely pilose, moderately to densely squamulate-fimbriate, 2.7-3.5 mm long; hypanthium cylindric, rugose, 10-ribbed, ca. 0.7-1 mm long and 3 mm diam., basally apophysate with apophysis margin undulate; limb erecto-patent, 2-2.5 mm long; lobes broadly triangular, 0.8-1.5 mm long, erect after anthesis, each margin glandular-callose with these not contiguous at lobe tip; sinus broadly rounded; corolla subcylindric, densely pilose, immature ca. 10—13 mm long; stamens ca. 10.5 mm long; filaments weakly short-pilose ventrally, alternately ca. 2 mm and 2.5-4 mm long; anthers alternately 9.5-11 mm and 8-9 mm long; thecae 3 mm long; style subequal to corolla. Berry not seen.

  • Discussion

    Cavendishia rhynchophylla is notable for subcoriaceous caudate-acuminate leaves, squamulate-fimbriate bracts and calyces, and small densely pilose calyces and corollas. In the type collection the calyces are so densely pilose that the fimbriae are obscured, and the pubescence of the stems, leaves, and pedicels appears hirsute-hispid not pilose as in Cuatrecasas 21235. The squamulose glandular fimbriae, especially noticeable on the dorsal surfaces of the floral bracts and along the bracteole margins and calyces of Cuatrecasas 21235, are unique to this species.

    Cavendishia rhynchophylla has been collected from only two widely disparate geographical and elevational sites. Additional material is needed before the morphological variation and phylogenetic position of the species is understood. For the present I am placing C. rhynchophylla in ser. Englerianae, in which its calyx, glands, persistent floral bracts, few-flowered inflorescences, and short rachis are unexceptional, although it shows features of ser. Deciduae (sect. Cavendishia) in its small leaves, floral bracts, calyces, and corollas.

  • Distribution

    Endemic to the lowlands and foothills of the Cordillera Occidental, Valle Dept., Colombia at elevations of 60-1800 m. Collected in flower in May and July.

    Colombia South America| Valle Colombia South America|