Cavendishia neblinae Maguire, Steyerm. & Luteyn
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Authority
Luteyn, James L. 1983. Ericaceae--part I. Cavendishia. Fl. Neotrop. Monogr. 35: 1-290. (Published by NYBG Press)
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Family
Ericaceae
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Scientific Name
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Type
Type. Venezuela. Territorio de Amazonas: Cerro de la Neblina, upper slope forest above Camp 4, 1500-1700 m, 13 Jan 1954 (fl), Maguire et al. 37254 (holotype, NY, photo NY neg. 10556; isotype, US).
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Description
Species Description - Shrub 1-3 m tall; mature branches reclining, terete, smooth, glabrate, reddish-brown; twigs subterete, complanate, bluntly angled, pilose with white trichomes. Leaves ovate, oblong-elliptic or rarely obovate, 6-14.5 X 3.2-6.7 cm, basally rounded or broadly truncate, usually cordate, apically (sometimes abruptly) sharply short-acuminate, weakly pilose along nerves above, pilose-hispid along nerves and onto lamina beneath; 5-7-plinerved, midrib conspicuously thickened and sometimes raised through proximal 1-2 cm otherwise impressed above and raised beneath, lateral nerves impressed above and raised beneath, veinlets conspicuous, raised on both surfaces or sometimes impressed above then causing leaves to be bullate; petiole subterete sometimes flattened adaxially, rugose, 5-10 mm long and 2-3 mm diam. Inflorescence 15-20-flowered; rachis subterete, bluntly angled, short-pilose, 3-10 cm long and ca. 3-6 mm diam., provided along length (although sometimes obscure) with deciduous, spherical, light tan glands ca. 0.1-0.2 mm diam.; floral bracts ± muricate, ovate-oblong, 25-37 X 15-18 mm, apically rounded, glabrous or ciliate and appressed short-pilose at distal tip, pink to deep rose when fresh (fide label data); pedicels subterete, sometimes sharply ribbed, densely hispidulous, 6.5-9 mm long, with few (sometimes obscure) spherical glands scattered along length or sometimes clustered near tip at articulation with calyx; bracteoles located near base of pedicel, oblong to linear-lanceolate, to 3 x 1 mm, glabrous or sparsely hispidulous along midrib dorsally, marginally with spherical to ± oblong glands in distal half these often fusing at apex. Flowers: calyx hispid-pilose, 7-8 mm long; hypanthium cylindric, ± rugose, 10-ribbed, 2.5 mm long and 3.5-4 mm diam., basally apophysate; limb erecto-patent, ca. 4-5 mm long; lobes broadly triangular, 2-2.5 mm long and 2.5-3 mm broad, erect after anthesis, marginally bearing stout, thickened ± oblong fimbriae which fuse distally forming a ± continuous oblong callose gland ca. 1 mm long on each lobe margin but these not contiguous at tip; sinus obtuse; corolla cylindric, densely short-pilose, 20-22 mm long and 6-7 mm diam., white when fresh (fide label data), lobes ovate-oblong, obtuse, 2 mm long; stamens 19-20 mm long; filaments pilose ventrally above middle, alternately ca. 4 mm and 7 mm long; anthers alternately 17-18 mm and ca. 14 mm long; thecae alternately 6-7 mm and 4-5 mm long. Berry not seen.
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Discussion
Cavendishia neblinae is characterized by pubescent stems, leaves, rachis, pedicels, calyces, and corollas, apically short-acuminate leaves, spherical glands of the rachis and pedicels, and glandular-callose calyx lobes. No additional specimens have been seen since it was described in 1978. Its relationships are not with C. duidae as was then stated (Maguire et al., 1978), but seem to lie more closely with C. grossa as indicated by similar glands of the bracteoles and calyx lobes. Much additional material is needed, however, before its relationships are established.
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Distribution
Known only from Cerro de la Neblina where it occurs in scrub forest and along the upper escarpment slopes at elevations of 1500-1700 m. It has been collected in flower in December and January.
Venezuela South America| Amazonas Venezuela South America|