Cavendishia callista Donn.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 callista Donn.Sm.

  • Type

    Type. Guatemala. Alta Verapaz: Between Cobán and Samac, 1400 m, May 1886 (fl), von Tuerckheim 941 (holotype, US, photo DUKE; isotypes, F, G, GH, K, NY, P, photo NY neg. 9796 and 9797).

  • Synonyms

    Cavendishia longiflora Donn.Sm., Cavendishia amalfiensis Mansf., Cavendishia duidae A.C.Sm., Cavendishia bullata A.C.Sm. & Standl., Cavendishia hispida A.C.Sm., Cavendishia gleasoniana A.C.Sm., Cavendishia praestans A.C.Sm., Cavendishia phelpsiae Camp, Cavendishia salicifolia Maguire, Steyerm. & Luteyn

  • Description

    Species Description - Epiphytic or terrestrial shrub, sometimes ± scandent, 1.5-4 m tall, in very wet habitats rooting at nodes; stem base ca. 2.5-5 cm in diam. sometimes ± swollen; mature branches terete, glabrate or persistently white pilose; twigs terete to bluntly angled or complanate, light reddish-brown to flesh-colored, glaucous, striate, muricate with tiny reddish papillae, glabrous to densely pilose-hispid, often glabrate, trichomes white, tan or reddish- to yellowish-brown and 0.5-2 mm long; bark brown to reddish-brown. Leaves drying chartaceous to thickly hard coriaceous, often scabrous, nitid, ovate, lanceolate, elliptic, oblong or rarely obovate, (4.5-)7-23(-35) X (1-)2.5-10(-13) cm, basally obtuse, rounded, or truncate often cordate, apically acute to long-acuminate, sometimes abruptly short-acuminate, glabrous to moderately short-pubescent on lamina above, glabrous, glabrate, or densely hispid beneath especially along nerves; (3-)5(-9)-plinerved with nerves arising near base or inner lateral nerves arising up to 2 cm above base, midrib sometimes thick and raised through proximal 3.5 cm, or more commonly with midrib and lateral nerves shallowly to deeply impressed above, raised and very conspicuous beneath, midrib also often flattened proximal half beneath, veinlets slightly elevated on both surfaces or secondary lateral nerves and veinlets deeply impressed above giving lamina a strikingly bullate appearance; petioles subterete, rugose, (4-)6-13(-22) mm long, (1-)2-3(-5) mm in diam., glabrous to densely pilose with trichomes to 1.5 mm long. Inflorescence elongate-cylindric in bud, at anthesis viscid, (3-)15-35(-52)-flowered, encircled at base by bracts which are rarely fimbriate; rachis bluntly angled, longitudinally ribbed, glabrous or infrequently weakly to densely sericeous, 4-12(-20) cm long and (3-)4-6(-10) mm in diam., rose-colored when fresh, but drying to yellowish- to orangish-brown, rarely provided with minute, reddish, clavate glands especially at base of floral bracts; floral bracts smooth or distally muricate, oblong, obovate, or oblanceolate, (15-)20-40 (-60) X (7-) 10-25(-35) mm, basally narrowed and truncate, apically rounded or acute, glabrous, pink to deep rose, tips rarely reflexed; pedicels smooth or rugose, usually longitudinally ribbed, usually swollen at both ends, glabrous or infrequently weakly to densely sericeous, 6-15(-20) mm long and 0.5-1.5(-2) mm in diam., rarely with sessile, reddish glands or cartilaginous teeth at distal tip; bracteoles located near base or to 1/3 up pedicel, infrequently conspicuously nerved, ovate-lanceolate, sometimes cucullate, 1-5(-8) X 1-2(-3.5) mm, basally sometimes auriculate-clasping, apically glandular-callose (rarely glandular-callose for nearly entire length), glabrous or rarely sparsely pilose. Flowers: calyx glabrous or infrequently sparsely to densely pilose-hispid, 5-9(-11) mm long, viscid; hypanthium cylindric, coarsely ribbed, rugose, often muricate, (1.5-)2-4(-5.5) mm long, strongly apophysate basally, apophysis 1-1.5 mm long, pinkish-green at anthesis becoming green; limb cylindric or spreading to campanulate, smooth or striate, often muricate, 3.5-6(-8) mm long, dark rose at anthesis becoming pale rose to pink; lobes triangular, 1-2.5(-4) X 2-3 mm, erect after anthesis, glandular-callose, the callus tissue covering lobes completely or restricted to distal 1/3-½, green to brownish-green when fresh; sinus obtuse to broadly acute; corolla cylindric, narrowed to throat, viscid, (15-) 18-30(-42) mm long and 4-8 mm in diam., glabrous or densely sericeous without with translucent trichomes 0.5-1.3 mm long, moderately pilose or glabrous within, tube white to grayish pearl-white or with a pinkish hue basally, lobes triangular, 1-3 X 2-3 mm, reflexed at anthesis, white with purple margins; stamens (13-) 18-34 mm long; filaments distinct or weakly coherent at base, long filaments pilose distal ½ ventrally, short ones pilose distally or glabrous, alternately (1.5-)3-4.5(-6) mm and (4.5-)6-12 mm long; anthers alternately (11-) 16-32 mm and (8.5-)12-26 mm long; thecae 5-10(-18) mm long; style (17-)20-35(-40) mm long. Mature berry not seen.

  • Discussion

    Standley and Williams (1966) record it as cultivated in Alta Verapaz, Guatemala [probably as an ornamental].

    Cavendishia callista is a very beautiful and showy species readily distinguished by rose-pink floral bracts, densely sericeous or glabrous white corollas with purple-margined lobes, glandular-callose calyx lobes, conspicuously ribbed and apophysate hypanthium, elongate racemose inflorescences, and pinkish to flesh-colored glaucous twigs. Its leaf morphology and leaf and stem pubescence are highly variable, but the above combination of features definitely characterizes the species.

    Cavendishia callista, as here recognized, has a wide geographical distribution and is a polymorphic species composed of many local races, none of which, however, warrant taxonomic recognition. Within this complex, regional treatments have previously recognized three species in Central America (Smith, 1932), and three in Colombia (Smith, 1932, 1946). Four species have been described from the Guayana Highland, although until now only two were recognized (Maguire et al., 1978). After extensive fieldwork and herbarium studies throughout Central America, I reduced the number of recognized species for that area to one, C. callista (Luteyn, 1976). Two years later Maguire et al. (1978) concluded that the previously described species from the Guayana Highland represented only one species, C. duidae, although they described a second species, C. salicifolia, in this group. After several years of additional fieldwork in South America and intensive comparison of herbarium material from throughout that range, I now feel that only one species can be recognized from the entire range, and that it is biologically more meaningful to place emphasis upon the overall similarities among the populations than to stress their differences, especially since the previously recognized differences occur sporadically throughout the geographical range.

    Cavendishia callista consists, then, of numerous local populations, each differing by one or several minor features which in themselves occur spradically throughout the geographical range without any meaningful discontinuities. A summary of those features and their occurrence follows (see also discussions in Luteyn, 1976; and Maguire et al., 1978).

    Cavendishia callista sensu stricto from Guatemala was characterized by pilose corollas less than 20 mm long and essentially glabrous leaves and branchlets. Cavendishia longiflora and C. bullata, both from Costa Rica, had pilose corollas 25-30 mm long and more or less pubescent leaves and branchlets. Furthermore, C. longiflora had leaves oblong, three times as long as broad, 7-plinerved, and conspicuously bullate due to the deeply impressed lateral nerves and veinlets and was contrasted with C. bullata which had leaves lanceolate, 4-5 times as long as broad, 5-plinerved, and bullate due to deeply impressed lateral nerves only.

    Cavendishia amalfiensis from Colombia was characterized by: being totally glabrous, having corollas about 18 mm long, and possessing supposedly pinnately veined leaves and a rachis 3 cm long. Cavendishia praestans from lowland western Colombia had pilose corollas 17-23 mm long, glabrous leaves and branchlets, 5-7-plinerved leaves, and a rachis 5-15 cm long. In contrast to C. praestans, C. hispida was characterized by pilose corollas 22-25 mm long, hispid leaves and branchlets, bullate leaves 7-9-plinerved, and a rachis 5 cm long.

    All collections from the Guayana Highland showed glabrous corollas and relatively small leaves 6-14(-20) cm long. In addition, C. duidae had glabrous leaves and branchlets, ovate-lanceolate leaves, and a rachis to 11 cm long. Cavendishia gleasoniana was said to differ from C. duidae by broader bullate leaves which were pilose beneath, and fewer-flowered shorter inflorescences. Cavendishia phelpsiae differed from C. duidae by supposedly smaller differently shaped leaves and pubescent twigs. Cavendishia salicifolia was characterized by narrow leaves and few-flowered inflorescences.

    Throughout the range floral characters are very constant. Minor variations occur in lengths of corollas and degree of pubescence, but there are no consistent patterns. Rarely, glabrous corollas may be found on plants growing alongside those with pilose corollas (Luteyn 3845, Puntarenas Prov., Costa Rica). However, leaf size, shape, texture, degree of bullateness and pubescence (Fig. 78), as well as pubescence of the twigs and petioles, are all highly variable, and to a greater or lesser degree may show nearly all possible combinations anywhere in the range. Often twigs, petioles and leaves may be pilose-hispid during their first season of growth but glabrate afterwards (Moore et al. 9734, Steyermark & Nilsson 134). Extremely narrow leaves with long-acuminate tips are not infrequent in very young saplings (Maguire & Fanshawe 32430, Lang & Persaud 157). Larger leaves of a particular plant (Folsom & Mauseth 7768, Luteyn 3160) may often be more emphatically bullate than the rest.

    In summary, the variation does not follow meaningful patterns, but instead is quite local, each population often displaying an individual expression of one or more of these variable characters. Maintenance of these taxa as distinct species would logically necessitate giving names to all other populations equally distinct; this would become a biologically meaningless catalog. The basic characters of taxonomic importance are constant in all local populations, and it is only the highly variable characters that differ between populations. Therefore, the previously named taxa have been synonymized and the oldest name for the group, C. callista, is applied to all members. Although local tendencies are apparent, they display too much internal variation to deserve infraspecific status. I propose, however, to account for the most frequently encountered variants and their ranges so as not to hide or obscure this variation:

    1. Guatemala (to Nicaragua)—stems, leaves, rachises, pedicels and calyces glabrous; corolla pilose, about 20 mm long; leaves nitid, not bullate, 10-20 cm long, 3-5-plinerved, secondary veinlets obscure.

    2. Costa Rica (the Central Valley)—stems and leaves pilose-hispid (trichomes often reddish-brown); corolla pilose, often 23-35 mm long; leaves often dull olive-brown, bullate, 14—20 cm long, 7-9-plinerved, secondary veinlets conspicuous, impressed above and raised beneath.

    3. Panama (Cocle Prov.)—stems, leaves, rachises, pedicels, and calyces hispid (trichomes whitish); corollas pilose, 19-24 mm long; leaves reddish-brown, scabrous, ± bullate on larger leaves, 18-26 cm long, 5-plinerved, veinlets obscure.

    4. Panama (Colon and Panama Provs.)—stems sparsely hispid to glabrate, leaves rarely also hispid beneath like the rachises, pedicels and calyces; corollas pilose, 15-22 mm long; leaves reddish to grayish, often bullate, at base often strongly cordate, 7-20 cm long, 5-plinerved, veinlets obscure.

    5. Colombia (“Chocd” region)—glabrous except for corollas, these pilose, 16— 23 mm long; leaves reddish-brown, thin, broad, 16-35 cm long, 3(-5)-plinerved, veinlets conspicuous and raised.

    6. Colombia (region of Mcpio. Nóvita and Tamaná, Chocó Dept.)—similar to plants of the Central Valley of Costa Rica.

    7. Colombia (NE Antioquia Dept, and the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta)— glabrous, including corollas, these 17-20(-30) mm long; leaves 13-15 cm long, 3-plinerved with conspicuous secondary nerves from midrib causing the leaves to appear pinnately veined.

    8. Guayana Highland (including parts of Venezuela, Guyana, Surinam, French Guiana, adjacent Brazil)—usually glabrous or weakly pilose-hispid on stems and leaves beneath; corollas glabrous, 20-24(-30) mm long; leaves plane to weakly bullate, 6-14(-20) cm long, 5-plinerved, veinlets ± obscure.

    Cavendishia callista is related to C. atroviolacea, C. wercklei, C. megabracteata, and C. melastomoides, a closely knit group from Costa Rica and Panama. It is perhaps most closely related to C. atroviolacea from which it is distinguished most easily by usually sericeous white, not usually short-pilose, purple corollas.

    Distribution and Ecology: Widely distributed in Guatemala, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, central Panama, the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta (Magdalena Dept.) and the Pacific lowlands of western Colombia, and in the Guayana Highland from southwestern Venezuela eastwards to French Guiana and Para,Brazil. The diversity of habitats and broad elevational range of C. callista certainly contribute to the large number of morphological forms encountered. These may be summarized as follows: Guatemala to Nicaragua-terrestrial or epiphytic shrubs in cloud forests and woods (sometimes over limestone) at elevations of 200-1400 m; Costa Rica- terrestrial or epiphytic shrubs in cloud forests and disturbed roadsides, 700-2000 (-2900) m; Panama—terrestrial shrubs along forest edges, roadside banks, and as epiphytes in cloud forests, 650-1000 m; Colombia-epiphytes in tidal forest, mangrove swamps, river margins, roadsides and forest canopy at elevations of 0-800 m, and as terrestrial or epiphytic shrubs in primary forest or along disturbed forest edges, 200-1900 m; Guayana Highland-terrestrial or epiphytic shrubs in open sites, woodland thickets, caatinga forest, on river margins, in sabanita, and in wet montane moss-forest on the summit of tepuis, 300-1700(-2400) m. In Central America flowering is most common from December-August, but varies locally, while in South America flowering occurs sporadically throughout the year.

  • Common Names

    jolonajtzó, colmillo de perro, mata-palo

  • Distribution

    Guatemala Central America| Alta Verapaz Guatemala Central America| Nicaragua Central America| Matagalpa Nicaragua Central America| Costa Rica South America| Cartago Costa Rica Central America| San José Costa Rica Central America| Heredia Costa Rica Central America| Panama Central America| Coclé Panamá Central America| Darién Panamá Central America| Panamá Panama Central America| Colombia South America| Antioquia Colombia South America| Caldas Colombia South America| Chocó Colombia South America| Magdalena Colombia South America| Nariño Colombia South America| Valle Colombia South America| Venezuela South America| Amazonas Venezuela South America| Bolívar Venezuela South America| Guyana South America| Suriname South America| French Guiana South America| Brazil South America| Amazonas Brazil South America| Pará Brazil South America|