Calceolaria rosmarinifolia Lam.

  • Authority

    Molau, Ulf. 1988. Scrophulariaceae Part I. Calceolarieae. Fl. Neotrop. Monogr. 47: 1-325. (Published by NYBG Press)

  • Family

    Scrophulariaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Calceolaria rosmarinifolia Lam.

  • Type

    Type. Ecuador. Dept, unknown: Sine loco, Jussieu s.n. (lectotype, P; isotype, C).

  • Synonyms

    Calceolaria graminifolia Kunth, Calceolaria hartwegii Benth., Calceolaria henrici Hook.f., Calceolaria bifida Willd. ex Link, Fagelia rosmarinifolia Kuntze, Fagelia graminifolia (Kunth) Kuntze, Fagelia hartwegii Kuntze, Calceolaria stenophylla Kraenzl.

  • Description

    Species Description - Erect or ascending subshrub, 0.5-1.5 m tall; stems and inflorescence glabrous or puberulous, strongly glutinous. Leaves sessile; blades subcoriaceous, lanceolate or narrowly elliptic, (4.5-)6-12(-15) x (0.4-)0.7-1.8 cm, acute, cuneate or attenuate at base; upper surface vivid green, rugose, glabrous, glutinous; lower surface villous or lanate with coarse greenish-white hairs; margins denticulate, revolute. Inflorescence composed of 2-4 pairs of 4-14-flowered cymes on primary peduncles 0.8-7 cm long; cyme bracts absent; pedicels 0.8-2.5 cm. Sepals triangular to ovate, green, 2-3.5(-4.5) x 1.8-3.5(-4.5) mm at anthesis, acute, glabrous, glandular. Corolla type V, bright to deep yellow, unspotted, the upper lip 4-6 x 7-10 mm, the lower lip 12-18 x 914 mm, saccate in 40-60% of length; elaiophore present. Stamens type 1; anthers buffish, glabrous, 2-3 mm; filaments 0.8-1 mm. Style slightly curved, 1.5-2.3 mm. Capsule ovoid or conical, 4-6 mm long, brown, glandular-puberulous. 2n = 36 (Harling & Andersson 12668, Harling et al 14969).

  • Discussion

    Calceolaria rosmarinifolia is an abundant and conspicuous species of the Cuenca Basin and the surrounding ranges. It is reproductively isolated from the sympatric C. australis by differences in pollination ecology (corolla types V and IV, respectively, visited by different bees). Its closest affinities, however, are probably with C. adenanthera and C. ferruginea, both distributed further north.

  • Distribution

    Bunch grass páramo and exposed sites in mountain scrub, 2500-3600 m. Calceolaria rosmarinifolia is endemic to S Ecuador, its distribution centered in the Cuenca Basin (prov. Azuay).

    Ecuador South America| Azuay Ecuador South America| Cañar Ecuador South America| Chimborazo Ecuador South America| Loja Ecuador South America|