Tepuia intermedia Steyerm.
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Authority
Luteyn, James L., et al. 1995. Ericaceae, Part II. The Superior-Ovaried Genera (Monotropoideae, Pyroloideae, Rhododendroideae, and Vaccinioideae P.P.). Fl. Neotrop. Monogr. 66: 560. (Published by NYBG Press)
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Family
Ericaceae
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Scientific Name
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Type
Type. Venezuela. Bolivar: Auyan-tepui, slopes below "El Libertador" monument, 2050-2300 m, 15 May 1964 (fl), Steyermark 93980 (holotype, VEN; isotypes, F, photo F neg. 59565, NY, photo NY neg. 10128, US, photo NY neg. 12216).
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Description
Species Description - Shrub 0.5-1.5 m tall; mature stems terete to subterete, striate, minutely vernicose, short-pilose with whitish to grayish-white or ferruginous, curled hairs, glabrate; twigs subterete, bluntly angled, densely short-pilose as stems. Leaves thick-coriaceous, basically flat, elliptic-ovate, (1.5-)3-5.5 × (0.8-)1.3-2.5 cm, base obtuse or rounded, short-decurrent, apex acute and shortly and bluntly mucronate or obtuse to rounded, margin entire, narrowly revolute, bearing 1-2 pairs of pustular glands at base of lamina or onto petiole, glabrous above, densely tomentose, rarely glabrate, beneath with whitish-gray to ferruginous hairs obscuring most of the surface except the veins; pinnately nerved with midrib impressed above and raised beneath, lateral nerves (3-5 per side) and veinlets impressed above and raised beneath, ± conspicuous on both surfaces; petiole stout, subterete, narrowly canaliculate above, rugose, 3-7 mm long, pubescent as stems. Inflorescence (once-branched at base) 3-5-flowered; rachis, pedicels, floral bracts, and bracteoles densely short-tomentose with whitish to ferruginous hairs, glabrate; rachis stout, terete, 1-2(-5) cm long; floral bract concave, ovate, 1.5-2(-3) mm long (leaf-like, oblong, to ca. 5 mm long), obtuse; pedicel subterete (angled), 3-9 mm long; bracteoles broadly ovate, 2-3 mm long, acute or obtuse. Flowers with calyx 7-8 mm long, lobes ovate, 5.5-6 mm long, acuminate, densely short-pilose with ferruginous hairs over whole length or distal half to glabrate without, short-pilose distally within; corolla 10-11 mm long, densely short-pilose along the wings but glabrous in between, rose to scarlet when fresh, lobes broadly deltoid, 3-4 mm long, acute; stamens 6-8 mm long; filaments 4-6 mm long; anthers 2.5-3 mm long, base short-mucronate; thecae 1.5-2 mm long; tubules ca. 1 mm long; ovary densely long-pilose with ferruginous hairs obscuring the surface; style ca. 5.5 mm long, glabrous or distally sparsely long-pilose. Berry known only as immature, spherical, at least 8 mm diam., sparsely long-pilose.
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Discussion
Tepuia intermedia is characterized by relatively large, flat leaves with conspicuous venation on both surfaces, tomentose inflorescences, and pilose to glabrate external surfaces of the calyx. It is closely related to T. speciosa, differing in the features mentioned in the key. Steyermark (1967) suggested that this species could be a hybrid between T. tatei and T. speciosa. Although this is possible, only four collections are available and many more are needed before such a statement could be substantiated.
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Objects
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Distribution
Known only from the southern parts of Auyán-tepui, in low, shrubby vegetation over rocky soils, at 1800-2300 m elev. Flowering specimens have been collected in May, Aug, and Dec, and early fruiting in Aug.
Venezuela South America| Bolívar Venezuela South America|