Diogenesia gracilipes (A.C.Sm.) Sleumer
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Authority
1978. Notes Roy. Bot. Gard. Edinburgh. 36: 255.
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Family
Ericaceae
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Scientific Name
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Type
Type: Ecuador. Morona-Santiago: Valley of Río Negro, junction of the Pailas and Negro rivers, on trail to Méndez, 1830-2290 m, 20-24 Aug 1945 (fl), Camp E-4924 (holotype, US; isotype, NY, photo NY neg. 9897).
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Description
Species Description - Shrub to 3 m tall; stem terete to subterete, obtusely angled, grooved, glabrous; twigs subterete, complanate, bluntly angled to grooved, glabrous. Leaves subcoriaceous to chartaceous when dry, lanceolate or ovate-lanceolate, 7-11 x 1.5-5 cm, base broadly obtuse or rounded, apex narrowed and long-acuminate to an obtuse acumen ca. 2 cm long, margin slightly recurved, glabrous but with glandular fimbriae scattered beneath; 5-plinerved from near the base with the inner pair of lateral nerves arising ca. 2 cm above the base, midrib slightly thickened and raised in the proximal 1 cm then impressed distally above, conspicuously raised beneath, lateral nerves impressed above and raised beneath, reticulate veinlets slightly raised to impressed above but obscure, raised beneath; petiole subterete, rugulose, 1-3 mm long, glabrous. Inflorescence axillary, with seemingly solitary flowers with several, obscure basal bracts; floral bract not seen; pedicel subterete, 20-30 mm long, minutely white puberulent especially near base; bracteoles nearly basal, minute, ca. 1 x 0.3 mm, weakly puberulent, margin glandular-fimbriate. Flower with calyx 4.5-5 mm long, weakly white puberulent; hypanthium campanulate, terete, 2.5-3 mm long, obscurely reddish glandular at base; limb erect-spreading, ca. 2 mm long; lobes apiculate, ca. 0.5 mm long; sinuses flat; corolla thin carnose, cylindric-campanulate, 18-22 mm long and 7-8 mm diam. at center, the lobes reflexed, deltate, obtuse, 1.5-4 mm long; stamen 10, equalling the corolla; filaments distinct, ca. 13 mm long, villous with hairs ca. 0.3 mm long; anthers 7-7.5 mm long; thecae smooth, ca. 2.5 mm long; tubules 5-5.5 mm long, dehiscing through oval clefts 1-1.5 mm long; style equalling corolla; nectariferous disc annular-pulvinate, fleshy, glabrous. Berry not seen.
Distribution and Ecology - Endemic to Ecuador and known only from the type collection; forest at 1830-2290 m altitude.
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Discussion
Conservation Status: Rare and endangered.