Psammisia coarctata (Ruiz & Pav.) A.C.Sm.
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Authority
1932. Contr. U. S. Natl. Herb. 28: 401.
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Family
Ericaceae
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Scientific Name
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Type
Type: Peru. Huánuco: Pillao, Acomayo, Chinchao, Muña, Ruiz & Pavón s.n. (holotype, MA; isotypes, BM, F?).
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Description
Species Description - Shrub, often scandent; stems stout, subterete, glabrous, brownish or cinereous. Leaves oblong or ovate-oblong, 10-25 x 3-7 cm, basally cuneate, apically acuminate, marginally subentire or shallowly crenate towards apex, glabrous; 5-7-plinerved from near the base, the midrib slightly impressed above and prominent beneath, the reticulate veinlets slightly raised on both surfaces; petiols subterete, 6-10 mm long, glabrous. Inflorescence axillary, short-racemose, glabrous in all parts, 10-20-flowered; rachis subterete, stout, 1-3 cm long, up to 5 mm diam., conspicuously marked with scars of deciduous pedicels; pedicels striate, 20-45 mm long; floral bract oblong, 3-4 mm long; bracteoles basal. Flowers with calyx 4.5-8 mm long; hypanthium campanulate, 2-4 mm long and 4-6 mm diam.; limb 2.5-4 mm long; lobes ovate, apiculate, ca. 1.5 mm long, thick-margined; corolla cylindric-urceolate, 18-27 mm long and ca. 8 mm diam. near base, deciduously sparsely pubescent without at middle, the lobes 1.5-2 mm long; stamens 10-13 mm long; filaments distinct, slightly pilose at margins distally with hairs to 0.3 mm long; connectives alternately 2-spurred (sometimes spurred on one margin only), the spurs acute, distinct; thecae 6-8 mm long; tubules 3-4 mm long. Berry not seen.
Distribution and Ecology - Venezuela, Colombia, Peru, Bolivia.