Psammisia williamsii A.C.Sm.
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Authority
1950. Ceiba. 1: 62.
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Family
Ericaceae
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Scientific Name
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Type
Type: Costa Rica. Cartago: Cordillera de Talamanca, near El Copey, 1900 m, 17 Apr 1949 (fl), L. O. Williams 16418 (holotype, US; isotype, Escuela Agrícola Panamericana n.v.).
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Description
Species Description - Epiphytic shrub; branches terete, glabrous. Leaves subcoriaceous, narrowly oblong-elliptic, 10-13.5 x 3-5 cm, base ± attenuate and decurrent onto petiole, apex acuminate, margin slightly recurved; 5-plinerved, midrib strongly impressed above and prominent beneath, thickened in proximal 1-1.5 cm, lateral nerves and reticulate veinlets inconspicuous; petiole subterete, rugose, 8-11 mm long and ca. 2 mm diam. Inflorescence axillary, solitary, 5-7-flowered; rachis circumscribed at base by many, papery bracts to ca. 2 mm long, rachis itself striate, ca. 4 cm long; floral bracts oblong-deltate, acute, 4-5 mm long; pedicels rugulose, 30-37 mm long; bracteoles basal, ca. 3 mm long. Flowers with calyx ca. 9 mm long and 10 mm apical diam.; hypanthium cupuliform, inconspicuously glandular, ca. 4 mm long and 5 mm diam.; limb spreading-erect, slightly longer than hypanthium; lobes deltate, apicaulate, ca. 1 mm long; sinuses complanate; corolla carnose, cylindric-urceolate, ca. 35 mm long and 10-12 mm diam. near base, the lobes oblong-deltate, obtuse 2-3 mm long; stamens 10, 10-11 mm long; filaments distinct, ca. 5 mm long; connective carnose and apically 2-spurred, the spurs spreading, obtuse; anthers 9-10 mm long; thecae ca. 1.5 mm diam., shortly incurved basally; tubules scarcely 2 mm long, much shorter than thecae, dehiscing through oval rims; style filiform, about equalling corolla; stigma truncate. Berry not seen.
Distribution and Ecology - Endemic to Costa Rica, from premontane cloud forest.
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Discussion
Conservation Status: Rare and endangered.