Semiramisia karsteniana Klotzsch
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Authority
1851. Linnaea. 24: 26.
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Family
Ericaceae
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Scientific Name
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Type
Type: Venezuela. Aragua: Parque Nacional Henry Pittier, cloud forest on ridge along trail above Pittier monument, 19 Jun 1960 (fl), Steyermark 86322 (neotype, designated by Luteyn, 1984: VEN). The holotype (Karsten 169, Venezuela, Puerto Cabello) was de
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Description
Species Description - Epiphytic shrub from lignotubers to 10 cm diam.; stems glabrous, striate, subterete to complanate. Leaves subcoriaceous, narrowly ovate to ovate, 6-11 x 2.5-4 cm, basally rounded, apically acuminate, marginally plane; 3-5-plinerved, the inner nerves arising above the base, the midrib impressed above and raised beneath, the lateral nerves and reticulate veinlets slightly raised on both surfaces; petiole terete, 2-4 mm long, glabrous. Flowers solitary in axils of uppermost leaves; floral bract not seen; pedicels subrugose, glabrous, ca. 20 mm long; bracteoles near or above middle of pedicel, lanceolate, ca. 2 mm long; calyx angled, glabrous, ca. 6-10 mm long; hypanthium 4-8 mm long; limb ca. 2 mm long; lobes less than 1 mm long; corolla cylindric-campanulate, puberulent, 35-44 mm long, when fresh 9 mm in proximal diam. to 18 mm distal diam. and green in the proximal one-third and red in the upper two-thirds, the lobes deltate, 3-4 mm long and 7-8 mm broad; stamens ca. 35-38 mm long; filaments distinct, marginally pilose in the distal half, 5-6 mm long; anthers 34-35 mm long; thecae ca. 6 mm long; tubules dehiscing by oblique, subterminal clefts ca. 1.5 mm long. Berry not seen.
Distribution and Ecology - Very rare epiphytic shrub in cloud forests of the Cordillera de la Costa and the Serrania del Interior, Venezuela, from 1000 m to 1300 m elevation. Flowering specimens have been collected in January, June, October, and December.