Sphyrospermum lanceolatum Luteyn
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Authority
1996. Fl. Ecuador. 54: 350, fig. 25.
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Family
Ericaceae
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Scientific Name
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Type
Type: Ecuador. Morona-Santiago: Tumbes, 17–18 km N of Gualaquiza on road to Indanza, 1700–1800 m, 17 April 1985 (fl), Harling & Andersson 24237 [holotype NY!; isotypes F!, GB (photo NY neg. 13035), MO!, QCA!].
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Description
Species Description - Erect terrestrial or scandent to lianoid epiphytic shrubs with branches to 1.5 m long, often rooting at nodes; stems terete, striate, glabrous; twigs subterete, bluntly angled, striate, puberulent with eglandular hairs. Leaves subcoriaceous, narrowly ovate-lanceolate, 4-7 x 1.2-3 cm, base rounded to cuneate, apex bluntly to sharply long-acuminate, margin flat, eciliate, lamina glabrous on both sides; 3(-7)-plinerved from near base, midrib impressed above although sometimes becoming slightly raised distally, raised and conspicuous beneath, lateral nerves slightly raised above but inconspicuous, raised and conspicuous to inconspicuous beneath, tertiary veinlets obscure above but raised and conspicuous to inconspicuous beneath; petiole terete, 1-2 mm long, weakly to densely puberulent, glabrate or persistent. Inflorescences with flowers slightly supra-axillary, solitary or in fascicles of 2, long-pendent, shorter than, equal to, or exceeding the subtending leaves; floral bracts (a series of tiny bracts at base of pedicel) obscure, <0.5 mm long; pedicel terete, striate, 15-30 mm long, puberulent; bracteoles 2, nearly basal, subopposite, narrowly ovate, 0.3-0.4 mm long, weakly short-pilose. Flowers 5-merous, diplostemonous; calyx 4.5-6 mm long, weakly to densely puberulent with eglandular hairs; tube cylindric-obconic, 2-3 mm long; limb spreading-campanulate, 2-2.5 mm long, sometimes glabrous; lobes triangular to broadly deltate, acuminate, 1-1.5 mm long, the tips short-pilose with eglandular hairs; sinuses rounded; corolla cylindric to slightly infundibuliform, broadest distally, 18-22 mm long, red with purple lobes, glabrous to weakly short-pilose without, the hairs eglandular, the lobes reflexed to expose stamen tips at anthesis, triangular, bluntly acute, 1.5-2 mm long, moderately short-pilose (more densely pilose than corolla tube); stamens 10, equal in length, shortly exserted at anthesis, 20-22 mm long; filaments 16-19 mm long, weakly pilose; anthers 6-8 mm long; thecae ca. 2 mm long, the base straight, with basal appendage, smooth towards base and foveolate distally; tubules 4-6 mm long, dehiscing by oval clefts 0.4-0.6 mm long; style seemingly slightly exserted, ca. 22 mm long. Immature berry spherical, ca. 6 mm diam., puberulent; embryo color unknown.
Distribution and Ecology - Endemic to Ecuador; in premontane forest, at 850–2800 m.
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Discussion
Conservation status: Data Deficient [DD]. Updates and other relevant taxonomic sources: Description updated on Jan 2013. For generic synopsis, keys, and evaluation of conservation status see Phytotaxa.