Sphyrospermum longifolium Poepp. & Endl.
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Authority
1835. Nov. Gen. Sp. Pl. (Poeppig & Endlicher). 1: 5.
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Family
Ericaceae
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Scientific Name
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Type
Type: Peru. Huánuco: Pampayacu and Cuchero, 1829, Poeppig 1591 (holotype: W; isotypes: L frag. ex W, NY).
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Description
Species Description - Scandent epiphyte, glabrous except staminal filaments; stem and twigs terete to subterete, bluntly angled, striate. Leaves coriaceous, ovate-lanceolate, (8-)10-13 x 4-5 cm, base rounded, sometimes broadly cuneate-attenuate, apex sharply long-acuminate, margin entire, lamina minutely and deciduously glandular-fimbriate beneath; 3(-5)-plinerved from above the base, midrib thickened and raised to plane in the proximal 1.5 cm then distally impressed above, raised beneath, lateral nerves impressed above and raised beneath, reticulate veinlets slightly impressed above and slightly raised beneath but obscure on both surfaces; petiole terete, rugose, 2-3.5 mm long. Inflorescence axillary, sometimes 1-3 in axils of fallen leaves, but at anthesis flowers solitary or sometimes paired; floral bract minute, ovate, acute, ca. 0.2 mm long; pedicel subterete, striate, 20-24 mm long; bracteoles nearly basal, subopposite, minute, linear-aristate, ca. 0.4 mm long. Flowers with calyx ca. 4 mm long; hypanthium obconic, smooth, ca. 2.4 mm long; limb campanulate-spreading, ca. 1.6 mm long; lobes minute, triangular, acute, ca. 0.4 mm long; sinuses rounded; corolla cylindric-urceolate, ca. 9.5 mm long and 4-5 mm diam., white, glabrous, the lobes spreading, ovate, obtuse, ca. 0.5 mm long; stamens 10, ca. 8.7 mm long; filaments conspicuously callose-thickened at base, ca. 5.7 mm long, densely short-pilose ventrally; anthers ca. 3.2 mm long; thecae ca. 1.5 mm long, the base minutely mucronate; tubules ca. 1.7 mm long, dehiscing by clefts ca. 0.8 mm long; style slightly exserted, ca. 9.7 mm long, glabrous. Berry not seen.
Distribution and Ecology - Colombia (?), Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia (?); premontane forest (Ecuador), at 1220-1350 m altitude.
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Discussion
Notes: The description here given is based on the one Ecuadorean collection cited above. The type, from Peru, has leaves proportionately longer, narrower, and elliptic-lanceolate (ca. 10-13 x 2-2.5 cm). Apparently this species is very rare, therefore, many more collections are needed before its general morphology and relationships are understood.