Cavendishia callista Donn.Sm.

  • Authority

    Luteyn, James L. 1976. A revision of the Mexican Central American species of Cavendishia (Vacciniaceae). Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 28 (3): 1-138.

  • Family

    Ericaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Cavendishia callista Donn.Sm.

  • Description

    Species Description - Epiphytic and terrestrial shrubs, 1.5-3 m tall; stem base about 2.5-5 cm in diameter. Mature branches and twigs of n e w growth bluntly angled to terete, often glaucous, glabrous to densely pUose, often becoming glabrate, trichomes tan to yellowish and 0.5-2 mm long; bark brown to reddish-brown. Petioles subterete, rugose, (4-)6-16(-22) mm long and (1-)2-3(-5) mm in diameter. glabrous to densely pUose with trichomes to 1.5 mm long. Leaves ovate, lanceolate, elliptic, oblong, rarely obovate, (5-)7-26(-32) cm long and (1-)2-10(-13) cm broad, basally obtuse, rounded, or truncate, often slightiy cordate, apically acute to long acuminate, sometimes abruptiy short acuminate, tan, olivebrown, or reddish-brown when dry, glabrous to moderately short pubescent on lamina above, glabrate to densely pubescent beneath especially long nerves; (3-)5(-9)-plinerved, with midrib and lateral nerves shallowly to deeply impressed above, raised and very conspicuous beneath, veinlets usually slightiy elevated on both surfaces, but secondary lateral nerves and veinlets often deeply impressed above giving lamina a strikingly bullate appearance. Infiorescence viscid, 20-35(-52) flowered, encircled at base by bracts which are rarely fimbriate; rachis bluntly angled, longitudinally ribbed, glabrous or infrequently densely sericeous, 4-12(-20) cm long and 4-6(-10) mm in diameter, rose colored when fresh, but drying yellowish- to orangish-brown, rarely provided with minute, reddish, clavate glands especially at base of floral bracts. Floral bracts pink, smooth or muricate, glabrous, oblong, obovate, or oblanceolate, basally narrowed and truncate, apically rounded to acute, tips rarely reflexed, (1.5-)2-5(-6) cm long and 1-2.5(-3.5) cm broad. Pedicels smooth or rugose, usually longitudinally ribbed, usually swoHen at both ends, glabrous or infrequently densely sericeous, 6-15(-20) mm long and 0.5-1.5(-2) mm in diameter, rarely with sessile, reddish glands or cartilaginous teeth at distal tip. Bracteoles glabrous, infrequently conspicuously nerved, ovate-lanceolate, basally somewhat auriculate-dasping, 1-5(-7) mm long and 1-2(-3.5) mm broad, apically glandular callose thickened (rarely callose-thickened for nearly entire length). Calyx glabrous or infrequently densely pilose, 5-9(-11) mm long, viscid; tube cylindric, coarsely ribbed, rugose, often muricate, (1.5-)2-4(-5.5) mm long, strongly apophysate basally, pinkish-green at anthesis becoming green; limb cylindric or spreading, often striate, 3.5-6(-8) mm long including lobes, dark rose at anthesis becoming pale rose to pink; lobes triangular, 1-2.5(-4) mm long and 2-3 mm broad, erect after anthesis, usually completely glandular callose-thickened, green to brownish-green when fresh; sinus obtuse to broadly acute. Corolla narrowed to throat, viscid, 1.5-3.5(-4) cm long and 4-8 mm in diameter, densely sericeous without (rarely glabrous) and moderately pilose within (rarely glabrous) with translucent trichomes which are 0.5-1 mm long, tube white or with a pinkish hue basally; lobes triangular, 1-3 mm long and 2-3 mm broad, reflexed at anthesis, white with purple margins. Stamens (13-)20-34 mm long; filaments alternately either (1.5-)3.5-4.5(-6) mm or (4.5-)8-12 mm long, short pilose distally, white to pink; anthers including tubules alternately either (8.5-)15-26 mm or (11-)27-32 mm long, tubules purplish-orange; thecae 5-20 mm long, orange. Style (17-)20-35(-40) mm long, green. Mature berry not seen. Phenology: Flowering is most common from December-August, but varies locally.

  • Discussion

    Cavendishia longiflora Donnell-Smith, Bot. Gaz. 37: 420. 1904. Type: Costa Rica: Province of San Jose. Alto de La Palma, Tonduz 7391 (Holotype: US! photo of holotype DUKE! isotypes: BM! F! G! G H ! NY! US!).

    Cavendishia bullata Smith & Standley, Contr. U.S. Nat. Herb. 28: 453. 1932. Type: Costa Rica: Province of Cartago. Naranjo, Stork 1789 (Holotype: F! photo of type DUKE! isotypes: G-fragments from the holotype! MICH!).

    Type: Guatemala: Department of Alta Verapaz. Between Coban and Samac, 1400 m, Tuerckheim 941 (Holotype: US! photo of holotype DUKE! isotypes: F! G! GH! NY!).

  • Distribution

    Distribution: Guatemala, Costa Rica, and Panama; 350-2000 m elevation. Fig. 42.

    Panama Central America| Costa Rica South America| Guatemala Central America|