Themistoclesia cutucuensis A.C.Sm.
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Authority
Smith, Albert C. 1952. Plants collected in Ecuador by W. H. camp. Vaceiniaceae. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 8 (1): 41-85.
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Family
Ericaceae
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Scientific Name
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Description
Latin Diagnosis - Frutex epiphyticus, ramulis gracilibus fuscis obtuse angulatis juventute albidopuberulis mox glabratis; stipulis intrapetiolaribus subulatis 3-5 mm. longis primo puberulis; petiolis leviter canaliculatis 2-5 mm. longis ut ramulis puberulis; laminis chartaceis vel subcoriaceis in sicco pallide viridibus vel metallicoolivaceis, anguste elliptico-oblongis, (4-)6-10 cm. longis, (1.2-)1.5-2.5 cm. latis, basi anguste rotundatis vel subcordatis, apice angustato obtusis, margine integris valde revolutis, juvenilibus utrinque parce strigillosis (pilis brevibus castaneis glandulosis) etiam puberulis, supra mox subtus demum glabratis, costa supra impressa subtus elevata, nervis secundariis principalibus utrinsecus 2 vel 3 inconspicuis e costa basim versus orientibus utrinque prominulis, rete venularum utrinque prominulo vel subimmerso; inflorescentia axillari solitaria racemosa 8-12-flora bracteis paucis papyraceis lanceolatis 3-5 mm. longis parce puberulis basi circumdata, rhachi gracili angulata sub anthesi pedunculo 1-2 cm. longo incluso 5-11 cm. longa albido-puberula, bracteis sub floribus acuminatis ut eis basi inflorescentiae; pedicellis gracilibus sub anthesi 7-12 mm. longis ut rhachi puberulis, superne parce glanduloso-strigillosis, medium versus bibracteolatis, bracteolis ut bracteis sed 1.5-2 mm. longis; calyce sub anthesi 5-6 mm. longo et apice circiter 3 mm. diametro parce puberulo, tubo 5-angulato 3-3.5 mm. longo parce glanduloso-strigilloso, limbo erecto submembranaceo profunde 5-lobato, lobis elongato-deltoideis 1.5-2.5 mm. longis acutis, sinibus acutis; disco annulari glabro; corolla submembranacea urceolato-cylindrica sub anthesi 7-9 mm. longa et basim versus alis inclusis circiter 3 mm. diametro, superne angustata et pallide puberula, 5-alata, alis basim versus 0.6-1 mm. latis superne angustioribus, lobis deltoideo-lanceolatis circiter 2 mm. longis; staminibus 10, filamentis inconspicuis liberis ligulatis glabris circiter 1 mm. longis, antheris 6=5-7 mm. longis, thecis 1.5-1.8 mm. longis basi obscure mucronulatis, tubulis quam thecis triplo longioribus per rimas elongatas dehiscentibus; stylo filiformi corollam subaequante, stigmate minuto.
Species Description - (high-growing epiphyte, a semi-vine; leaves dark green above, pale beneath). (high-growing epiphytes, brought down by storm; leaves shining on both sides).
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Discussion
The closest relative of the new species appears to be T. schultzeae Sleumer (Bot. Jahrb. 71: 393. 1941), which also occurs in the "Oriente" of Ecuador. From this, To cutucuensis differs in its somewhat larger leaves and inflorescences, and especially in its larger calyx with elongate lobes and sharp sinuses, its winged corolla, and its differently proportioned anthers, of which the thecae are much shorter and the tubules proportionately longer. The occurrence of a winged corolla in Themistoclesia has otherwise been noted in the Colombian T. pterota A. C. Smith (Jour. Arnold Arb. 27: 103. 1946), which has broader and deeply cordate leaf-blades, a minutely denticulate calyx-limb, and a more strongly urceolate corolla.
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Distribution
Santiago-Zamora: Cordillera Cutucu, east-trending slope from top of ridge down toward the Itzintza, 4,800-5,800 ft. elev., Nov. 17-Dec. 5, 1944, Camp E-1366 (TYPE US 1,989,018; dupl. NY). Same locality, ridge just south and west of Rio Itzintza, 4,500 to 5,900 ft. elev., Camp E-1330, E-1342
Ecuador South America|