Macleania macrantha Benth.
-
Authority
Smith, Albert C. 1952. Plants collected in Ecuador by W. H. camp. Vaceiniaceae. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 8 (1): 41-85.
-
Family
Ericaceae
-
Scientific Name
-
Description
Species Description - (shrubs, arching to 2-3 m.; leaves very green above, very pale beneath; pedicels green; hypanthium winged, reddish or green; corolla deep crimson to coral-red, carnose; filament-tube pink, the connectives white, the anthers yellow).
-
Discussion
The type of this striking species also comes from the vicinity of Quito. It seems probable that Camp E-1718 (NY only) (shrub 1 m.; leaves deep green above, pale beneath; hypanthium grooved), from the same locality as no. 2737, represents a stage of M. macrantha with very young flower-buds. In this stage the corolla is subglobose and less than 5 mm long, but the minute anthers are seen to be typically single-tubuled. A series of developing flowers would be very informative in evaluating corolla-length as a specific criterion in this section of Macleania; it is likely that too much weight has been given to this character.
-
Distribution
Pichincha: Western slope of the cordillera, along the road from Quito to Sto. Domingo de los Colorados, about 6,000 ft. elev., Camp E-1737
Ecuador South America|