Psammisia sclerantha 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 parvus interdum epiphyticus ubique praeter filamenta glaber, ramulis teretibus gracillimis fusco-stramineis; petiolis inconspicue angulatis 7-15 mm longis; laminis subcoriaceis in sicco metallico-olivaceis elliptico-lanceolatis, 11-21 cm longis, 4-6.5 cm latis, basim versus gradatim angustatis et in petiolum decurrentibus, apice longe et acute acuminatis, margine leviter recurvatis, pinnatinerviis, costa supra paullo subtus valde elevata, nervis lateralibus utrinsecus 4 vel 5 erecto-patentibus anastomosantibus supra subplanis subtus paullo elevatis, venulis utrinque haud prominulis; inflorescentia axillari breviter racemosa 2-7-flora; rhachi gracili obtuse angulata ad 12 mm longa, bracteis sub floribus papyraceis deltoideo-oblongis obtusis 1-1.5 mm longis latisque; pedicellis sub anthesi 13-20 mm longis superne incrassatis et sub calyce conspicue articulatis basim versus bibracteolatis, bracteolis bracteis similibus minoribus; calyce cupuliformi sub anthesi circiter 6 mm longo et 8 mm diametro, tubo brevi et lato, limbo crasso-carnoso erecto-patente 3-4 mm longo lobis haud 1 mm longis inconspicue 5-dentato praeter apices loborum obscure crasso-marginato, sinibus complanatis vel late obtusis; corolla cylindrica sub anthesi 8-9 mm longa 4-6 mm. diametro superne conspicue crasso-carnosa, lobis 5 deltoideis circiter 2 x 2 mm acutis sub anthesi inflexis; staminibus 10, filamentis submembranaceis pallidis ligulatis 2-3 mm longis superne intus obscure puberulis in connectivos latos omnibus obtuse sed manifeste calcaratos transeuntibus, antheris 4.5-6 mm longis, thecis crassis subquadratis 3.5-4.5 mm longis basi incurvatis et obtusis in tubulos graciles 1-1.5 mm longos cum rimis elongatis ovalibus abrupte angustatis; stylo tereti corollam fere aequante stigmate obscure lobato; fructibus juvenilibus late subglobosis ad 1 cm. latis calycis limbo persistente inflexo et disco coriaceo pulvinato coronatis.
Species Description - (leaves deep green above, pale green beneath, dull on both surfaces; pedicels and hypanthium coral-red; corolla green in bud, red as it begins to open, and purple with age). (small shrubs 1 m., epiphytic or terrestrial; pedicels and calyx deep coral-red; corolla green, carnose, very hard when open; plants later seen in shade, with nearly white flowers).
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Discussion
Psammisia sclerantha is another of the species with pinnatinerved leaves, characterized by having the calyx-limb and distal part of its corolla extraordinarily thick in texture and its anthers with broad, spurred connectives and very short, slender tubules. From P. sodiroi Hoer. and the other species of this alliance except P. oreogenes Sleumer, the new species differs in its merely denticulate (rather than conspicuously lobed) calyx-limb. Psammisia oreogenes, however, has comparatively short-petioled leaves and a differently proportioned calyx (the limb being shorter and thinner) and anthers.
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Distribution
Santiago-Zamora: Cordillera Cutucu, ridge between Rio Ontza and Rio Chupiasa, 4,300-4,700 ft. elev., Nov. 17-Dec. 5, 1944, Camp E-1195 (TYPE US 1,989,009; dupl. NY); Same locality and altitude, ridge ascending into central Cutucu, Camp E-1156;
Ecuador South America|