Calopteryx sessiliflora 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, ramulis fuscis obtuse angulatis pallide puberulis mox glabratis; stipulis intrapetiolaribus lanceolato-subulatis circiter 7 mm longis caducis; laminis e ramulis brevibus lateralibus interdum orientibus, ramulis bracteis papyraceis lineari-lanceolatis ad 15 x 2 mm circumdatis; petiolis incrassatis subteretibus subglabris 5-12 mm longis; laminis papyraceis in sicco fusco-olivaceis anguste lanceolatis, 13-28 cm longis, 3.5-7.5 cm latis, basi late obtusis, in apicem 1-2 cm longum gradatim angustatis, subtus pilis glandulosis fusco-castaneis 0.2-0.3 mm longis copiose strigillosis, supra mox glabratis, 5-7-nerviis, nervis secundariis adscendentibus cum costa 2-7 cm concurrentibus ut costa supra impressis (vel basim versus leviter elevatis) subtus prominentibus, rete venularum supra subimmerso subtus prominulo; inflorescentia ramulis defoliatis enata subfasciculata ut videtur 1- vel 2-flora bracteis numerosis circumdata, bracteis lineari lanceolatis obscure glanduloso-marginatis, majoribus circiter 15 x 2 mm, intimis calycem involventibus circiter 10 x 3 mm; pedicellis subnullis, bracteolis 1 vel 2 lineari-subulatis circiter 7 x 0.5 mm; calyce 6.5-7 mm longo et circiter 4 mm apice diametro pilis minutis glandulosis strigilloso, tubo obtuse 5-angulato circiter 4.5 mm longo, limbo quam tubo breviore intus glabro fere ad basim 5-lobato, lobis elongato-deltoideis circiter 3 x 2 mm; disco annulari-pulvinato glabro; corolla tenuiter carnosa parce glanduloso-strigillosa circiter 13 mm longa et 4 mm diametro anguste 5-alata, alis medio circiter 0.7 mm latis superne angustatis, lobis deltoideis subacutis circiter 1 mm longis; staminibus 10 corollam subaequantibus, filamentis membranaceis circiter 2.5 mm longis ut videtur connatis superne obscure puberulo-marginatis, antheris circiter 10.5 mm longis, thecis 4-4.5 mm longis basi mucronatis, tubulis quam thecis leviter longioribus per rimas elongatas dehiscentibus; stylo filiformi corollam subaequante, stigmate minute peltato.
Species Description - (shrub 3 m; flowers red).
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Discussion
The generic position of this species presents difficulties not unfamiliar in the Andean Vacciniaceae. Although it is clearly of the general affinity of Thibaudia, it is perhaps best referred, because of its winged corolla, to the recently described genus Calopteryx (Jour. Arnold Arb. 27: 100. 1946), based on a single species from low elevation near the coast in El Valle, Colombia. From the only known species, C. insignis, C. sessiliflora differs in its leaf-blades with more highly concurrent secondaries, its greatly reduced 1- or 2-flowered inflorescences subtended by conspicuous lanceolate bracts, its subsessile flowers, its much shorter and more narrowly winged corolla, and its anthers with comparatively short tubules. The discovery of this entity certainly weakens the characters which separate Calopteryx from Tbibaudia, but the former concept may perhaps be maintained for the present.
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Distribution
Santiago-Zamora: Eastern slope and crest of main Cordillera Cutucii, 5,200 ft. elev., Nov. 25-Dec. 2, 1944, H. Jorgensen CuJ-38 (TYPE US 1,988,919; dupl. NY)
Ecuador South America|