Agarista coriifolia (Thunb.) Hook.f. ex Nied.

Description

Description: Shrub (to tree) to 3(-5) m tall; twigs glabrous to moderately pubescent (glaucous), with nonchambered to clearly chambered pith; buds to ca. 1.8 mm long, leaves revolute. Leaves alternate to subopposite or nearly 3-whorled at some nodes; very coriaceous, ovate to elliptic or oblong, 1.8-10.5 x 0.6-3.5(-5) cm, base cordate to cuneate, apex acute- to rounded-mucronate to acuminate, margin entire, plane (slightly revolute near base, slightly sinuous), adaxial surface glabrous to sparsely pubescent on midvein, especially basal portion, abaxial surface glabrous, to sparsely (moderately) pubescent along basal portion of midvein, with glandular dots absent, or few to many and inconspicuous to conspicuous along midvein; petiole 2-18 mm long. Inflorescences axillary or terminal racemes or panicles, to (2.5-)4.5-28 cm long; rachis glabrous to densely pubescent; pedicels 2-14 mm long, glabrous to densely pubescent; bracteoles 2 (to 4), alternate to opposite, from nearly basal to near middle of pedicel, triangular to narrowly so, to ca. 1.6 mm long; floral bracts to 4 mm long. Flowers with triangular calyx lobes, with acuminate apices, 1-2.7 x 0.6-2.2 mm, abaxial surface glabrous to sparsely (moderately) pubescent; corolla cylindrical to urceolate-cylindrical, white or greenish white to red, 6.5-11 x 3-6.5 mm, glabrous (with very few unicellular hairs near apex); filaments 4-6 mm long; anthers 1.3-2.3 mm long; ovary glabrous to moderately pubescent. Capsules short-ovoid to subglobose, 3-6 x 4.5-8 mm, placentae subapical (± central); seeds 1-2.6 mm long.

Distribution: Endemic to E Brazil (Bahia, Minas Gerais, and Rio de Janeiro).

Illustration: Judd (1995), fig 7.

Type: Brazil. Minas Gerais: Villa Rica, Freyreiss s.n. (holotype, UPS, n.v.).

Key to the Varieties of Agarista coriifolia: 1. Leaves usually ovate (to ± elliptic), base usually cordate to rounded, abaxial surface with glandular dots lacking to limited to basal half of blade; calyx lobes abaxially glabrous to sparsely (moderately) pubescent ........................ var. coriifolia 1. Leaves ± oblong to slightly elliptic (slightly ovate), base usually cuneate to rounded, abaxial surface with glandular dots usually extending along midvein to near apex of blade; calyx lobes abaxially glabrous .................... var. bradei