Agarista oleifolia (Cham.) G.Don

Description

Description: Shrub (to small tree) to 3(-6) m tall, with thickly furrowed bark and often tortuous branches; twigs with or without scattered gland-headed hairs, otherwise glabrous to sparsely pubescent, with nonchambered to clearly chambered pith; buds to ca. 1 m long, leaves revolute. Leaves rarely 3-whorled; coriaceous, (very narrowly) ovate to elliptic or oblong, (2-)2.5-10(-12.5) x 0.4-3.3 cm, base cuneate to rounded or slightly cordate, apex acute- to rounded-mucronate (slightly acuminate), margin plane to very slightly revolute, especially near base, adaxial surface nearly glabrous to sparsely pubescent on midvein, especially basal portion, abaxial surface glabrous to sparsely pubescent on midvein, usually with inconspicuous glandular dots along midvein; petiole 2-11.5 mm long. Inflorescences axillary racemes to (2.5-)3-13 cm long; rachis with or without scattered gland-headed hairs, otherwise glabrous to densely pubescent; pedicels 2.5-15 mm long, with or without gland-headed hairs, otherwise glabrous to densely pubescent; bracteoles 2 (3), alternate to subopposite, from nearly basal to near midpoint of pedicel (with 1 near apex), narrowly triangular, to ca. 1.5 mm long; floral bracts to 2 mm long. Flowers with triangular calyx lobes, with acuminate apices, 1.4-2.7(-3) x 0.8-2.1 mm, abaxial surface with or without gland-headed hairs, otherwise glabrous to moderately pubescent; corolla cylindrical, red to white, 7.5-16 x (2.5-)3-6.5 mm, glabrous; filaments 5.3-8.5 mm long; anthers 1-2.2 mm long; ovary glabrous to sparsely pubescent. Capsules subglobose to short-ovoid, 2.5-5.5 x 4-8 mm, placentae ± central; seeds 0.5-1.3 mm long.

Distribution: Endemic to SE Brazil (from Bahia, Goiás, and extreme southeastern Mato Grosso south to Rio de Janiero and São Paulo).

Key to the Varieties of Agarista oleifolia: 1. Inflorescence rachis sparsely to densely pubescent; corolla 7.5-12 mm long .......................... var. oleifolia 1. Inflorescence rachis glabrous; corolla 10.5-16 mm long ....... var. glabra