Agarista pulchella Cham. ex G.Don

Description

Description: Shrub to 2(-3) m tall; twigs with or without scattered gland-headed hairs, otherwise essentially glabrous to densely pubescent, with nonchambered to regularly chambered pith; buds to ca. 1 mm long, leaves revolute. Leaves coriaceous, ± ovate, 0.5-4(-5) x 0.4-2(-2.8) cm, base cordate (to truncate), apex rounded- to acute-mucronate (short-acuminate), margin entire (to serrulate due to gland-headed hairs) (sinuous), plane to very slightly revolute, especially near base, adaxial surface glabrous to sparsely pubescent on midvein, especially basal portion, abaxial surface with or without few gland-headed hairs on midvein, otherwise glabrous to sparsely pubescent (with few very inconspicuous glandular dots) on midvein; petiole 1.5-5 mm long. Inflorescences axillary racemes (axillary panicles, or terminal racemes or panicles) to (1.5-)2-7(-12) cm long; rachis with or without scattered gland-headed hairs, otherwise glabrous to densely pubescent; pedicels 4-15 mm long, with or without gland-headed hairs, otherwise glabrous to densely pubescent; bracteoles 2 (to 5), alternate to subopposite, from nearly basal to near midpoint (or apex) of pedicel, narrowly triangular to linear, to ca. 2.2 mm long, occasionally with 1 or more subtending axillary flowers; floral bracts to 3 mm long. Flowers with triangular calyx lobes, with acuminate (to acute) apices, 1.4-2.6 x 0.8-1.5 mm, abaxial surface with or without gland-headed hairs, otherwise glabrous to densely pubescent; corolla cylindrical, white with reddish apex to red throughout, 6.5-13 x 3-5.5 mm, glabrous to sparsely pubescent; filaments 4-6.5 mm long; anthers 1.2-1.5 mm long; ovary glabrous to densely pubescent. Capsules short-ovoid to subglobose, 3-5 x 4.5-8 mm, placentae central to subapical; seeds 0.8-1.7 mm long.

Distribution: Endemic to SE Brazil (from Paraná and Santa Catarina, and disjunctly to the north in Minas Gerais and adjacent São Paulo).

Key to the Varieties of Agarista pulchella: 1. Capsules with placentae usually ± central; leaves with length/width quotient (1.4-)1.6-3(-3.5), margin not (slightly) sinuous; Paraná, Santa Catarina, and adjacent São Paulo ...... var. pulchella 1. Capsules with placentae ± subapical; leaves with length/width quotient 0.8-2, margin often clearly sinuous; Minas Gerais and adjacent N São Paulo ................................. var. cordifolia