Agarista pulchra (Cham. & Schltdl.) G.Don

  • Family

    Ericaceae (Magnoliophyta)

  • Scientific Name

    Agarista pulchra (Cham. & Schltdl.) G.Don

  • Primary Citation

    Gen. Hist. 3: 837. 1834

  • Basionym

    Andromeda pulchra Cham. & Schltdl.

  • Description

    Description: Shrub to ca. 1 m tall; twigs glabrous to very sparsely pubescent, with nonchambered pith; buds to ca. 1.3 mm long, leaves revolute. Leaves usually very coriaceous, ovate to elliptic, 1.3-3.5(-4.3) x 0.8-2(-2.5) cm, base cordate to rounded, apex acute- to rounded- or retuse-mucronate, margin entire, plane, adaxial surface glabrous to sparsely pubescent on basal portion of midvein, abaxial surface glabrous, usually with few to several inconspicuous to conspicuous glandular dots along midvein; petiole 1-5 mm long. Inflorescences axillary racemes to 4-12 cm long; rachis glabrous to very sparsely (moderately) pubescent; pedicels 3.5-7(-8) mm long, glabrous to sparsely (moderately) pubescent; bracteoles 2, alternate to subopposite, from nearly basal to within lower 1/3 (to near middle) of pedicel, triangular to narrowly so, to ca. 1.2 mm long; floral bracts to 1.7 mm long. Flowers with triangular calyx lobes, with acuminate apices, 1.2-2 x 0.6-1.3 mm, abaxial surface glabrous (to sparsely to moderately pubescent); corolla cylindrical, white (to reddish), 6-8.5(-9) x 2.5-4 mm, glabrous; filaments 3.5-5 mm long; anthers 1.1-1.3 mm long; ovary glabrous (sparsely to moderately pubescent). Capsules subglobose to short-ovoid, 3.5-4.5 x 5-7 mm, placentae subapical (to ± central); seeds 1-1.5 mm long.

    Distribution: Endemic to SE Brazil, small region of south-central Minas Gerais, in open campo and slopes, low, dense woodland and thickets, in iron-rich soil. Flowering September through January.

    Type: Brazil. Without definite locality, Sellow s.n. (holotype, B, destroyed; frag. of holotype, NY; isotypes, E, G, K).

    Taxonomic notes: Andromeda sellowii Steudel, Nomencl. bot. 2: 89. 1841, nom. superfl.

  • Floras and Monographs

    Agarista pulchra (Cham. & Schltdl.) G.Don: [Article] Luteyn, James L., et al. 1995. Ericaceae, Part II. The Superior-Ovaried Genera (Monotropoideae, Pyroloideae, Rhododendroideae, and Vaccinioideae P.P.). Fl. Neotrop. Monogr. 66: 560.