Agarista revoluta (Spreng.) Hook.f. ex Nied.

Description

Description: Shrub or small and often gnarled tree to 3(-6) m tall, with roughly furrowed bark; twigs sparsely to densely pubescent, with nonchambered pith; buds to ca. 1.1 mm long, leaves revolute. Leaves coriaceous, ovate to elliptic, 1.3-4.5 x 0.5-2.2 cm, base rounded (to very slightly cordate), apex obtuse- to retuse-mucronate (acute-mucronate), margin entire, slightly to strongly revolute, and entire lamina usually strongly abaxially curved, adaxial surface sparsely to moderately pubescent on basal portion of midvein (with a few hairs on adjacent portion of lamina), abaxial surface sparsely pubescent on midvein or only on basal portion, or densely pubescent on lamina and midvein, with a few inconspicuous glandular dots along midvein; petiole 2-7 mm long. Inflorescences axillary racemes to (1-)1.5-6.5 cm long; rachis moderately to densely pubescent; bracteoles 2, opposite to alternate, from base to near midpoint of pedicel, narrowly triangular, to ca. 1 mm long; floral bracts to 1.3 mm long. Flowers with triangular calyx lobes, with acuminate apices, 0.9-1.6 x 0.6-1.5 mm, adaxial surface sparsely to densely pubescent; corolla ± cylindrical, red to white, 6-9 x 3.5-5 mm, glabrous or with very few unicellular hairs near apex to moderately pubescent; filaments 4.5-5.5 mm long; anthers 1-1.2 mm long; ovary very sparsely to densely pubescent. Capsules ovoid to short-ovoid or subglobose, 4-5.5 x 5-7 mm, valves often slightly white bordered, placentae subapical; seeds 2-3.5 mm long.

Distribution: Endemic to SE Brazil, along coast from Bahia south to Estado do Rio.

Key to the Varieties of Agarista revoluta: 1. Abaxial surface of lamina glabrous, but sparsely pubescent on midvein, especially basal portion; corolla glabrous or with very few unicellular hairs near apex ........... var. revoluta 1. Abaxial surface of lamina densely pubescent; corolla moderately pubescent, especially near apex ........... var. velutina