Agarista subrotunda (Pohl) G.Don

  • Family

    Ericaceae (Magnoliophyta)

  • Scientific Name

    Agarista subrotunda (Pohl) G.Don

  • Primary Citation

    Gen. Hist. 3: 837. 1834

  • Basionym

    Andromeda subrotunda Pohl

  • Description

    Description: Shrub to ca. 2.5 m tall; twigs with or without scattered gland-headed hairs, otherwise densely pubescent, with nonchambered pith; buds to ca. 1.2 mm long, leaves revolute. Leaves very coriaceous, ovate to elliptic or nearly orbicular, 1-3.5(-4) x 0.7-2.5(-3.7) cm, base cordate, apex acute- to rounded- or retuse-mucronate, margin entire (ciliate due to gland-headed hairs), ± plane, adaxial surface sparsely pubescent on lamina and midvein, often glabrescent, abaxial surface with or without gland-headed hairs on midvein, otherwise moderately to densely pubescent on lamina and sparsely to densely pubescent on midvein, with few to several inconspicuous to conspicuous glandular dots along midvein (although these often obscured by dense pubescence); petiole 2-4.5 mm long. Inflorescences axillary racemes to 4-7 cm long; rachis with or without scattered gland-headed hairs, otherwise densely pubescent; pedicels 5-12.5 mm long, with or without gland-headed hairs, otherwise densely pubescent; bracteoles 2, alternate to subopposite, from nearly basal to near middle of pedicel, narrowly triangular, to ca. 1.3 mm long; floral bracts to 2 mm long. Flowers with triangular to ovate calyx lobes, with acuminate apices, 1.5-2.5 x 1-2 mm, abaxial surface sometimes with few gland-headed hairs, otherwise densely pubescent; corolla cylindrical, red, 6.5-9 x 3-4.5 mm, sparsely to densely pubescent; filaments 3.5-4.5 mm long; anthers 1.5-2 mm long; ovary densely pubescent. Capsules short-ovoid, 4-5 x 6-7 mm, placentae subapical; seeds 1.3-2 mm long, probably also larger.

    Distribution: Endemic to Brazil (S Minas Gerais, region surrounding São Joao d'El Rey), at ca. 1065-1675 m alt. Flowering July and August.

    Type: Brazil. Minas Gerais: São Joao d'El Rey, Oct 1819, Pohl s.n. (n.v.).

  • Floras and Monographs

    Agarista subrotunda (Pohl) 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.