Cavendishia arizonensis Luteyn

  • Family

    Ericaceae (Magnoliophyta)

  • Scientific Name

    Cavendishia arizonensis Luteyn

  • Primary Citation

    Ann. Missouri Bot. Gard. 68: 155. 1981

  • Description

    Description: Shrub; mature branches subterete, striate, glabrous, yellowish-brown, with minute black stipitate globular glands ca. 0.1 mm in diam. Leaves elliptic, ovate-elliptic or sometimes obovate, 7-13.5 x 2-6 cm, basally cuneate, apically acute or short-acuminate, glabrous but with scattered reddish pustular glands 0.1 mm in diam. along upper surface; 5-plinerved with all veins arising from base, midrib and lateral nerves deeply and conspicuously impressed above, raised beneath causing leaves to be longitudinally compressed and bullate, veinlets impressed above and raised beneath; petioles subterete, flattened adaxially, rugose, ca. 7 mm long and 4 mm in diam., glabrous. Inflorescence viscid, 82-flowered; rachis subterete, bluntly angled, glabrous, 27 cm long and 6 mm in diam., the proximal 9-10 cm densely provided with globular glands while distal portion without; floral bracts weakly ribbed, oblong, 17-22 x ca. 11 mm, basally clasping, apically rounded or cuspidate, marginally essentially glabrous although weakly ciliate at apex, provided with a few scattered globular or irregularly angular glands, pink when fresh; pedicels subterete, bluntly angled or striate, glabrous, 12-15 mm long and 1.5-2 mm in diam., with scattered globular glands 0.2-0.3 mm in diam., especially at distal tip; bracteoles basal, broadly ovate, ca. 4 x 3.5 mm, marginally glandular callose at distal tip and flanked by oblong callose glands on each side (not globlular glands). Flowers: calyx glabrous, viscid, 6-6.5 mm long; hypanthium cylindric, rugose, 2.5 mm long, basally nonapophysate but obscured by globular to irregularly angular glands to 0.5 mm in diam.; limb campanulate, 3.5-4 mm long, without glands; lobes triangular, 1.5 mm long, erect after anthesis, distal 1/3 of lamina and margins glandular-callose; sinuses broadly rounded; corolla immature, cylindric, ca. 18 mm long and 5-6 mm in diam., "lavender," pilose distal 1/3 especially dense near tip, covered with white viscid exudate; stamens ca. 16 mm long; filaments distinct, short-pilose on ventral side the distal half, alternately ca. 2 mm and 5 mm long; anthers alternately ca. 15 mm and 12 mm long; thecae ca. 6 mm long; style ca. 17 mm long. Mature berry not seen.

    Distribution: Endemic to Panama, on the top of Cerro Arizona, where it occurs as an epiphyte in "heath-like terrain formed by the dense crowns of elfin forest trees packed with bromeliads, ferns, lycopodium, and mosses (Sphagnum)" (Hammel 4733), at elevations of 1400-1430 m.

    Conservation Status: Rare and endangered.

    Type: Panama. Veraguas: N of Santa Fé, summit of Cerro Arizona, 1430 m, 10 Sep 1978 (fl), Hammel 4733 (holotype, MO, photo NY neg. 10576).

  • Floras and Monographs

    Cavendishia arizonensis Luteyn: [Article] Luteyn, James L. 1983. Ericaceae--part I. Cavendishia. Fl. Neotrop. Monogr. 35: 1-290.