Cavendishia gentryi Luteyn

  • Family

    Ericaceae (Magnoliophyta)

  • Scientific Name

    Cavendishia gentryi Luteyn

  • Primary Citation

    Brittonia 28(4): 400. 1976

  • Type Specimens

    Specimen 1: Isotype -- A. H. Gentry 13971

  • Description

    Description: Epiphytic shrub, mature branches terete, smooth, glabrate, brown; immature branches and twigs of the new growth terete, smooth, reddish-brown, densely pilose with white hairs to 4 mm long. Leaves elliptic to ovate elliptic, 8-13 x 3.5-5.5 cm, basally rounded, apically abruptly acuminate, brownish-green when dry, densely pilose beneath with hairs to 2 mm long, scattered pilose above; 3(-5)-plinerved, the midrib, the lateral nerves and the primary veins impressed and conspicuous above, elevated beneath, the veinlets slightly elevated above, obscure beneath; petioles terete, rugose, 5 mm long and 2 mm diam., densely pilose with tan hairs to 3 mm long. Inflorescence short-racemose, 6-flowered; rachis terete, striate, densely pilose, ca. 2.5 cm long; floral bracts lanceolate, long acuminate, 16-23 x 4-6 mm, densely pilose marginally, scattered pilose on the lamina, trichomes to 2 mm long; pedicels swollen distally, striate, densely pilose, 8-12 mm long; bracteoles not seen. Flowers with the calyx densely pilose, 13-13.5 mm long, pink; hypanthium spherical, 3.5-4.5 mm long and broad, not expanded; limb short-cylindric or somewhat spreading, 9-9.5 mm long including the lobes; lobes linear-lanceolate, acute, ca. 8 long and 2 mm broad at the base, erect after anthesis, marginally with 3-4 gland-tipped fimbriae on each side; sinuses acute; corolla (past anthesis) cylindric, ca. 20 mm long, scattered pilose with the hairs denser at the lobe tips; stamens ca. 16 mm long; filaments alternately ca. 1 mm and 3 mm long; anthers including tubules alternately ca. 15 mm and 13 mm long; thecae 3-4 mm long; style ca. 21 mm long. Berry not seen.

    Distribution: Endemic to the Panama/Colombia border area of Cerro Tacarcuna and only known from two collections.

    Conservation Status: Rare and endangered.

    Type: Panama. Darién: Cerro Tacarcuna, Gentry & Mori 13971 (holotype: MO; photo of holotype, NY; isotypes: DUKE, NY).

  • Floras and Monographs

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

    Cavendishia gentryi Luteyn: [Article] Luteyn, James L. 1976. A revision of the Mexican Central American species of Cavendishia (Vacciniaceae). Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 28 (3): 1-138.