Cavendishia pilosa Luteyn

  • Family

    Ericaceae (Magnoliophyta)

  • Scientific Name

    Cavendishia pilosa Luteyn

  • Primary Citation

    Brittonia 32: 204. 1980

  • Type Specimens

    Specimen 1: Isotype -- J. L. Luteyn 7243

  • Description

    Description: Terrestrial shrub to 3 m tall; mature stems terete, epidermis shedding in longitudinal strips to expose an inner reddish-brown bark; twigs terete to subterete and bluntly angled, densely pilose with white trichomes to 1 mm long. Leaves ovate to oblong-ovate, (2.5-)4-6(-8) x (1.5-)2.5-4(-4.5) cm, basally rounded and cordate, apically rounded or rarely obtuse, densely short-pilose on both surfaces becoming glabrous above with age; 5(-7)-plinerved from base with midrib and lateral nerves impressed above and conspicuously elevated beneath making leaves bullate, reticulate veinlets slightly raised but inconspicuous on both surfaces; petioles subterete, flattened adaxially, densely pilose, 3-5 mm long and 2-3 mm in diam. Inflorescence ca. 10-12-flowered; rachis subterete, congested by overlapping nodes, densely short-pilose, 1-2 cm long; floral bracts tightly appressed to flowers, concealing calyx and lower half of corolla, obovate, 9 x 8 mm, apically retuse, dorsally densely pilose, red when fresh; pedicels terete and swollen distally, pilose, 2 mm long and 2-3 mm in diam.; bracteoles keeled, clasping calyx, oblong, mucronate, 6-8 x 3 mm when flattened, dorsally densely pilose, marginally glandular-fimbriate. Flowers: calyx 4.8-6 mm long, pilose especially on limb and lobes; hypanthium subcylindric-subpentagonal, 1.5-2 mm long, basally truncate; limb cylindric, 3-4 mm long; lobes triangular, acute-acuminate, 1-1.2 mm long, connivent after anthesis, marginally glandular-fimbriate; sinuses rounded; corolla tubular but slightly broadened towards base, pilose in upper 3/4 but glabrous in lower 1/4, 11-12 mm long and 5-6 mm in diam., white when fresh, the lobes deltoid, 0.8 mm long, slightly spreading at anthesis; stamens 7.7-9 mm long; filaments pilose distally along margins and on dorsal surface, alternately 1.7-2 mm and 3-3.8 mm long; anthers alternately 6.3-7.8 mm and 6-6.5 mm long; thecae 3 mm long; style 11 mm long. Berry not seen.

    Distribution: Endemic to Colombia and known only from the type locality, which was in heavily disturbed cloud forest, at 2438-2650 m.

    Conservation Status: Rare and endangered.

    Type: Colombia. Antioquia: Urrao-Caicedo road, 14-18 km NE of Urrao, 2438-2650 m, 7 Apr 1979 (fl), Luteyn & Lebrón-Luteyn 7243 (holotype: COL, photo NY neg. 10608; isotypes: CAS, E, HUA, K, L, MEXU, MO, NY, US).

  • Floras and Monographs

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