Cavendishia rhynchophylla A.C.Sm.

Description

Description: Shrub; mature branches terete, smooth, glabrous; twigs terete to subterete, smooth, puberulent or densely hispidulous then glabrate. Leaves elliptic, lanceolate, or ovate-elliptic, (3.3-)4-8 x (1.6-)2-3 cm, basally rounded, obtuse, or cuneate, apically caudate-acuminate, glabrous or sparsely hirsute above, densely hirsute to glabrate beneath; 5(-7)-plinerved, midrib raised and thickened through proximal 1 cm otherwise slightly raised or impressed above, inner pair of lateral nerves impressed proximal half otherwise slightly raised above, veinlets impressed or slightly raised above, all nerves and veinlets raised beneath but only midrib and inner lateral nerves prominent; petioles terete, slightly rugose, 1-4 mm long and 0.8-1 mm diam., puberulent to short-pilose. Inflorescence 9-10-flowered, encircled at base by ca. 12 caducous, ovate to oblong, apically densely appressed-pilose and fimbriate bracts; rachis subterete, bluntly angled, 3.5-5.3 cm long and ca. 0.8 mm diam., scattered pilose to hispid; floral bracts oblong-elliptic, conspicuously 3-5-ribbed, 6-9 x 4.5 mm, apically rounded, marginally ciliate and bearing squamulate fimbriae distally, dorsally densely squamulate-fimbriate centrally the length of bract; pedicels subterete, angled, striate, 9-10 mm long, moderately pilose to densely hispid especially distally at articulation; bracteoles basal, ovate or semiorbicular, 1.5 mm long and broad, marginally ciliate and moderately to densely squamulate-fimbriate, the fimbriae sometimes deciduous. Flowers: calyx densely pilose, moderately to densely squamulate-fimbriate, 2.7-3.5 mm long; hypanthium cylindric, rugose, 10-ribbed, ca. 0.7-1 mm long and 3 mm diam., basally apophysate with apophysis margin undulate; limb erecto-patent, 2-2.5 mm long; lobes broadly triangular, 0.8-1.5 mm long, erect after anthesis, each margin glandular-callose with these not contiguous at lobe tip; sinuses broadly rounded; corolla subcylindric, densely pilose, immature ca. 10-13 mm long; stamens ca. 10.5 mm long; filaments weakly short-pilose ventrally, alternately ca. 2 mm and 2.5-4 mm long; anthers alternately 9.5-11 mm and 8-9 mm long; thecae ca. 3 mm long; style subequal to corolla. Berry not seen.

Distribution: Endemic to Colombia and know from only two collections, in the lowlands and foothills of the Cordillera Occidental (Valle Dept.), at elevations of 60-1800 m. Collected in flower in May and July.

Conservation Status: Rare and endangered.

Type: Colombia. Valle: Cordillera Occidental, San Antonio, 1800 m, Jul 1853 (fl), Triana 2676 (holotype: BM, photo NY neg. 9143; isotypes: BR, G, K, NY, P, photos F neg. 26618, NY neg. 9708).