Cavendishia ruiz-teranii Luteyn

Description

Description: Terrestrial or epiphytic shrub with stems to 5 cm in diam. and 4 m tall; twigs somewhat soft-wooded, subterete or complanate, striate, glabrous, dark reddish-brown. Leaves elliptic or oblong-elliptic, (2.5-)4-6.5 x (1-)1.5-3 cm, basally rounded or slightly subcordate, apically rounded or broadly acute, uppermost leaves sometimes apiculate, glabrous; 5-plinerved often appearing pinnately veined, midrib impressed above and conspicuously raised beneath, lateral nerves impressed above and raised beneath with inner pair arising ca. 1 cm above base and extending nearly to distal tip, outer pair arising from base but extending only 1/3-1/2-way up lamina, reticulate veinlets slightly raised on both surfaces but inconspciucuous; petioles terete, rugose, 3-7 mm long and 1-2 mm in diam., glabrous. Inflorescence 15-20(-30)-flowered; rachis subterete, bluntly to sharply angled, conspicuously striate, glabrous, 6-8(-13) cm long and 2.5-3(-4) mm in diam.; floral bracts oblong or elliptic, slightly concave, (18-)20-22 x (8-)12-14 mm, basally slightly auriculate, apically rounded, margins thinner than lamina, glabrous, dark red when fresh; pedicels subterete, striate and angular, glabrous, 18-20(-24) mm long and 1 mm in diam.; bracteoles ovate, acute, 1.5 mm long, apically with a tuft of short hairs marginally glandular-fimbriate. Flowers: calyx glabrous, 8-9.5 mm long, dark waxy red when fresh; hypanthium cylindric, slightly 10-ribbed, 4-5 mm long, basally strongly apophysate (especially after drying); limb cylindric or slightly spreading, 5-6 mm long; lobes triangular, acute, apex itself blunt, 1.5 mm long and ca. 3 mm broad, erect after anthesis, marginally eglandular or more commonly provided with minute oblong glands (usually two/side) which are easily broken off upon drying; sinuses rounded or obtuse; corolla cylindric but slightly wider towards base and constricted distally, glabrous, (20-)24-25 mm long and ca. 8 mm in diam., lower 3/4 bright dark waxy red, upper 1/4 plus lobes yellowish-white when fresh, lobes triangular, 2 mm long, spreading to reflexed at anthesis; stamens 20-21 mm long; filaments distinct to lightly coherent in basal half, puberulent in distal half, alternately 5-6 mm and 7 mm long; anthers alternately 17 mm and 15 mm long; thecae alternately 5.5-6 mm and 6-6.5 mm long; style 23-25 mm long. Immature berry 14 mm in diam.

Distribution: Endemic to Venezuela and known only from the type area, where the plant occurs in subpáramo thickets and montane cloud forest, at elevations of 2550-3300 m. Flowering specimens have been collected in October-November and May; and fruiting material in May.

Conservation Status: Rare and endangered.

Local names: cacahuito, cacagüito (Mérida).

Type: Venezuela. Mérida: Trail from La Negrita to the Boquerón of Quebrada de Las Cañas, 2990-3300 m, 31 Oct 1978 (fl), Luteyn et al. 6099 (holotype: NY, photo NY neg. 10855; isotypes: BISH, CAS, COL, E, F, K, L, MERF, MEXU, MICH, MO, US VEN).