Cavendishia tarapotana var. gilgiana (Hoerold) Luteyn

  • Family

    Ericaceae (Magnoliophyta)

  • Scientific Name

    Cavendishia tarapotana var. gilgiana (Hoerold) Luteyn

  • Primary Citation

    Fl. Neotrop. Monogr. 35(1): 164. 1983

  • Basionym

    Cavendishia gilgiana Hoerold

  • Common Names

    espelma

  • Description

    Description: Inflorescence 5-6-flowered; rachis 0.5-2.5 cm long; floral bract 35-53 x 22-35 mm, apically rounded or rarely shallowly emarginate; pedicel 10-20 mm long; bracteoles 5-7 mm long. Calyx 7-11.5 mm long; limb 4-7.5 mm long; corolla 33-40 mm long and 8-10 mm diam.; stamen 21-26 mm long.

    Distribution: Colombia and N Ecuador; tropical wet forest, premontane wet forest, to montane rainforest, usually disturbed sites at 1100-1900 m altitude.

    Local name: espelma.

    Uses: fruits are edible and quite juicy although not very sweet (pers. obs.).

    Cultivated: ABG, NY.

    Type: Ecuador. Pichincha: Alaspongo, Sep 1899 (bud), Sodiro 92/18c (holotype: B?, photos F neg. 4660 and ACS neg. 119; lectotype: Q, designated by Luteyn, 1983)

  • Floras and Monographs

    Cavendishia tarapotana var. gilgiana (Hoerold) Luteyn: [Article] Luteyn, James L. 1983. Ericaceae--part I. Cavendishia. Fl. Neotrop. Monogr. 35: 1-290.