Ceratostema charianthum A.C.Sm.

  • Family

    Ericaceae (Magnoliophyta)

  • Scientific Name

    Ceratostema charianthum A.C.Sm.

  • Primary Citation

    Contr. U. S. Natl. Herb. 29: 360. 1950

  • Description

    Description: Epiphytic shrub, often with lignotubers, essentially glabrous throughout (except filaments); stem subterete, very slender (1-1.5 mm in diam. distally), striate; twigs subterete, complanate, bluntly angled, striate, rarely puberulent. Leaves subcoriaceous, brownish-green when dried, elliptic-lanceolate, 7-13.5 x (1.5-)2-4 cm, base acute and decurrent onto the petiole, apex gradually tapering into a slender acumen, 1-2 cm long, margin entire and narrowly recurved; pinnately nerved with 4-6 lateral nerves per side, midrib slightly raised or nearly plane to impressed distally above, raised beneath, lateral nerves spreading, curved and anastomosing toward margin, slightly raised on both surfaces, reticulate veinlets impressed or faintly raised on both surfaces but inconspicuous; petiole subterete, sometimes prominently canaliculate above, rugulose, 3-5 mm long, narrowly winged distally, rarely weakly puberulent. Inflorescence axillary, short-racemose, apparently 2- or 3-flowered; rachis (2-)5-7 mm long; floral bract subulate, long-acuminate, 2-3 mm long; pedicel terete, striate, rugulose, (5-)14-18 mm long; bracteoles basal, caducous, narrowly ovate to lanceolate-subulate, long-acuminate, 1-2 mm long. Flowers with calyx articulate, 7-9 mm long and 5 mm in diam. distally; hypanthium somewhat obconic, basally truncate, 5-winged for its entire length, ca. 6-7 mm long, the wings subcarnose, 0.6-1 mm broad, extending distally beyond the calyx lobes; limb erect, papyraceous, ca. 1.5 mm long; lobes conspicuously apiculate with a sharp acumen ca. 1 mm long; sinuses flattened; corolla thin-carnose, cylindric not ventricose basally, sharply 5-angled and furrowed between the angles, distally the limb abruptly flaring and deeply 5-lobed, 30-38 mm long and 5-8 mm in diam., deep red, the lobes reflexed, deltate-subulate, abruptly narrowed, acute, 8-13 mm long and 7-8 mm broad at base, bright rosey-pink to crimson; sinuses obtuse; stamen 10, nearly as long as corolla, exserted at anthesis when corolla lobes become reflexed, alternately slightly unequal, ca. 31 mm long (from corolla 33 mm long); filaments distinct or weakly connate towards base, alternately slightly unequal, 4-6 mm long, puberulent distally on both surfaces; anthers 23-26 mm long; thecae coarsely papillate, 7-10 mm long, abruptly narrowed into the very slender tubules; tubules sharply pointed distally, ca. 11 mm long, dehiscing by oblique, sometimes flaring, oval pores ca. 1 mm long; style slightly exserted, glabrous. Berry not seen.

    Distribution: Endemic to Ecuador, and known only from 7 collections; premontane rainforest at 1000-2287 m altitude.

    Type: Ecuador. Morona-Santiago: between Campanas and Arenillas, along Río Tintas, 10 leagues SE of El Pan, 2195 m, 13 Jul 1943 (fl), Steyermark 53591 (holotype, F, fragment US, photo F neg. 52525; isotype, A).

  • Floras and Monographs

    Ceratostema charianthum A.C.Sm.: [Article] Smith, Albert C. 1952. Plants collected in Ecuador by W. H. camp. Vaceiniaceae. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 8 (1): 41-85.

    Ceratostema charianthum A.C.Sm.: [Article] 1950. Contr. U. S. Natl. Herb. 29: 360.