Ceratostema prietoi A.C.Sm.

Description

Description: Epiphyte, totally glabrous except staminal filaments; stem thin, terete. Leaves subcoriaceous or papyraceous, elliptic-lanceolate, 10-17 x 3-6 cm, base narrowly rounded, apex gradually acuminate (1-2 cm long), margin entire and narrowly recurved; 5(-7)-plinerved from base or inner laterals arising 1-2 cm above, midrib and lateral nerves slightly impressed above, raised beneath, reticulate veinlets sumimpressed or prominent; petiole subterete, rugulose, 3-5 mm long. Inflorescence racemose, 3-12-flowered; rachis subterete, 0.5-3 cm long, short pedunculate; floral bract deltate, ca. 1 mm long, caducous or persistent; pedicel terete, 13-20 mm long; bracteoles basal, deltate-subulate, ca. 0.7 mm long, caducous. Calyx 7-9 mm long and apical diam.; hypanthium cupuliform, ca. 5 mm long, rugulose not angled; limb suberect, papyraceous; lobes apiculate 0.5-1 mm long, marginally eglandular; sinuses flat; corolla carnose, cylindric, apparently not basally ventricose, 45-53 mm long and 7-9 mm basal diam., pale pink to crimson with green to yellowish-green lobes, the lobes deltate-lanceolate, ca. 15 mm long and 3 mm at base; stamen 10, equallig corolla; filaments distinct, 7-9 mm long, puberulent; anthers ca. 40 mm long; thecae 9-11 mm long, basally obtuse; tubules dehiscing through oblique pores ca. 0.5 mm long; style filiform, slightly exserted; nectariferous disc carnose, annular-pulvinate. Berry not seen.

Distribution: Endemic to Ecuador, and known only from three collections; forest at 1065-1829 m altitude.

Conservation Status: Rare and endangered.

Type: Ecuador. Cañar: Near Corazón, between San Vicente and Rosario, 1065 m, 6-10 Sep 1944 (fl), Prieto CP-13 (holotype, US; isotype, NY).