Gaultheria buxifolia var. elassantha (A.C.Sm.) Luteyn

  • Family

    Ericaceae (Magnoliophyta)

  • Scientific Name

    Gaultheria buxifolia var. elassantha (A.C.Sm.) Luteyn

  • Primary Citation

    Brittonia 41: 13. 1989

  • Basionym

    Gaultheria elassantha A.C.Sm.

  • Common Names

    mortiño venenoso, mortiño

  • Description

    Description: Erect to clambering shrub. Petioles and midrib of leaf lamina adaxially glandular with black, minute (0.2 mm long), clavate setae. Floral bract and bracteoles 3, with surface glabrous, but ciliate; pedicels glabrous or only weakly puberulent and often with gland-tipped setae. Calyx lobes ciliate and often also marginally glandular-fimbriate; corolla rotate-campanulate, gibbous at base, glabrous, pale yellowish-green; stamens ca. 2.6 mm long; filaments ca. 1.6 mm long, glabrous; anthers ca. 1.3 mm long; ovary glabrous or nearly so; style 2-2.6 mm long, glabrous.

    Distribution: Found only in the montane forest and páramo of the departments of Antioquia and Tolima, Colombia at elevations of 2000-3120 m. Flowering and fruiting throughout the year.

    Type: Colombia. Antioquia: La Sierra, 18 km N of Medellín, 2000 m, Jan 1931 (fl), Archer 1499 (holotype, US, photo NY neg. 12067; isotype, MEDEL).

    Common names: Colombia: mortiño, mortiño venenoso (Antioquia)

  • Floras and Monographs

    Gaultheria buxifolia var. elassantha (A.C.Sm.) Luteyn: [Article] Luteyn, James L., et al. 1995. Ericaceae, Part II. The Superior-Ovaried Genera (Monotropoideae, Pyroloideae, Rhododendroideae, and Vaccinioideae P.P.). Fl. Neotrop. Monogr. 66: 560.