Gonocalyx pterocarpus (Donn.Sm.) Luteyn

  • Family

    Ericaceae (Magnoliophyta)

  • Scientific Name

    Gonocalyx pterocarpus (Donn.Sm.) Luteyn

  • Primary Citation

    Brittonia 28(1): 38. 1976

  • Description

    Description: Epiphytic shrub with branches to 3 m; mature branches terete to subterete, short-puberulent or glabrate, striate, reddish- to blackish-brown when dry; bark thin, cracking longitudinally; immature branches and twigs of new growth subterete, bluntly angled, densely puberulent. Leaves coriaceous, obovate, oblong-elliptic, or elliptic, 1-2(-3) x 0.5-1.5 cm, basally cuneate and attentuate, apically rounded and slightly emarginate, marginally entire or remotely crenate distally, scattered hairs on midrib adaxially; obscurely 5-plinerved, all nerves slightly raised on both surfaces; petioles subterete, channeled adaxially, somewhat winged, 1-3 mm long, densely short-puberulent. Inflorescences axillary, 1-2-flowered, subtended by 3-5, ovate, ciliate and fimbriate margined bracts, 1-1.5 x 0.5-1 mm, not clearly differentiated into inflorescence bracts, floral bracts, or bracteoles; pedicels subterete to bluntly angled, slightly thickening and oblique distally, glabrous 5-9(-13) mm long and 1 mm in diam., with few cartilaginous teeth distally. Flowers with calyx glabrous, 3-4.5 mm long, constricted at the base of the limb, obprismatic, 5-winged, opposite the sinuses; hypanthium nonapophysate, 1.5-2.5 mm long; limb campanulate, 1.5-2 mm long including the lobes; lobes triangular, acute, ca. 0.5 mm long; sinuses rounded to flat; corolla cylindric, narrowed to the throat, carnose when fresh, slightly 5-angled, (14-)16-20(-25) mm long and 3-6 mm in diam., glabrous without but with scattered, short, glandular-fimbriae, crimson when fresh, the lobes triangular or oblong, obtuse, to 3 mm long, throat and lobes densely white pubescent within; stamens equal, 14-19 mm long; filaments distinct, 3-5 mm long, glabrous, white; anthers including tubules 11-16.5 mm long, yellow, dehiscing by lateral slits 3.5-4 mm long; thecae 2.5-4 mm long; style thin, glabrous, 19-23 mm long, exserted prior to anthesis; stigma truncate. Berry spherical, 8-10 mm in diam., dark blue-black.

    Distribution: Endemic to Costa Rica.

    Type: Costa Rica. Heredia: Cerro Caricias, Pittier 14031 (holotype, US, photo of holotype DUKE).

  • Sorry, no descriptions available for this record.