Macleania subsessilis Luteyn

  • Family

    Ericaceae (Magnoliophyta)

  • Scientific Name

    Macleania subsessilis Luteyn

  • Primary Citation

    Fl. Ecuador 54: 142, fig. 9E-H. 1996

  • Type Specimens

    Specimen 1: Holotype -- J. L. Luteyn 14729, verif. J. L. Luteyn, 1995

    Specimen 2: Holotype -- J. L. Luteyn 14729, verif. T. A. Zanoni, 2023

    Remarks: Fluid-preserved collection

  • Description

    Description: Epiphytic shrub; stem terete, glabrous; bark reddish-brown, peeling off in long, thin strips; twigs terete, smooth, glabrous. Leaves subcoriaceous, ovate to ovate-elliptic, (4-)8-15 x 4-7 cm, base rounded, or sometimes obtuse or acute, apex short-acuminate, margin flat, glabrous on both surfaces; pinnately nerved with 4-6 lateral nerves per side, midrib conspicuously raised in the proximal 2-3 cm becoming less conspicuous but still raised distally above, raised and prominent beneath, lateral nerves plane to slightly raised but inconspicuous above, raised and conspicuous beneath, reticulate veinlets obscure above but raised and obvious beneath; petiole subterete, smooth, 3-5 mm long, glabrous. Inflorescence axillary, flowers 1-2, nearly sessile, solitary or fasciculate; rachis none; floral bract ovate, acute, 2-2.3 x 2 mm, glabrous, but glandular-fimbriate; pedicel short, 2.5-4.5 mm long, glandular-fimbriate; bracteoles near the middle or top, similar to floral bract in size and shape. Flowers with calyx continuous or weakly articulate with pedicel, ca. 9-10 mm long; hypanthium narrowly winged the entire length but the wings not produced beyond the limb, ca. 6 mm long, glandular-fimbriate; limb 3-4 mm long; lobes narrowly triangular, acuminate, 1.5-2 mm long; sinuses rounded; corolla tubular, basically terete but sometimes appearing slightly 5-angled, 21-25 mm long, glabrous without but sparsely pilose at throat within, red, the lobes ovate, obtuse, 3-3.5 mm long; stamen ca. 10 mm long; filaments connate into a tube, ca. 5 mm long, glabrous; anthers 6.3-6.5 mm long; thecae 3.2-3.5 mm long; tubules fused into one, although remnants of septum visible at base, 3-3.5 mm long, dehiscing by a short cleft; style slightly exserted, 22-26, glabrous. Berry not seen.

    Distribution: Endemic to NW Ecuador; premontane wet forest to premontane cloud forest, at 400-1350 m altitude. Rare and endangered.

    Type: Ecuador. Esmeraldas: Cantón San Lorenzo, 13.5 km S of Lita, property of Dr. Lalama, 1220-1350 m, 2 Nov 1992 (fl), Luteyn et al. 14729 (holotype, NY; isotypes, AAU, CAS, E, GB, K, MEXU, MO, MSC, P, QCA, TEX, US).

  • Floras and Monographs

    Macleania subsessilis Luteyn: [Article] 1996. Fl. Ecuador. 54: 142, fig. 9E-H.