Macleania tropica A.C.Sm.

  • Family

    Ericaceae (Magnoliophyta)

  • Scientific Name

    Macleania tropica A.C.Sm.

  • Primary Citation

    J. Arnold Arbor. 27: 91. 1946

  • Type Specimens

    Specimen 1: Type -- J. Cuatrecasas 17103

    Specimen 2: Type -- J. Cuatrecasas 17103

  • Description

    Description: Epiphytic shrub, often rooting at the nodes; stem and twigs terete, striate, nitid, glabrous, the bark exfoliating in thin strips. Leaves membranaceous when dry, elliptic, ovate, to ovate-lanceolate, (1.5-)2.5-6(-9) x (0.8-)1-2 cm, base rounded or tapering and then obtuse or cuneate, apex acute or acuminate to long-acuminate, margin slightly recurved, the lamina glabrous but bearing minute glandular fimbriae on both surfaces, these sometimes dense; 5-plinerved from near the base, midrib impressed above and raised beneath, lateral nerves nearly plane or slightly impressed or slightly raised above and raised beneath, reticulate veinlets slightly raised but obscure on both surfaces; petiole terete, striate or rugose, 1.5-3 mm long, glabrous. Inflorescence axillary, flowers 1-2, surrounded at the base by few, imbricate, oblong-deltate bracts to ca. 0.8 mm long; rachis none; floral bract ovate, acute or obtuse, 1-1.5 mm long, glabrous; pedicel subterete, striate, (3-)4.5-10 mm long, moderately glandular-fimbriate with orangish-brown fimbriae; bracteoles basal, oblong-triangular, obtuse to acute, ca. 0.6-1 mm long, marginally deciduously glandular-fimbriate. Flowers with calyx 3.8-8 mm long, conspicuously glandular-fimbriate; hypanthium inconspicuously angled or winged throughout length, 2-3 mm long, densely glandular-fimbriate; limb cylindric, slightly spreading, erect, 1.5-5 mm long, moderately glandular-fimbriate; lobes apiculate, 0.2-0.5 mm long; sinuses complanate; corolla slightly carnose, cylindric, slightly contracted distally, 22-25 mm long and ca. 3.5-4.5 mm basal diam. when dry, sparsely pilose at throat within, moderately glandular-fimbriate over entire length, red (fide label), the lobes oblong-triangular, acute, ca. 2 mm long; stamen 12-14 mm long; filaments connate in a tube 6-8 mm long, glabrous, the alternate connectives shouldered and rugose; anthers 6-7 mm long; thecae ca. 3-3.6 mm long; tubule 1, ca. 3.4-3.6 mm long, dehiscing by cleft a ca. 1.5-2.3 mm long; style slightly exserted, glabrous. Berry not seen.

    Distribution: Colombia and Ecuador; humid tropical forest at 5-200 m altitude.

    Type: Colombia. Valle: Pacific Coast, Río Cajambre, Barco, 5-80 m, 21-30 Apr 1944 (fl), Cuatrecasas 17103 (holotype, GH; isotype, US, photo NY neg. 13041).

  • Floras and Monographs

    Macleania tropica A.C.Sm.: [Article] 1946. J. Arnold Arbor. 27: 91.