Oreanthes fragilis (A.C.Sm.) Luteyn
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Family
Ericaceae (Magnoliophyta)
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Scientific Name
Oreanthes fragilis (A.C.Sm.) Luteyn
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Primary Citation
Fl. Ecuador 54: 334, fig. 23, pl. 4. 1996
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Basionym
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Description
Description: Epiphytic shrub; stem terete, striate, the bark cracking longitudinally, glabrous or densely puberulent then glabrate; twigs subterete to bluntly angled, striate, glabrous or densely puberulent, cinereous and glabrate. Leaves coriaceous, apparently succulent, elliptic to ovate-suborbicular, rarely somewhat oblanceolate-obovate, 1.5-4 x 1-2 cm, base rounded, apex rounded to obtuse, rarely short-apiculate, margin entire, thick and slightly (tightly) recurved, surface wrinkled, glabrous but provided with scattered, minute, brownish glandular fimbriae on both surfaces; obscurely 5-plinerved from at or near the base, midrib and lateral nerves slightly raised above, raised or impressed beneath but obscure, reticulate veinlets slightly raised above, obscure beneath; petiole subterete, sometimes broadly canaliculate above, rugose, 1.5-3 mm long, subglabrous. Inflorescence axillary, of solitary flowers, sometimes on older wood, surrounded at the base by a series of numerous, imbricate, ovate, acuminate, glabrous but marginally glandular-fimbriate bracts to 1 mm long; floral bract as above; pedicel terete, striate, to sharply angled, muricate, 15-30 mm long, elongating to 40 mm post anthesis, moderately to densely short-pilose with pale hairs to 0.8 mm long; bracteoles medial to submedial, oblong-lanceolate, acuminate, 0.7-2 mm long, margin glandular-fimbriate, glabrous or sparsely hirsute. Flowers with calyx 4-7.5 mm long, short-pilose; hypanthium obconic to hemispheric, terete or slightly pentagonal, 2-4 mm long, sometimes tomentose, sometimes densely glandular-fimbriate (but obscured by hairs); limb erecto-campanulate, 1-3.5 mm long; lobes triangular to ovate-deltate, acuminate to acute, 1-3 mm long; sinuses obutse; corolla thinly carnose, cylindric, broadest at base and slightly narrowed distally, 20-24 mm long and 4-5 mm diam. when dry (ca 9.5 mm fresh), densely short-pilose with pale white hairs ca. 0.3 mm long, the lobes spreading, oblong-ovate, acute to subacute, 1.5-2.5 x 2-2.5 mm; stamen nearly equal to corolla, 17-22 mm long; filaments basically distinct but slightly coherent at base, 2.5-5 mm long, glabrous; anthers 15.5-19 mm long; thecae 2-3.5 mm long, the base rounded to subacute; tubules 12.5-18 mm long, the tips acuminate, dehiscing through oblique clefts ca. 0.5 mm long; style slightly exserted, thicker distally. Berry not seen.
Distribution: Endemic to S Ecuador; montane forest at 1800-3290 m altitude.
Type: Ecuador. Azuay: Huahuidocal, W of Cuenca, 1800-2500 m, Nov 1890 (fl), Lehmann K.276 (holotype: K, fragment NY ex K, photo NY neg. 10625).
Conservation status: Rare and endangered.
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Floras and Monographs
Oreanthes fragilis (A.C.Sm.) Luteyn: [Article] 1996. Fl. Ecuador. 54: 334, fig. 23, pl. 4.
