Orthaea paniculata Luteyn

  • Family

    Ericaceae (Magnoliophyta)

  • Scientific Name

    Orthaea paniculata Luteyn

  • Primary Citation

    Nordic J. Bot. 7(1): 34. 1987

  • Type Specimens

    Specimen 1: Isotype -- J. L. Luteyn 7402, verif. J. L. Luteyn

    Specimen 2: Isotype -- J. L. Luteyn 7402, verif. T. A. Zanoni, 2023

    Remarks: Fluid-preserved collection

  • Description

    Description: Terrestrial shrub with branches to 1.5 m long, vegetatively glabrous; mature stems and twigs of new growth terete to subterete, slightly striate, nitid, drying reddish-brown. Leaves coriaceous, elliptic, ovate-elliptic, to lance-elliptic, (6-)7.5-12 x (2.5-)3-4.5(-5.5) cm, basally rounded, obtuse, or truncate, rarely subcordate, apically short-acuminate, marginally entire; 3(-5)-palmatinerved from the base, midrib and lateral nerves impressed above and raised beneath, reticulate veinlets slightly impressed above but obscure beneath; petiole subterete, strongly sulcate adaxially, rugose, 5-10 mm long. Inflorescence solitary, axillary, paniculate, 35-65-flowered; rachis bluntly angled, essentially glabrous but somewhat scabrous due to scattered multicellular, multiseriate, apparently glandular hairs ca. 0.1-0.2 mm long, green suffused with red when fresh, main branch ca. 6 cm long, lateral branches 3-4.5 cm long; pedicels angled, gradually expanding distally then abruptly expanded at the apex, ca. 20-21 mm long at anthesis but lengthening to 28 mm later, red when fresh; floral bracts caducous, not seen; bracteoles located near pedicel base, caducous, ovate, obtuse, 2 mm long, marginally densely glandular-fimbriate. Flowers with calyx glabrous, rugose, 6-7.5 mm long, separated from the pedicel (when dry) by a stipe 1.5-2 mm long; limb campanulate, 3-4.5 mm long including the lobes; lobes triangular-ovate, acute to short-acuminate, marginally thinly glandular, 2-2.5 mm long; sinuses acute; corolla bottle-shaped, terete, ca. 21 mm long, essentially glabrous but with a few scattered glandular fimbriae near the constricted throat, basal 1/2 to 3/4 rose-red when fresh, the upper 1/2 to 1/4 white, lobes triangular, acute, reflexed, ca. 2 mm long; dehiscence by subterminal, oblique pores, ca. 0.8 mm long; style ca. 12-16 mm long, glabrous. Fruit not seen.

    Distribution: Endemic to Colombia and known only from the type. Rare and endangered.

    Type: Colombia. Cauca: Parque Nacional Munchique, 42-47 km NE of Uribe, cloud forest, 2350-2560 m, 24 Apr 1979 (fl), Luteyn et al. 7402 (holotype, COL; isotypes, AAU, CAS, E, L, MO, NY, TEX, US).

  • Floras and Monographs

    Orthaea paniculata Luteyn: [Article] 1987. Nordic J. Bot. 7(1): 34.