Sphyrospermum microphyllum Sleumer

  • Family

    Ericaceae (Magnoliophyta)

  • Scientific Name

    Sphyrospermum microphyllum Sleumer

  • Primary Citation

    Notizbl. Bot. Gart. Berlin-Dahlem 12: 133. 1934

  • Description

    Description: Epiphytic, somewhat scandent, subshrubs often rooting at nodes; stems and twigs thin, terete, striate, puberulent. Leaves congested, membranous to subcoriaceous, ovate to orbicular, 0.5-1(-1.5) x 0.4-0.6(-0.8) cm, base broadly rounded, apex rounded, margin flat, ciliate with deciduous eglandular hairs ca. 1 mm long, lamina glabrous to short-pilose beneath with eglandular hairs; 3(-5)-plinerved from base, midrib, lateral nerves and tertiary veinlets inconspicuously raised above and beneath; petiole subterete, slightly canaliculate above, minutely rugose, 1-1.3 mm long, glabrous. Inflorescences axillary, flowers solitary; floral bract 1, ovate to narrowly triangular, acute to acuminate, ca. 0.3 mm long, ciliate with glandular hairs, lamina otherwise glabrous; pedicel thin, 3-6 mm long, glabrous; bracteoles 2, nearly basal, opposite, ovate to narrowly triangular, acute to acuminate, ca. 0.3 mm long, ciliate with glandular hairs, lamina otherwise glabrous. Flowers 4-merous, diplostemonous; calyx ca. 1.3-1.5 mm long, densely hispidulous to tomentose with eglandular hairs; tube subglobose, ca. 0.7 mm long; limb short-campanulate, ca. 0.6-0.6 mm long; lobes acute, ca. 0.2-0.3 mm long; sinuses rounded; corolla cylindric, the throat narrowed and contracted, 3.5-4 mm long, white with rose to maroon lobes, essentially glabrous without, the lobes strongly reflexed but not exposing stamen tips at anthesis, ovate, acute, ca. 0.3 mm long; stamens 8, equal in length, ca. 3.5-4 mm long; filaments 1.6-2 mm long, glabrous proximally and pilose distally; anthers ca. 2 mm long; thecae ca. 0.8 mm long, the base straight, without basal appendage; tubules ca. 2 mm long, dehiscing by oblique-elongate pores; style ca. 4.5 mm long. Berry spherical, ca. 5 mm diam., lilac, sparsely hispidulous; embryo color apparently green.

    Type: Ecuador. Pichincha: Puente de Chimbo, 400 m, September 1891 (fl), Sodiro 92/28 [holotype B destroyed; lectotype (designated by Luteyn 1996) US! fragment ex B].

    Distribution: Endemic to Ecuador where it grows in primary rainforest at 400–800 m.

    Conservation status: Endangered [EN B1a(i, iv)].

    Updates and other relevant taxonomic sources: Description updated on Jan 2013. For generic synopsis, keys, and evaluation of conservation status see Phytotaxa.

  • Floras and Monographs

    Sphyrospermum microphyllum Sleumer: [Article] 1934. Notizbl. Bot. Gart. Berlin-Dahlem. 12: 133.