Sphyrospermum sodiroi (Hoerold) A.C.Sm.

  • Family

    Ericaceae (Magnoliophyta)

  • Scientific Name

    Sphyrospermum sodiroi (Hoerold) A.C.Sm.

  • Primary Citation

    Brittonia 1(4): 211. 1933

  • Basionym

    Sophoclesia sodiroi Hoerold

  • Description

    Description: Epiphytic or epilitic shrubs with branches pendent to 3 m, often rooting at nodes; stems and twigs terete, striate to ribbed, densely hispid with eglandular hairs 0.6-1.2 mm long, glabrescent. Leaves succulent and brittle when fresh but drying thin-coriaceous and usually very wrinkled (beneath), ovate, 1-3 x 0.8-1.5 cm, base rounded, subcordate, apex obtusely or subacutely short-acuminate, margin thin, ciliate, lamina sparsely hispid on both surfaces when young with eglandular and glandular hairs 0.5-0.8 mm long, glabrescent; obscurely 3-5-plinerved from base, midrib slightly impressed above and raised beneath, lateral nerves and tertiary veinlets usually slightly raised on both surfaces but obscure; petiole subterete, slightly flattened above, rugose, 1-1.5 mm long, hispid, glabrescent. Inflorescences axillary, flowers solitary or sometimes in fascicles of 2, about equaling to slightly shorter than the subtending leaves; floral bract 1, oblong-ovate, obtuse to acute, 0.4-0.6 mm long, ciliate with glandular hairs; pedicel terete, 6-9 mm long, sparsely hispid; bracteoles 2, basal, opposite, linear, ca. 0.6 mm long. Flowers 5-merous, diplostemonous; calyx 3-3.5 mm long, moderately to densely hispid with eglandular, sometimes crisped hairs, ca. 0.7 mm long; tube subglobose, 1-1.8 mm long; limb campanulate, erect to spreading, ca. 1.5-1.7 mm long; lobes triangular, acuminate, 0.6-0.8 mm long and broad; sinuses rounded; corolla cylindric, broadest above middle, constricted at throat, 9-12 mm long and 5-8 mm diam. at broadest point, bright red, moderately hispid without with eglandular hairs ca. 0.7 mm long, the lobes strongly reflexed but not exposing stamen tips at anthesis, oblong-ovate, obtuse, ca. 1.5 mm long, dark purplish-black and thus contrasting with the tube; stamens 10, subequal in length, ca. 9.3-10.5 mm long; filaments alternately slightly unequal in length, ca. 5.5-7.5 mm long, sparsely pilose; anthers alternately slightly unequal in length, ca. 3-4.5 mm long; thecae ca. 1.5-2 mm long, the base straight, with basal appendage; tubules ca. 1.8-2.5 mm long, dehiscing by clefts ca. 0.5-1.5 mm long; style slightly exserted. Mature berry unknown, but at least 6 mm diam. and turning pale violet to lavender (fide label data); embryo color unknown.

    Distribution: Endemic to west-central Ecuador, growing in montane cloud forest at 1800–3200(–3936) m.

    Type: ECUADOR. Pichincha: Volcán Corazón, 2800 m, August 1882 (fl), Sodiro 92/29 [holotype B destroyed (photo F neg. 4728); lectotype (designated by Luteyn 1996) NY! fragment ex B; isolectotype F! fragment ex B].

    Conservation status: Nearly threatened (NT).

    Cultivated: E.

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

  • Sorry, no descriptions available for this record.