Thibaudia pachyantha A.C.Sm.

  • Family

    Ericaceae (Magnoliophyta)

  • Scientific Name

    Thibaudia pachyantha A.C.Sm.

  • Primary Citation

    Contr. U. S. Natl. Herb. 28(2): 415. 1932

  • Description

    Description: Terrestrial or epiphytic shrub with branches to 2.5 m long; stem and twigs terete to subterete, bluntly angled, striate, violet or reddish, nitid, glabrous. Leaves coriaceous, ovate, (6.5-)12-20 x (4-)6.5-9.5, base rounded to rarely subcordate, apex acute to short-acuminate, margin entire, glabrous but densely glandular-fimbriate with dark hairs to 0.2 mm long especially beneath; pinnately nerved with 4-6(-9) pairs of lateral nerves per side, midrib (sometimes conspicuously thickened and raised in the proximal 1-2 cm) and lateral nerves conspicuously impressed above and raised beneath, reticulate veinlets conspicuously raised on both surfaces; petiole terete, rugose, very stout, 2.5-3 mm long, glabrous. Inflorescence axillary, racemose, 4-13-flowered; rachis terete to bluntly angled, congested distally with proximal 2-3 nodes not developing, striate, thick, 1-4 cm long and to 4 mm diam., glabrous; floral bract ovate to oblong, acute to rounded, 2-3 x 2-3 mm, glabrous; pedicel subterete, hypercrateriform (very suddenly expanded at apex and broader in diam. than hypanthium), striate, 35-37 mm long, elongating to 55 mm post anthesis, glabrous; bracteoles basal, similar to floral bract in size, sometimes the margin with minute glandular fimbriae. Flowers with calyx articulate, 12-14 mm long, white, glabrous; hypanthium cylindric but broadest at middle, 4-6 mm long, the base rounded; limb cylindric but gradually spreading distally, 7-9 mm long; lobes broadly ovate, apiculate, ca. 1-1.5 mm long; sinuses acute or flat; corolla thick-carnose, hard, cylindric, ca. 27 mm long and 9 mm diam., white to pinkish, the lobes 2-3 mm long, pinkish; stamens equal, ca. 24 mm long; filaments distinct, ca. 4 mm long, short-pilose along margins in distal one-third; anthers ca. 21 mm long; thecae ca. 11-12 mm long; tubules laterally connate but distinct only in distal ca. 4 mm, ca. 9-10 mm long, dehiscing by clefts ca. 9 mm long. Berry not seen.

    Distribution: Colombia and Ecuador; tropical moist, wet, and rainforest, to premontane rainforest, at 500-1300 m altitude. Rare.

    Type: Colombia. Nariño: Road from Tuquerres, 900 m, 1851-1857, Triana 2689 (holotype, K; isotypes, BM, P).

  • Floras and Monographs

    Thibaudia pachyantha A.C.Sm.: [Article] 1932. Contr. U. S. Natl. Herb. 28(2): 415.