Vaccinium steyermarkii Luteyn

  • Family

    Ericaceae (Magnoliophyta)

  • Scientific Name

    Vaccinium steyermarkii Luteyn

  • Primary Citation

    Bull. Torrey Bot. Club 112(4): 451, fig. 2A-D. 1985

  • Type Specimens

    Specimen 1: Holotype -- J. A. Steyermark 128976-A, verif. J. L. Luteyn

  • Description

    Description: Terrestrial shrub to 1.5 m tall; stem subterete, bluntly angled, glabrous, nitid, reddish-brown when dry. Leaves coriaceous, elliptic, 2-4.5 x 1.5-2.5 cm, apically rounded to broadly acute, basally rounded or very short-attentuate and with small umbonate glands, marginally entire, flat, glabrous; pinnately nerved with all nerves impressed above and raised beneath, these either inconspicuous on both surfaces or sometimes conspicuous only beneath; petiole subterete, flattened abaxially, rugose, glabrous, 2-4 mm long. Infloresence of 1-3 axillary, fasciculate flowers; floral bracts ovate, apiculate, glabrous, glaucous, 5-8 mm long; bracteoles located just below the middle of the pedicel, non-articulate, opposite, glabrous, glaucous, 1-2 mm long. Flowers with calyx stipitate, glabrous, glaucous, 3-4 mm long, blue-green when fresh; hypanthium subcylindric, bluntly 5-angled, constricted near the base, truncate, 2-2.5 mm long; limb campanulate-spreading, 1-1.5 mm long including the lobes; lobes triangular, acute, non-glandular, 0.5-1 mm long; sinuses obtuse; corolla tubular, subcylindric, slightly expanded distally when dry, glabrous, 19-22 mm long, red to dull red when fresh, the lobes oblong, obtuse, 2.5-3 mm long; stamens 10, 14-15 mm long; filaments distinct, sparsely-pilose marginally, 10.5-11 mm long; connectives pilose; anthers 4.8-5 mm long, conspicuously "V"-shaped; thecae 2.5 mm long; tubules spreading distally, dehiscing by oblique terminal pores; disintegration tissue running along dorsal side of the tubules; style slightly exserted, 22-25 mm long; ovary 5-locular; disc glabrous. Fruit not seen.

    Distribution: Endemic to Venezuela (Bolívar: Chimantí) and known only from two collections.

    Type: Venezuela. Bolívar: Dtto. Piar, Macizo del Chimantá, eastern section of Chimantá-tepui, 5°18'N, 62°03'W, 2450 m, 7-9 Feb 1983 (fl), Steyermark et al. 128976-A (holotype, NY; isotype, VEN).

    Conservation status: Rare and endangered.

  • Floras and Monographs

    Vaccinium steyermarkii Luteyn: [Article] 1985. Bull. Torrey Bot. Club. 112(4): 451, fig. 2A-D.