Cavendishia punctata (Ruiz & Pav. ex J.St.-Hil.) Sleumer

  • Family

    Ericaceae (Magnoliophyta)

  • Scientific Name

    Cavendishia punctata (Ruiz & Pav. ex J.St.-Hil.) Sleumer

  • Primary Citation

    Notizbl. Bot. Gart. Berlin-Dahlem 12: 294. 1935

  • Basionym

    Thibaudia punctata Ruiz & Pav. ex J.St.-Hil.

  • Common Names

    huegli, huehli del monte

  • Description

    Description: Terrestrial shrub usually with one main branch arching to 4 m; mature branches subterete and often appearing hollow after drying, striate, glabrous, brownish; twigs pruinose. Leaves oblong or lance-elliptic, 12-20(-26) x 4-8.5(-11) cm, basally rounded or broadly obtuse, apically acute or short-acuminate, glabrous, conspicuously punctate on both surfaces after recessed glandular fimbriae break off; 3-5(-7)-plinerved with inner pair of lateral nerves arising 1.5-2.5 cm above base, midrib, lateral and reticulate veins impressed above and raised beneath; axillary bud scales rarely appearing pseudostipular; petioles subterete, adaxially flattened, rugose, glabrous, 5-14 mm long and 3-4 mm diam. Inflorescence racemose (rarely with one or two secondary branches near base), 30-40(-60)-flowered, encircled at base by numerous, subcoriaceous, ovate, apiculate, glandular-fimbriate-margined bracts to 15 mm long and broad, these often persistent through anthesis; rachis subterete, usually conspicuously striate or ridged, glabrous, 10-30 cm long and 3-5 mm in diam., secondary branches 4-7(-11) cm long when present; floral bracts caducous, oblong, 8-15 x 5-7 mm, marginally glandular-fimbriate, green suffused with red when fresh; pedicels subterete, ridged and angled, glabrous, 10-12 mm long at anthesis but elongating to 36 mm in fruit; bracteoles subpersistent, broadly to narrowly ovate, acute to long-acuminate, 1-2.8 mm long, marginally glandular-fimbriate. Flowers: calyx glabrous, 5-6 mm long, green suffused with red; hypanthium globose to subcylindric, rugose, 2.2-2.5 mm long, basally slightly apophysate; limb spreading, rugose, 2.5-3.5 mm long; lobes oblong-ovate to hemispheric, apiculate, 1-2 x 2.6 mm, erect after anthesis, entire margin thin lacerate-glandular and reddish in color; sinuses acute; corolla subcylindric to conical-cylindric tapering distally, glabrous, 10-15 mm long, pale yellowish-green when fresh, lobes triangular, acute, ca. 1 mm long; stamens 8.7-10.3 mm; filaments densely short-pilose ventrally, alternately 2.2-2.8 mm and 3-3.5 mm long; anthers alternately 7.2-8.6 mm and 7-8.3 mm long; thecae alternately 2.8-3 mm and 3-4 mm long; style equaling corolla. Young berry ca. 12 mm diam., dark wine-red when fresh.

    Distribution: Endemic to Peru, to eastern Huánuco and Junín Depts., where it is found in ceja, cloud forest, forest edge, thickets, and open woods, at elevations of 1560-3700 m. Flowering occurs primarily January-July; mature fruiting specimens have been collected in June.

    Local names: huehli del monte, huegli (both from Junín).

    Type: Peru. Huánuco or Junín: Huasahuasi, Chinchao, Acomayo, Macora, Pillao et Muña, 1778-1788, Ruiz & Pavón s.n. (lectotype, designated by Luteyn (1983): MA-15/51, photo NY neg. 9262). There are an additional four sheets of this species collected by Ruiz and Pavón at MA (NY negs. 9260-9261, 9263-9264, Killip neg. 476). However, since collection data are either nonexistent or variable on the labels and the collections were not numbered, isolectotypes were not designated.

  • Floras and Monographs

    Cavendishia punctata (Ruiz & Pav. ex J.St.-Hil.) Sleumer: [Article] Luteyn, James L. 1983. Ericaceae--part I. Cavendishia. Fl. Neotrop. Monogr. 35: 1-290.