Agarista paraguayensis (Sleumer) Judd

  • Family

    Ericaceae (Magnoliophyta)

  • Scientific Name

    Agarista paraguayensis (Sleumer) Judd

  • Primary Citation

    J. Arnold Arbor. 65: 307. 1984

  • Basionym

    Leucothoe paraguayensis Sleumer

  • Description

    Type: Paraguay. Paraguarí: Piribebuy, Salto Piravetá, 23 Nov 1950, Sparre & Vervoorst 501 (holotype, LIL, n.v.; isotypes, C, K, TEX, n.v., S).

    Description: Shrub to ca. 3 m tall; twigs with or without scattered gland-headed hairs, otherwise sparsely to densely pubescent, with nonchambered to hollow or very sparsely septate pith; buds to ca. 2.5 mm long. Leaves coriaceous, ovate, 1.8-5.2 x 0.7-2.2 cm, base rounded to cordate, apex acute- to rounded-mucronate or slightly acuminate, margin entire (slightly sinuous), plane to very slightly revolute, especially near base, adaxial surface pubescent on midvein (also with few unicellular hairs on lamina), abaxial surface densely to irregularly and sparsely pubescent on midvein and lamina (glabrous or with pubescence limited to midvein), often with inconspicuous glandular dots along midvein; petiole 2.5-6 mm long. Inflorescences axillary racemes to 1.5-9 cm long; rachis with or without scattered gland-headed hairs, otherwise moderately to densely pubescent; pedicels 3-9 mm long, with or without gland-headed hairs, otherwise densely to moderately (sparsely) pubescent; bracteoles 2, opposite to alternate, from nearly basal to within lower 1/3 of pedicel, narrowly triangular, to ca. 1.5 mm long; floral bracts to 1.5 mm long. Flowers with triangular calyx lobes, with acuminate apices, 0.9-2.5 x 0.9-1.8 mm, abaxial surface sometimes with few gland-headed hairs, otherwise sparsely to densely pubescent; corolla cylindrical, red to white(?), 6.5-9 x 3-4 mm, slightly or very slightly pubescent to glabrous; filaments 4.5-5.5 mm long; anthers 1.1-2 mm long; ovary nearly glabrous to densely pubescent. Capsules subglobose, 3.5-4.5 x 5-6.5 mm, placentae ± central; seeds 0.9-1.8 mm long.

    Distribution: E Paraguay and adjacent Argentina, in rocky areas, steep slopes, ravine slopes along arroyos. Flowering August to December.

  • Floras and Monographs

    Agarista paraguayensis (Sleumer) Judd: [Article] Luteyn, James L., et al. 1995. Ericaceae, Part II. The Superior-Ovaried Genera (Monotropoideae, Pyroloideae, Rhododendroideae, and Vaccinioideae P.P.). Fl. Neotrop. Monogr. 66: 560.