Agarista virgata Judd

  • Family

    Ericaceae (Magnoliophyta)

  • Scientific Name

    Agarista virgata Judd

  • Primary Citation

    J. Arnold Arbor. 65: 313. 1984

  • Description

    Description: Erectly branched shrub to ca. 1 m tall; twigs with scattered gland-headed hairs, otherwise glabrous, with non-chambered pith; buds to ca. 2.8 mm long, leaves revolute. Leaves coriaceous, ovate to elliptic, 0.7-1.8 x 0.4-1.3 cm, base cordate to rounded, apex acute- to obtuse-mucronate to short-acuminate, margin entire or serrulate due to gland-headed hairs, plane, adaxial surface with gland-headed hairs, otherwise very sparsely pubescent on extreme basal portion of midvein, abaxial surface with gland-headed hairs, especially on midvein, otherwise glabrous, usually with few very inconspicuous glandular dots along midvein; petiole 1-2 mm long. Inflorescences axillary racemes or terminal racemes or panicles, to 5-16 cm long; rachis with scattered gland-headed hairs, otherwise glabrous; pedicels 2-7 mm long, with gland-headed hairs, otherwise glabrous; bracteoles 2, alternate to opposite, from near apex to midpoint of pedicel, narrowly triangular to ovate, to ca. 2.3 mm long; floral bracts to 5 mm long (some similar to leaves). Flowers with triangular calyx lobes, with acuminate apices, 1.4-3 x 0.6-1.6 mm, abaxial surface with gland-headed hairs, otherwise glabrous; corolla cylindrical, white, 6-7 x 2-3 mm, glabrous; filaments ca. 4 mm long; anthers ca. 1 mm long; ovary glabrous. Capsules subglobose to short-ovoid, 4-5.5 x 5.5-7.5 mm, placentae ± central; seeds 1.2-1.6 mm long.

    Distribution: Endemic to SE Brazil (Minas Gerais, Serra do Cipó), at ca. 1400 m alt. Flowering in June.

    Illustration: Judd (1995), fig. 10

    Type: Brazil. Minas Gerais: Serra do Cipó, Km 140, 22 Jun 1964, Duarte 8098 (holotype, F; isotypes, L, S).

  • Floras and Monographs

    Agarista virgata 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.