Agarista duckei (Huber) Judd
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Authority
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. (Published by NYBG Press)
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Family
Ericaceae
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Scientific Name
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Type
Type. Brazil. Pará: "in campis arenosis ad ripam orient, fl. Yamundá, pr. Faro," 27 Aug 1907, Ducke 8526 (holotype, MG, n.v.; frag, and photo of holotype, F; isotype, G-Boiss., n.v.).
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Synonyms
Leucothoe duckei Huber, Leucothoe venezuelensis A.C.Sm.
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Description
Species Description - Shrub to tree to 6 m tall, with roughly furrowed bark; twigs sparsely to densely pubescent, with nonchambered pith; buds to ca. 1.5 mm long, leaves revolute. Leaves coriaceous, elliptic to slightly ovate (obovate), (1.5-)2-5.7 × 0.5-2.1 cm, base narrowly to widely cuneate or rounded, apex elongate-mucronate to short-acuminate, margin entire, plane to strongly re volute, and entire lamina often strongly abaxially curved, adaxial surface sparsely pubescent on midvein, especially basal portion (with a few scattered hairs on basal portion of lamina), abaxial surface sparsely to moderately pubescent on midvein, with few to several very inconspicuous glandular dots along midvein; petiole 2-6(-7) mm long. Inflorescences axillary racemes to 0.5-1.5 cm long; rachis densely pubescent; pedicels 2.5-12 mm long, moderately to densely pubescent; bracteoles 2, alternate, from nearly basal to within lower 1/3 of pedicel, triangular to narrowly so, to ca. 1.2 mm long; floral bracts to 1.2 mm long. Flowers with triangular calyx lobes, with acuminate apices, 0.9-2.3 × 0.7-1 mm, abaxial surface moderately to densely pubescent; corolla urceolate to cylindrical, white (pink), 6-8 × 3-4.5 mm, glabrous; filaments 3.5-4.7 mm long; anthers 0.9-1.1 mm long; ovary sometimes with scattered gland-headed hairs, otherwise sparsely to densely pubescent. Capsules ovoid to globose or subglobose, 5-6 × 6-8 mm, (valves white bordered,) placentae subapical; seeds 1.5-3 mm long.
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Discussion
The closest relative of Agarista duckei seems to be the geographically separated A. revoluta (see Figs. 4 & 5A). The strong similarities between the two species also were noted by Sleumer (1959). In both species the leaf blade is often strongly to moderately abaxially curved. Agarista duckei is readily distinguished from A. revoluta by its shorter inflorescences, its short-acuminate to elongate-mucronate leaf apices, and its usually white flowers. Agarista duckei may sometimes be confused with the Andean species A. albiflora; see key for distinguishing characters.
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Objects
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Distribution
S Venezuela and W Para, Brazil, and disjunctly in Mato Grosso. Thickets and forests on sand, open sandy areas, bush forest and savannas on white sand, river and lake margins, rocky slopes and plateaus; ca. 100-1400 m elev. Flowering May through August (October and December).
Brazil South America| Mato Grosso Brazil South America| Pará Brazil South America| Venezuela South America| Amazonas Brazil South America| Bolívar Venezuela South America|