Agarista subrotunda (Pohl) G.Don
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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. Minas Gerais: São João d El Rey, Oct 1819, Pohl s.n. (n.v.).
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Synonyms
Andromeda pistrix Cham., Andromeda subrotunda Pohl, Leucothoe subrotunda (Pohl) DC., Leucothoe subrotunda var. pistrix (Cham.) Meisn.
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Description
Species Description - Shrub to ca. 2.5 m tall; twigs with or without scattered gland-headed hairs, otherwise densely pubescent, with nonchambered pith; buds to ca. 1.2 mm long, leaves re volute. Leaves very coriaceous, ovate to elliptic or nearly orbicular, 1-3.5(-4) × 0.7-2.5(-3.7) cm, base cordate, apex acute- to rounded- or retuse-mucronate, margin entire (ciliate due to gland-headed hairs), ± plane, adaxial surface sparsely pubescent on lamina and mid vein, often glabrescent, abaxial surface with or without glandheaded hairs on mid vein, otherwise moderately to densely pubescent on lamina and sparsely to densely pubescent on midvein, with few to several inconspicuous to conspicuous glandular dots along midvein (although these often obscured by dense pubescence); petiole 2-4.5 mm long. Inflorescences axillary racemes to 4-7 cm long; rachis with or without scattered gland-headed hairs, otherwise densely pubescent; pedicels 5-12.5 mm long, with or without gland-headed hairs, otherwise densely pubescent; bracteoles 2, alternate to subopposite, from nearly basal to near middle of pedicel, narrowly triangular, to ca. 1.3 mm long; floral bracts to 2 mm long. Flowers with triangular to ovate calyx lobes, with acuminate apices, 1.5-2.5 × 1-2 mm, abaxial surface sometimes with few gland-headed hairs, otherwise densely pubescent; corolla cylindrical, red, 6.5-9 × 3-4.5 mm, sparsely to densely pubescent; filaments 3.5-4.5 mm long; anthers 1.5-2 mm long; ovary densely pubescent. Capsules short-ovoid, 4-5 × 6-7 mm, placentae subapical; seeds 1.3-2 mm long, probably also larger.
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Discussion
Agarista subrotunda likely is allied closely with A. pulchra and A. coriifolia. All of these species have thickly coriaceous, at least occasionally conspicuously gland-dotted leaves, and subapical placentae. This species is separated easily from both A. coriifolia and A. pulchra by its conspicuous abaxially pubescent leaves and corollas. Agarista chapadensis has similar abaxially pubescent leaves and flowers and also may be closely related; it can be distinguished from A. subrotunda by leaf-base shape (cuneate to rounded vs. cordate) and pedicel length. Agarista paraguayensis, A. mexicana var. pinetorum, and A. revoluta var. velutina also have abaxially pubescent leaves, but these taxa differ in many other characters and are not closely related to A. subrotunda. Agarista subrotunda appears to be geographically separated from all of the above mentioned species except A. pulchra. The taxon has been poorly collected and is in need of field investigation.
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Objects
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Distribution
Brazil, S Minas Gerais, region surrounding São João d’El Rey. Circa 1065-1675 m elev. Flowering July and August.
Brazil South America| Minas Gerais Brazil South America|