Cavendishia confertiflora A.C.Sm.

Authority

Luteyn, James L. 1983. Ericaceae--part I. Cavendishia. Fl. Neotrop. Monogr. 35: 1-290. (Published by NYBG Press)

Family

Ericaceae

Scientific Name

Cavendishia confertiflora A.C.Sm.

Type

Type. Costa Rica. San José: Vic. of El General, 1560 m, Dec 1936 (fl), Skutch 2991 (holotype, NY, photo DUKE, NY neg. 9801; isotypes, GH, K, MO, US).

Description

Species Description - Terrestrial shrub to 3 m tall, glabrous throughout; stem base 2.5-5 cm in diam.; mature branches terete, pendant, tan or reddish; twigs terete or bluntly angled, minutely striate, tan. Leaves oblong, ovate-elliptic, or oblong-elliptic, (8-) 10-15 (-20) X (3-)3.5-5(-7) cm, basally rounded or obtuse, rarely subcordate, apically acuminate; 5(-7)-plinerved, midrib impressed above and raised beneath, lateral nerves impressed above but outer ones becoming plane distally, raised beneath, veinlets raised and conspicuous above, slightly raised but obscure beneath; petioles subterete, slightly rugose, 6-10 mm long and 1.5-2.5 mm in diam. Inflorescence cylindric with 13-32 tightly congested, imbricate flowers, encircled at base by few, early caducous bracts; rachis coarsely angled, minutely striate, 3-6.5 cm long, green when fresh but drying tan; floral bracts smooth, tightly appressed to and covering calyx and lower half of corolla at anthesis, persisting to fruit, concave, semiorbicular to broadly oval, 10-17 X 11-15 mm, basally truncate, apically rounded or acute, marginally scarious and glandular-fimbriate these soon caducous, glabrous but with few, minute, scattered, reddish, glandular fimbriae adaxially, pink to dark red; pedicels swollen at both ends, 2 mm long at anthesis (lengthening to 6 mm long after anthesis) and 1.5-3 mm in diam., with cartilaginous teeth at distal tip, green when fresh but drying tan; bracteoles basal, often keeled, slightly imbricate at base, clasping lower half of hypanthium, oblong to subrotund, 4.5-5 X (3-)4-6 mm at anthesis becoming to 8 X 9 mm prior to fruiting, basally truncate and somewhat auriculate, apically rounded and often apiculate, marginally glandular-fimbriate, pink to dark red. Flowers: calyx 7-9.5 mm long at anthesis, green when fresh, with scattered minute, reddish, glandular fimbriae; hypanthium obconic to hemispheric, bluntly 5-angled, slightly rugose, 2.5-3 mm long, nonapophysate; limb erect or spreading, 4-6.5 mm long; lobes basally imbricate, oblong, 3-5.5 X 3-5 mm, connivent and tightly enclosing style after anthesis, apically rounded or emarginate and usually apiculate, margins scarious bearing caducous glandular fimbriae, pink when fresh; corolla bottleshaped, swollen basally but narrowed to throat, 13-17 mm long and ca. 8 mm in diam. at broadest point, dark pink basally and white apically, lobes oblong or triangular, 1.5 X 1 mm, white; stamens 9.5-11 mm long; filaments alternately 23 mm and 3.5-5 mm long; anthers alternately 8-9 mm and 7-8 mm long; thecae 2.5-3.5 mm long; style 14-15 mm long. Mature berry not seen.

Discussion

Cavendishia confertiflora is characterized by cylindric inflorescences which are composed of many congested, imbricate flowers, tightly appressed and persistent floral bracts (and usually bracteoles), and by imbricate calyx lobes.

Distribution

Endemic to a small area of the Cordillera de Talamanca north of the General Valley, San José Prov., Costa Rica, where it is found in roadside thickets at elevations of 1580-1900 m. Flowering occurs in November-December, and fruiting in December-January.

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