Calceolaria fusca Pennell

  • Authority

    Molau, Ulf. 1988. Scrophulariaceae Part I. Calceolarieae. Fl. Neotrop. Monogr. 47: 1-325. (Published by NYBG Press)

  • Family

    Scrophulariaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Calceolaria fusca Pennell

  • Type

    Type. Ecuador. Loja: Between Loja and Zamora,  3500 m, 1 Dec 1876, André K.607 (holotype, F; isotypes, K, NY).

  • Synonyms

    Calceolaria acuminata Pennell, Calceolaria parotricha Pennell, Calceolaria steyermarkii Pennell

  • Description

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    Species Description - Erect or ascending shrub, 0.4-1.5 m tall, the branches ± divaricate; inflorescence and distal parts of stems hirsute or tomentose with brown to purple hairs. Leaves with blades ovate, 1.5-4.2 x 0.8-2.8 cm, acute or slightly acuminate, cuneate or rounded at base, the margins sharply dentate, revolute or deflexed; upper surface dark green, flexuose or slightly rugose, pilose to hirsute with purple hairs; lower surface light green, pinnate-venose, the veins hirsute, interspaces glabrous or pilose; petioles densely purplish-hirsute, 3-12 mm. Inflorescence composed of 1-3 pairs of 4-10-flowered cymes, the primary peduncles 0.5-5 cm, the pedicels 0.7-2 cm; cyme bracts usually rudimentary or absent. Sepals ovate, light yellow-green, 5.5-9 x 4-6 mm at anthesis, acute or slightly acuminate, externally hirsute or strigose with purplish hairs, internally with a short-tomentose border along the margins, otherwise glabrous or puberulous. Corolla type IV, bright yellow, the upper lip flattened, circular, 6-15 mm high and 10-17 mm wide, the lower lip saccate in 20-30% of length, the upcurved portion 1020 x 8-14 mm; elaiophore present. Stamens type 6; anthers dark brown, glabrous, 1.8-2.5 mm across, the thecae equal, slightly deflexed, beanshaped, each one 1.5-2 mm; filaments 1.2-2.2 mm. Style almost straight, 3.2-4.2 mm. Capsule ovoid, brownish, 5-6 mm long, hirsute, becoming glabrous with age. 2n = 36 (Molau & Öhman 1439, new record).

  • Discussion

    Calceolaria fusca is a very variable species, particularly with regard to leaf size and pubescence density, but the variation is not geographically ordered. (For further discussion, see Molau, 1980a: 45.)

    Calceolaria fusca was (together with its synonyms) formerly placed in a section of its own, Phaeanthera (Pennell, 1951b; Molau, 1980a). This group was later fused with sect. Salicifoliae (Molau, 1984), resulting in a much more natural systematic position of C. fusca. Its position within the Salicifoliae is supported by important morphological evidence: leaf texture and pubescence, sepal shape and pubescence, and floral characters, as well as by seed coat ornamentation. However, it does also exhibit affinities to sect. Polyclada (indumentum color, branching angles). With the present knowledge I regard C. fusca as one of the most primitive species of sect. Salicifoliae.

  • Distribution

    Scattered, and irregularly distributed in the Andes from S Colombia to N Peru; mountain scrub and elfin forest, 2500-3500 m. The patchy distribution may reflect a Pleistocene glacial barrier in N Ecuador; another possible explanation could be polyphyletic origin of the taxon (see Phytogeography and Distribution). Calceolaria fusca is here reported for the first time from Peru.

    Colombia South America| Cauca Colombia South America| Ecuador South America| Azuay Ecuador South America| Cañar Ecuador South America| Loja Ecuador South America| Morona-Santiago Ecuador South America| Peru South America| Piura Peru South America|