Sphyrospermum dolichanthum Luteyn, 2013

Luteyn, James L. & Pedraza-Peñalosa, Paola, 2013, Nomenclature, taxonomy, and conservation of the neotropical genus Sphyrospermum (Ericaceae: Vaccinieae), including five new species for Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru, Phytotaxa 79 (1), pp. 1-29 : 13-15

Sphyrospermum dolichanthum Luteyn , sp. nov. ( Fig. 2 )

A speciebus omnibus generis Sphyrospermi combinatione characterum: foliis exiguis ellipticis, marginibus pallide coloratis crassisque, pedicellis corollisque elongatis, calyce corollaque brevi-pilosis, filamentis ubique quoad longitudinem antherae comparate brevibus differt.

Type: — ECUADOR. Azuay: Jesus María–Molleturo–Cuenca road, 22.3–25.2 km E of Coastal Hwy. at Jesus María , ca. 2°37’S, 79°14’W, 975–1160 m, 23 November 1998 (fl), Luteyn & Mogollón 15403 (holotype NY!; isotypes AAU!, COL!, MO!, QCA!) .

Epiphytic, pendent shrubs; stems terete to subterete, sometimes bluntly angled, to ca. 3 mm diam., puberulent to glabrate with eglandular hairs; twigs subterete, angled, densely puberulent with eglandular hairs. Leaves elliptic to oblong-elliptic, 1–2 × 0.5–1.1 cm, base and apex broadly obtuse to rounded, margin drying with a thickened and lighter-colored area to 0.4 mm broad on both surfaces, lamina with scattered, reddish, glandular hairs ca. 0.2 mm long on both surfaces; 3(–5)-plinerved from base, midrib usually raised and conspicuous on both surfaces but sometimes becoming plane distally, lateral nerves usually raised to middle then plane distally on both surfaces, sometimes obscure, tertiary veinlets raised but often weakly defined on both surfaces; petiole subterete, flat to narrowly canaliculate above, rugose, ca. 1.5–2 mm long, puberulent. Inflorescences axillary, flowers solitary, longer than the subtending leaves; floral bract not seen; pedicel terete, striate, ca. 14–20 mm long, spreading pilose with eglandular hairs 1.5 mm long; bracteoles 2, nearly basal, subopposite, narrowly ovate, ca. 1 mm long, weakly spreading pilose. Flowers 5-merous, diplostemonous; calyx 4–5 mm long, moderately to densely short-pilose with (yellowish) eglandular hairs to 1.5 mm long; tube globose, ca. 1.8–2.5 mm; limb spreading to campanulate, ca. 1.6–2.5 mm long; lobes triangular, acute, ca. 1–1.6 mm long; sinuses obtuse; corolla bistratose, cylindric but flaring at throat, ca. 27–30 mm long and 4.8–6 mm diam. medially (ca. 6–8 mm diam. across throat), bright red, short-pilose with eglandular hairs ca. 0.4–0.5 mm long without, the lobes spreading, broadly deltate, acute, ca. 1.5 × 3 mm; stamens 10, unequal in length, alternately ca. 25 mm and 26 mm long; filaments equal in length, seemingly coherent at base, ca. 6 mm long, glabrous; anthers alternately ca. 20 mm and 22 mm long; thecae equal in length, ca. 3 mm long, the base straight, without basal appendage, smooth; tubules alternately ca. 17 mm and 19 mm long, dehiscing by oblique pores ca. 0.5–0.6 mm long; style about equaling corolla. Berry unknown.

Distribution and phenology:— Sphyrospermum dolichanthum has only been collected once in central Ecuador (Prov. Azuay) and once in northern Peru (Dept. Piura), at 1160–3000 m. Flowering specimens have been collected in October and November.

Conservation status:— With only two collections from poorly surveyed areas, we considered the data for this species to be deficient (DD).

Observations:— Sphyrospermum dolichanthum is characterized by having small, elliptic leaves with a light colored and thick marginal area, elongate pedicels and corollas, 5-merous flowers, short-pilose calyx and corolla, and comparatively short filaments with respect to anther length. More details about morphologically similar species are given under S. lanceolatum .

Additional specimen examined (paratype): — PERU. Piura: Prov. Huancabamba, above Canchaque on road to Huancabamba , 3000 m, 10 October 1957 (fl), Hutchison 1631 ( US).

Sphyrospermum flaviflorum Smith (1952: 45) . Type:— ECUADOR. Cañar: valley of Río de Cañar, near Rosario , 1035 m, 6–10 September 1944 (fl), Prieto CP-16 [holotype US! (photo NY neg. 11124); isotypes F!, NY! (photo NY neg. 10126)].

Distribution and phenology:— Sphyrospermum flaviflorum is endemic to Cañar, Ecuador, where it flowers in September.

Conservation status:— It is only known from the type collection and the type locality is now extremely degraded. Critically endangered [EN B1ab(i, iii)].

Observations:— Sphyrospermum flaviflorum is characterized by having a very short pedicel and small campanulate, yellow corollas that might become tinted with pink when exposed to the sun (fide Camp in sched.). Sphyrospermum flaviflorum is morphologically similar to a small group that includes S. spruceanum , S. rotundifolium , and S. xanthocarpum ; species with which it has in common short pedicellate flowers with small, corollas (yellow in S. rotundifolium and S. xanthocarpum ); stamens alternating in length (either the entire stamen or any of its parts); anther tubules dehiscing by terminal pores; and succulent leaves. More collections of all the species involved are sorely needed.

Figures

FIGURE 2. Sphyrospermum dolichanthum. A. Habit showing pendent flowers and stems rooting at some nodes. B. Leaf undersurface. C. Mature flower showing basal bracteoles, pedicel, calyx, and corolla. D. Longitudinal section of corolla with some stamens. E. Longitudinal section of calyx showing ovules. F. Four adjacent stamens in dorsal view, two adjacent stamens in ventral view, single stamen in dorsal view, and single stamen in lateral view; the outermost stamen is the only one drawn in its entirety, including the long tubules dehiscing apically by obliquely pores. Illustration by Bobbi Angell (drawn from holotype).