Ericaceae Juss., Gen. Pl.

Garcia, Lívia & Jr, José Nascimento, 2024, Ericaceae from Serra de São José and Serra do Lenheiro, Minas Gerais, Brazil, Rodriguesia (e 00832024) 76, pp. 1-12 : 2-3

Ericaceae Juss., Gen. Pl. 159–160. 1789.

Subshrubs, shrubs, treelets or trees. Simple leaves, alternate or opposite, apical gland more frequently present, margins entire to serrate. Inflorescence racemose or paniculate (occasionally solitary flowers). Showy flowers, bisexual, actinomorphic, dichlamydeous, calyx gamosepalous or dialisepalous, more frequently pentamerous, corolla gamopetalous, more frequently pentamerous; stamens diplostemonous, anthers rimose; ovary superior or inferior, 2–10-locular. Fruit most commonly a capsule, or berry, or drupe.

Dichotomous key for the genera and species of Ericaceae occurring in the Serra de São José and Serra do Lenheiro

1. Superior ovary; not ribbed capsule ................................................................................................. 2 ( Agarista )

1’. Inferior ovary; ribbed capsule .....................................................................................................6 ( Gaylussacia )

2. Leaf with elliptic to ovate lamina with cordate base; petiole 1.5–4.5 mm long; corolla pink to red. ........................................................................................................................................................................3

2’. Leaf with elliptic, oblong, or lanceolate lamina with obtuse to rounded base; petiole 7.3–27 mm long; corolla white to cream.......................................................................................................................5

3. Leaves densely pubescent on the abaxial surface; calyx lobes ca. 2.5 × 1.6 mm.......................... ........................................................................................................................ 1.5. Agarista subrotunda

3’. Leaves glabrous or only weakly pubescent near the main vein on the abaxial surface; calyx lobes 1.5–2.0 × 1.2–1.5 mm................................................................................................................4

4. Abaxial surface of the leaves with conspicuous foveolate glands associated with the secondary vein; stem moderately to densely pubescent........................................................ ............................................................................................. 1.1. Agarista coriifolia var. coriifolia

4’. Abaxial surface of the leaves without conspicuous foveolate glands associated with the secondary vein; stem glabrous to sparsely pubescent ........................................................... ............................................................................................1.4. Agarista pulchella var. cordifolia

5. Petiole 7.3–27 mm × 0.1–0.7 mm, slender, flexible; corolla 0.6–0.7 × 0.27–0.3 cm; stamens with filaments 3.7–3.8 mm long............................. 1.2. Agarista eucalyptoides

5’. Petiole 5–9 mm × 0.6–1 mm, stout, not flexible; corolla 0.9–1.1 × 0.3–0.5 cm; stamens with filaments 6–7 mm long ........................................................... 1.3. Agarista oleifolia

6. Reddish corolla .........................................................................................................7

6’. White to cream corolla.............................................................................................8

7. Calyx lobes 0.6–0.9 × 1–1.2 mm, sparsely pubescent, with glandular trichomes; peduncle approximately 0.7 cm........... 2.4. Gaylussacia pulchra

7’. Calyx lobes 1.0–1.5 × 1.2–1.8 mm, glabrous, with captured or subcapitate glands present; peduncle 1.5–4.1 mm............................................................ ......................................................2.1. Gaylussacia brasiliensis var. brasiliensis

8. Urceolate corolla; petiole 2–3.1 × 0.3–0.9 mm; glandular trichomes present throughout the plant.................................................................. .....................................................2.3. Gaylussacia montana var. montana

8’. Campanulate corolla; petiole 1-1.5 × 1 mm; glandular trichomes absent........................................................... 2.2. Gaylussacia chamissonis