17. Semiramisia KLOTZSCH Linnaea 24:25 1851. -- Type: Semiramisia speciosa (BENTHAM)
KLOTZSCH.

References: LUTEYN, J. L., Revision of Semiramisia (Ericaceae: Vaccinieae). Systematic Bot. 9(3): 359--367 (1984). -- LUTEYN, J. L. & M. L. LEBRON-LUTEYN, El género Semiramisia (Ericaceae) en el Ecuador. Publ. Mus. Ecuatoriano Cien. Nat., Revista 5, Año 7: 37--43 (1986 [1987]).

Terrestrial or epiphytic shrubs, rarely lianoid. Leaves alternate, coricaeous, ovate-lanceolate, acuminate, margin entire, glabrous but with scattered glandular fimbriae beneath, plinerved. Inflorescence axillary, short-racemose or flowers solitary; floral bract inconspicuous. Flowers 5-merous, without odor; aestivation valvate; calyx continuous with the pedicel; hypanthium obconical, terete to angled or winged; lobes apiculate; corolla terete, broadening distally, fleshy when fresh but drying membranous, shallowly lobed, bistratose between the lobes, the lobes short and broad; stamen 10, equal, slightly shorter than the corolla; filaments connate (in Ecuador) or distinct, shorter than anthers, lacking spurs; anthers lacking disintegration tissue; thecae strongly granular; tubules elongate, about one-half as broad as the thecae, dehiscing by terminal or subterminal oblique, sometimes flaring pores; pollen lacking viscin threads; ovary inferior, glabrous; style nearly equalling the corolla. Fruit a berry.

A genus of four species, from Venezuela to Peru. One species occurs in Ecuador.

One species: Semiramisia speciosa.