Ericaceae-Neotropical Blueberries
James L. Luteyn and Paola Pedraza-Peñalosa
The New York Botanical Garden

BOLIVIA

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List of Species

The keys below are based primarily on herbarium specimens, although living, alcohol-preserved material, and photographs taken from field have been used.  Calyx limb length includes measurement of the lobes, and anther length includes thecae and tubules.

Key to Bolivian Ericaceae with Superior Ovaries
(go to Inferior Ovaried Taxa )

1.  Corolla with petals separate;  fruit a septicidal capsule............................................Bejaria aestuans L.
1.  Corolla with petals fused;  fruit a loculicidal capsule or berry.
        2.  Stamens with filaments geniculate;  anthers without terminal awns or tubules, and without white
             disintegration tissue on abaxial side.....................................Agarista boliviensis (Sleumer) Judd
        2.  Stamens with filaments straight; anthers with terminal awns; anthers with white disintegration tissue on
             abaxial side.
                3.  Fruit a berry, rarely calyx becoming fleshy at base but never surrounding the berry..................
                     ...........................................................................................Pernettya prostrata (Cav.) DC.
                3.  Fruit a capsule, surrounded by the fleshy, accrescent calyx (calyx rarely not fleshy).................
                     ..........................................................................................................................Gaultheria
                           4.  Flowers solitary in axils of normal (or only slightly reduced) leaves.
                                   5.  Thick-stemmed shrub to 5 m tall;  corolla campanulate, broadest at apex, yellowish-
                                        green.....................Gaultheria buxifolia Willd. var. secunda (Remy) Luteyn
                                   5.  Thin-stemmed subshrub to 0.4 (rarely 1-2) m tall;  corolla urceolate to nearly
                                        subglobose, inflated at the base and very constricted at the throat, pink to rose-red
                                        ...........................................................................Gaultheria vacinioides Wedd.
                           4.  Flowers in axillary racemes.
                                   6.  Abaxial surface of lamina and entire inflorescence tomentose-lanate.....Gaultheria
                                      eriophylla (Pers.) Sleumer ex Burtt var. mucronata (Remy) Luteyn
                                   6.  Abaxial surface of lamina and inflorescences glabrous or sparsely to densely
                                        pubescent but never tomentose-lanate.
                                           7.  Young twigs and inflorescences conspicuously strigose with straight, rigid,
                                                appressed hairs, usually so dense as to obscure surfaces);  lamina usually densely
                                                and persistently reddish-strigose beneath.
                                                       8.  Calyx glabrous;  corolla glabrous to variably hairy, never densely strigose
                                                            all over;  ovary glabrous or very weakly short-pilose at apex;
                                                            inflorescence congested (glomerate) at anthesis with the flowers broadly
                                                            overlapping ..........................Gaultheria glomerata (Cav.) Sleumer
                                                       8.  Calyx and corolla densely strigose-hirsute with ferruginous, subsetose,
                                                            rarely glandular hairs;  ovary densely short-white pilose or cinerous;
                                                            inflorescence not congested at anthesis, the flowers widely spaced ........
                                                            ................................................Gaultheria bracteata (Cav.) G.Don
                                           7.  Young twigs and inflorescences glabrous or variously spreading pubescent, but not
                                                appressed-strigose with straight, rigid hairs; lamina glabrous or variously pubescent,
                                                but not strigose beneath.
                                                       9.  Repent, rhizomatous subshrub, 0.1-0.2 m tall;  leaf lamina usually obovate
                                                            with the apex rounded..................Gaultheria hapalotricha A.C.Sm.
                                                       9.  Erect, subshrubs to shrubs, 0.1-8 m tall; leaf lamina various but only rarely
                                                            obovate, the apex usually acute to acuminate.
                                                                   10.  Leaf lamina usually distinctly and prominently reticulate-veined
                                                                          on both surfaces, the base usually acute to rounded; inflorescences
                                                                          clustered at branch tips and conspicuously exceeding the leaves in
                                                                          length; calyx and corolla eglandular; corolla white, pilose within ...
                                                                       ................................Gaultheria reticulata Kunth in H.B.K.
                                                                   10.  Leaf lamina not conspicuously reticulate-veined on both surfaces,
                                                                          the base usually rounded and deeply cordate; calyx and corolla
                                                                          often glandular pubescent; corolla red, glabrous within...............
                                                                        ........................................................Gaultheria erecta Vent.

Key to Bolivian Ericaceae with Inferior Ovaries
(go back to Superior Ovaried Taxa)

1.  Stamens strongly unequal with filaments or anthers, or filaments and anthers alternately conspicuously unequal.
        2.  Filaments equal and connate over entire length;  anthers with tubules widening distally .............Satyria
                3.  Leaves elliptic-lanceolate, 6-10 x 1.5-3 cm, basally obtuse to rounded, 3-plinerved; inflorescence
                     densely pilose (except corolla); pedicels 16-21 mm long; corolla ca. 11 mm long ..........................
                     .........................................................................................................Satyria boliviana Luteyn
                3.  Leaves elliptic-oblong, 3-6 x 1.2-1.8 cm, basally cuneate to subattenuate, pinnately veined;
                     inflorescence glabrous; pedicels 6-12 mm long; corolla ca. 6 mm long ..Satyria neglecta A.C.Sm.
        2.  Filaments unequal, distinct or partially connate;  anthers with sides parallel, not widening distally.
                4.  Anthers equal;  stamens 1/2-1/3 as long as corolla;  floral bracts rarely large and showy but if so
                     then early deciduous.....................................................................................................Orthaea
                        5.  Leaves pinnately veined ....................................................Orthaea pinnatinervia Mansf.
                        5.  Leaves plinerved.
                                 6.  Stems , petioles, leaves, rachis, pedicels, and corolla pilose ..Orthaea rusbyi Luteyn
                                 6.  Plants essentially glabrous.
                                            7.  Corolla 11-12 mm long ......................................Orthaea constans A.C.Sm.
                                            7.  Corolla 15-33 mm long.
                                                        8.  Staminal filaments distinct.
                                                                    9.  Rachis 3-5 cm long; pedicels 8-13 mm long ...........................
                                                                         ..................................................Orthaea weberbaueri Hoer.
                                                                    9.  Rachis ca. 1 cm long; pedicels ca. 7 mm long .........................
                                                                       .......................................................Orthaea ignea Sleumer
                                                        8.  Staminal filaments connate.
                                                                    10.  Staminal dehiscence by terminal or subterminal pores.............
                                                                            ..................Orthaea boliviensis B.Fedtsch. & Basilevsk.
                                                                    10.  Staminal dehiscence by lateral clefts  ....................................
                                                                           .................................................Orthaea ferreyrae A.C.Sm.
                4.  Anthers unequal;  stamens as long as corolla or rarely 1/2-2/3 the corolla length;  floral bracts usually
                     large and showy, usually persistent through anthesis..................................................Cavendishia
                        11.  Inflorescence a panicle........................................Cavendishia martii (Meissn.) A.C.Sm.
                        11.  Inflorescence a raceme.
                                 12.  Calyx densely woolly, the matted hairs persistent; leaves persistently soft-pilose beneath
                                        .................................................................Cavendishia pubescens (Kunth) Hemsl.
                                 12.  Calyx glabrous to pilose, but never woolly and the hairs never matted; leaves glabrous
                                        to glabrate.......................Cavendishia bracteata (Ruiz & Pav. ex J.St.Hil.) Hoer.
1.  Stamens equal with filaments and anthers of equal lengths (rarely anthers inconspicuously alternately unequal).
        13.  Bracteoles located at apex of pedicel and surrounding calyx (and sometimes lower corolla)..Disterigma
               14.  Leaves less than 5 mm broad.
                      15.  Corolla campanulate-cylindric, 10-14 mm long, white sometimes tinted with pink ...................
                             ...........................................................................Disterigma pernettyoides (Griseb.) Nied.
                      15.  Corolla subcylindric to somewhat urceolate, 6-9 mm long, red ................................................
                             .........................................................................Disterigma empetrifolium (Kunth) Drude
               14.  Leaves more than 5 mm broad.
                      16.  Corolla 10-12 mm long, narrowly cylindric, red .....................Disterigma pallidum A.C.Sm.
                      16.  Corolla 4.5-7.5 mm long, subcylindric to ovate-urceolate, white to red.
                                 17.  Flowers 4-merous; corolla subcylindric, rarely puberulous within; staminal filaments distinct
                                        ......................................................................Disterigma alaternoides (Kunth) Nied.
                                 17.  Flowers usually 5-merous (sometimes 4-merous);  corolla ovate-urceolate, conspicuously
                                        pilose within;  staminal filaments coherent at base............................................................
                                        ......................................................................Disterigma ovatum (Rusby) S.F.Blake
        13.  Bracteoles located well below apex of pedicel, or if apical then not clasping calyx.
                 18.  Tubules elongate, thin, very graceful, about half as wide (or less) as thecae;  dehiscence pores
                        perfectly terminal.
                          19.  Filaments distinct;  rachis to 0.5 cm long;  calyx ca. 9 mm long;  corolla 35-37 mm long.......
                                 .....................................................................................Siphonandra magnifica Sleumer
                          19.  Filaments connate;  rachis 2-5 cm long;  calyx 7-8 mm long;  corolla 25-47 mm long.
                                   20.  Corolla ca. 25 mm long ...Siphonandra elliptica (Ruiz & Pav. ex G.Don) Klotzsch
                                         (including S. pilosa A.C.Sm.)
                                   20.  Corolla 45-47 mm long....................................Siphonandra boliviana Luteyn, ined.
                 18.  Tubules about as wide as thecae, or if narrower then proportionally much shorter than thecae;
                        dehiscence by lateral slits or elongate clefts; filaments connate or distinct.
                          21.  Thecae conspicuously papillate;  tubules rigid, elongate- to short-conical; stamens often
                                1/3-1/2 as long as corolla..................................................................................Psammisia
                                   22.  Leaves stiff coriaceous; pedicels 20-40(-55) mm long;  calyx lobes prominent, 3-5 in
                                          number, often in a state of fusion, 1-3 mm long; corolla 18-35 mm long; stamens 9-15
                                          mm long ................................................................ Psammisia guianensis Klotzsch
                                   22.  Leaves chartaceous to soft coriaeous; pedicels 10-14 mm long; calyx lobes lacking or
                                          apiculate and less than 0.4 mm long; corolla 25-40 mm long; stamens 8-10 mm long.....
                                          ..............................................................Psammisia pauciflora Griseb. ex A.C.Sm.
                          21.  Thecae smooth to minutely papillate;  tubules flexible, cylindric, elongate to short;  stamens
                                 usually as long as corolla.
                                   23.  Calyx articulate with pedicel, the pedicel jointed at apex.
                                             24.  Corolla elongate-tubular,(8-)10 mm but usually longer?, normally carnose or
                                                    coriaceous, the lobes valvate;  filamants short and inconspicuous with regard to
                                                    anthers ..........................................................................................Thibaudia
                                                       25.  Plants densely short-pilose throughout (but see T.regularis?)...............
                                                              ............................................Thibaudia densiflora (Herzog) A.C.Sm.
                                                       25.  Plants essentially glabrous.
                                                                26.  Leaves truncate or subcuneate at base..........................................
                                                                        ...................................................Thibaudia macrocalyx Remy
                                                                26.  Leaves cuneate, attenuate or subattenuate at base.
                                                                         27.  Calyx strongly papillose at base; staminal filaments distinct...
                                                                                ...............................................Thibaudia axillaris Rusby
                                                                        27.  Calyx not papillose at base;  staminal filaments connate.
                                                                                28.  Lower leaf surface and calyx essentially glabrous ..........
                                                                                       ......................................Thibaudia crenulata Remy
                                                                                28.  Lower leaf surface and calyx densely white pilose .......
                                                                                       ...................................Thibaudia regularis A.C.Sm.
                                              24.  Corolla urceolate to campanulate, 7-12 mm long, normally of thin texture and
                                                     membranaceous, the lobes imbricate;  filaments proportionally long with regards to
                                                     anther length.
                                                        29.  Ovary with a single ovule in each of the 10 locules;  fruit a drupe with 10
                                                               pyrenes..............................................Gaylussacia cardenasii A.C.Sm.
                                                        29.  Ovary with few to numerous ovules in each of the 5(-10) locules;  fruit a
                                                               many-seeded berry..............................................................Vaccinium
                                                                  30.  Leaves glabrous or lacking subfasciculate hairs beneath; corolla
                                                                         cylindric-urceolate, white to pinkish.............................................
                                                                          ..............................Vaccinium floribundum Kunth in H.B.K.
                                                                  30.  Leaves with subfasciculate hairs beneath; corolla rotate-campanulate,
                                                                         green.........................Vaccinium dependens (G.Don) Sleumer
                                   23.  Calyx continuous with pedicel, the pedicel not jointed at apex.
                                            31.  Calyx conspicuously angled to 5-winged; corolla terete or angled.
                                                     32.  Calyx angled opposite the lobes....Polyclita turbinata (Kuntze) A.C.Sm.
                                                     32.  Calyx angled to winged alternate with the lobes.
                                                              33.  Leaves linear, 1-nerved ...........................Rusbya taxifolia Britton
                                                              33.  Leaves variously shaped, broad, multi-nerved ..........Themistoclesia
                                                                       34.  Plants with pilose-hispid habit (including twigs, petioles, leaves
                                                                              beneath, racemes, pedicels, and calyx); corolla cylindric, terete,
                                                                              9-10 mm long, sparsely pilose distally .....................................
                                                                               ......................................Themistoclesia peruviana A.C.Sm.
                                                                       34.  Corolla ovate-urceolate, conspicuously swollen at base and
                                                                              narrowed at throat, strongly 5-angled, x-x mm long, glabrous....
                                                                              .............................Themistoclesia unduavensis Luteyn, ined.
                                            31.  Calyx terete; corolla terete.
                                                     35.  Corollas usually large, carnose to coriaceous, (0.6-)1.5-5 cm or more long,
                                                            if less than 1 cm then staminal tubules twice as long as thecae; staminal tubules
                                                            2-5 times longer than thecae; seeds with white embryos.......Demosthenesia
                                                              36.  Corolla 0.6-0.8 cm long, white to pinkish ..........................................
                                                                      ....................................Demosthenesia pearcei (Britton) A.C.Sm.
                                                              36.  Corolla 1.7-5 cm long, red.
                                                                       37.  Corolla 2-3 cm long and 3-8 mm diam., slightly zygomorphic ...
                                                                              ........................Demosthenesia mandonii (Britton) A.C.Sm.
                                                                       37.  Corolla 3.5-5 cm long and 7-10 mm diam., actinomorphic ......
                                                                              .........................Demosthenesia spectabilis (Rusby) A.C.Sm.
                                                     35.  Corollas small, thin-membranaceous, up to10 mm long, but if longer then
                                                            filaments proportionally much longer than anthers;  staminal tubules about
                                                            equalling anthers;  seeds with green embryos.
                                                              38.  Flowers usually in few- to many-flowered fascicles or racemes, rarely
                                                                     solitary;  pedicels slender but not properly cernuous;  filaments usually
                                                                     shorter than anthers..........................................................Diogenesia
                                                                       39.  Inflorescence a fascicle of 3-6 flowers, the rachis none .............
                                                                              ..............................Diogenesia boliviana (Britton) Sleumer
                                                                       39.  Inflorescence a raceme of up to18 flowers, the rachis 2.5-6 cm
                                                                              long........................Diogenesia racemosa (Herzog) Sleumer
                                                              38.  Flowers 1-2 per axil; pedicels usually relatively long and thin, filiform,
                                                                     cernuous;  filaments usually longer than anthers........Sphyrospermum
                                                                       40.  Flowers sessile, pedicel none ..................................................
                                                                              ..................................Sphyrospermum sessiliflorum Luteyn
                                                                       40.  Flowers conspicuously pedicellate.
                                                                                41.  Leaves suborbicular to oblong-ovate, (0.7-)0.9-1.5(-1.8)
                                                                                       cm long, the apex rounded or obtuse; flowers usually
                                                                                       extending well beyond the leaves; corolla 4-6 mm long;
                                                                                       stamens 4 ......................................................................
                                                                                       ...........Sphyrospermum buxifolium Poepp. & Endlich.
                                                                                41.  Leaves ovate to ovate-lanceolate, usually conspicuously
                                                                                       longer than broad, (1-)2-3.5(-5) cm long, the apex obtuse
                                                                                       to acute, sometimes shortly and bluntly acuminate; flowers
                                                                                       rarely extending beyond the leaves;  corolla (4-)5-7(-9)
                                                                                       mm long;  stamens 4-5 or 8-10.......................................
                                                                                       ...........................Sphyrospermum cordifolium Benth.

List of Species

 

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Agarista boliviensis (Sleumer) Judd

Bejaria aestuans L.

Cavendishia bracteata (Ruiz & Pav. ex J.St.Hil.) Hoer.
Cavendishia martii (Meissner) A.C.Sm.
Cavendishia pubescens (Kunth) Hemsl.

Demosthenesia mandonii (Britton) A.C.Sm.
Demosthenesia pearcei (Britton) A.C.Sm.
Demosthenesia spectabilis (Rusby) A.C.Sm.

Diogenesia boliviana (Britton) Sleumer
Diogenesia racemosa (Herzog) Sleumer

Disterigma alaternoides (Kunth) Niedenzu
Disterigma empetrifolium (Kunth) Drude
Disterigma ovatum (Rusby) S.F.Blake
Disterigma pallidum A.C.Sm.
Disterigma pernettyoides (Griseb.) Niedenzu

Gaultheria bracteata (Cav.) G.Don
Gaultheria buxifolia Willd.
Gaultheria buxifolia var. secunda (Remy) Luteyn
Gaultheria erecta Vent.
Gaultheria eriophylla (Pers.) Sleumer ex Burtt
Gaultheria eriophylla var. mucronata (Remy) Luteyn
Gaultheria glomerata (Cav.) Sleumer
Gaultheria hapalotricha A.C.Sm.
Gaultheria reticulata Kunth in H.B.K.
Gaultheria vaccinioides Wedd.

Gaylussacia cardenasii A.C.Sm.

Orthaea boliviensis B.Fedtsch. & Basilevsk.
Orthaea constans A.C.Sm.
Orthaea ferreyrae A.C.Sm.
Orthaea rusbyi Luteyn
Orthaea weberbaueri Hoer.

Pernettya prostrata (Cav.) DC.

Polyclita turbinata (Kuntze) A.C.Sm.

Psammisia guianensis Klotzsch
Psammisia pauciflora Griseb. ex A.C.Sm.

Rusbya taxifolia Britton

Satyria boliviana Luteyn
Satyria neglecta A.C.Sm.

Siphonandra boliviana Luteyn, ined.
Siphonandra elliptica (Ruiz & Pav. ex G.Don) Klotzsch (including S. pilosa A.C.Sm.)
Siphonandra magnifica Sleumer

Sphyrospermum buxifolium Poeppig & Endl.
Sphyrospermum cordifolium Benth.
Sphyrospermum sessiliflorum Luteyn

Themistoclesia peruviana A.C.Sm.
Themistoclesia unduavensis Luteyn, ined.

Thibaudia axillaris Rusby
Thibaudia crenulata Remy
Thibaudia densiflora (Herzog) A.C.Sm.
Thibaudia macrocalyx Remy
Thibaudia regularis A.C.Sm.

Vaccinium dependens (G.Don) Sleumer
Vaccinium floribundum Kunth in H.B.K.

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