16. Oreanthes BENTHAM Pl. Hartweg. 140 (1844). -- Type: Oreanthes buxifolius BENTHAM.

Reference: LUTEYN, J. L., Notes on neotropical Vaccinieae (Ericaceae). IV. A review of the genus Oreanthes. Brittonia 29(2): 173--176 (1977).

Terrestrial or epiphytic shrubs, often trailing subshrubs; indumentum (when present) of simple or multicellular, glandular hairs. Leaves alternate, thick-coriaceous and usually succulent when fresh, usually obscurely 3 (-5--7)-plinerved, short-petiolate. Inflorescence axillary, of solitary or paired flowers, rarely with up to 3 flowers in a fascicle; floral bract and bracteoles minute, often caducous. Flowers 5-merous, without odor; aestivation valvate; calyx continuous with pedicel; hypanthium terete to bluntly 5-angled, glabrous to glandular pubescent; corolla cylindric, terete to angled, red to scarlet, glabrous to glandular pubescent; stamen 5 or 10, equal, nearly as long as corolla, rarely longer; filaments distinct or connate, shorter than the anthers, lacking spurs; anthers lacking disintegration tissue; thecae essentially smooth; tubules slightly longer to up to 6 times longer and about 1/2 the width of the thecae, dehiscing by terminal or subterminal and oblique, usually slightly flaring pores, rarely elongate clefts; pollen lacking viscin threads; ovary inferior; style slightly exserted; nectariferous disk usually obscure or rarely annular-pulvinate. Fruit a berry.

A genus of 7 species, endemic to Ecuador and adjacent Peru. This treatment emends the original concept of Oreanthes BENTHAM with the inclusion of taxa bearing 10 stamen.


Key to Species of Oreanthes
1a.
Stamen 5.
2a.
Filaments connate into a tube 4--10 mm long; anther thecae about one-half the length of the anthers
............................................................................................O. buxifolius
2b.
Filaments essentially distinct, 1.5--5.5 mm long; anther thecae one-quarter to one-seventh the length of the anthers.
3a.
Leaves orbicular, less than 2.5 cm long
...................................................................................O. rotundifolius
3b.
Leaves ovate to elliptic-ovate, 2--4 cm long.
4a.
Flowers (especially calyx and pedicel) conspicuously glandular-hispid; stamen dehiscing by strictly terminal pores.
.........................................................................O. glanduliferus
4b.
Flowers pilose, without glandular hairs; stamen dehiscing by obliquely terminal pores
.........................................................................O. ecuadorensis
1b.
Stamen 10
5a.
Leaves 1.5--4 x 1--2 cm, the apex rounded to obtuse, the petiole not pulvinate; pedicel 15--30 mm long; staminal tubules apically acuminate and not flaring, dehiscence by oblique clefts
............................................................................................O. fragilis
5b.
Leaves 3.5--7.5 x 2.5--6 cm, the apex rounded or abruptly short-acuminate, the petiole conspicuously pulvinate or not; pedicel 4--20 mm long; staminal tubules apically truncate and flaring, dehiscence by terminal or slightly oblique pores.
6a.
Leaf apex rounded, the petiole conspicuously pulvinate; pedicel 4--8 mm long; anther thecae basally glabrous
..................................................................................O. hypogaea
6b.
Leaf apex abruptly short-acuminate, the petiole not pulvinate; pedicel 11--20 mm long; anther thecae basally densely tufted pubescent
...................................................................................O. sperlingii