Macleania pentaptera
Species of neotropical blueberry
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Macleania pentaptera, also known as gualicón or hualicón,[4][5][2] is a species of tropical plant[5] endemic to Ecuador.[3]
| Macleania pentaptera | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Ericales |
| Family: | Ericaceae |
| Genus: | Macleania |
| Species: | M. pentaptera |
| Binomial name | |
| Macleania pentaptera Hoerold[1] | |
.svg) | |
| It is endemic to Ecuador[2] | |
| Synonyms[3] | |
Description
_(29758502950).jpg)
Vegetative characteristics
Macleania pentaptera is an epiphytic or terrestrial, branched shrub[5] with up to 3 m long branches.[2] The terete, glabrous branches have smooth, brown bark. The internodes are 2–3 cm long.[1] The glabrous, coriaceous,[1] ovate to elliptic leaves[2] with an entire margin[1] are (3–)7–14.5 cm long, and (2–)3.5–9 cm wide.[2] The pinnate leaf venation is impressed above, and is prominent on the abaxial leaf surface.[1] The glabrous petiole is 2–6 mm long.[2]
Generative characteristics
The axillary[2][1] or terminal,[1][5] racemose inflorescence with an up to 4 cm long rhachis[1] bears 2–7[2](–8) fleshy, waxy, nectariferous,[5] pedicellate,[2] tubular, vibrant, orange-red, green-tipped flowers[6] with 9–25(–33) mm long pedicels.[2] The five-winged, obconical,[1] 0.8–1 cm long, and 0.6 cm wide calyx[5] has five acute teeth.[1] The tubular, fused,[6] urceolate, pentagonal corolla[5] is 1.7 cm long, and 0.4–0.5 cm wide.[1] The throat is densely pilose.[2] The androecium consists of 10 stamens,[5][1] which are 10–12.5 mm long.[2] The gynoecium consists of 5 carpels.[1] The translucent, white[6] to green, globose, 20 mm wide berry[2] bears numerous seeds.[7]
Taxonomy
It was published by Rudolf Hoerold in 1909.[1] The variety Macleania pentaptera var. longicalyx Gilli published by Alexander Gilli in 1983 is not accepted and is widely regarded as a synonym of Macleania pentaptera.[5][8][2][3] Within the subfamily Vaccinioideae, it is placed in the tribe Vaccinieae.[9]
Etymology
The specific epithet pentaptera from the Greek pente meaning five, and pteryx meaning wing, refers to the five-winged calyx.[5][10]
Homonyms
The correct name of the homonym Macleania pentaptera Sleumer published by Hermann Otto Sleumer in 1936[11] is Macleania ericae Sleumer published by Hermann Otto Sleumer in 1938.[12]