Shrub (to tree) to 3(-5) m tall; twigs glabrous to moderately pubescent (glaucous), with nonchambered to clearly chambered pith; buds to ca. 1.8 mm long, leaves revolute. Leaves alternate to subopposite or nearly 3-whorled at some nodes; very coriaceous, ovate to elliptic or oblong, 1.8-10.5 x 0.6-3.5(-5) cm, base cordate to cuneate, apex acute- to rounded-mucronate to acuminate, margin entire, plane (slightly revolute near base, slightly sinuous), adaxial surface glabrous to sparsely pubescent on midvein, especially basal portion, abaxial surface glabrous, to sparsely (moderately) pubescent along basal portion of midvein, with glandular dots absent, or few to many and inconspicuous to conspicuous along midvein; petiole 2-18 mm long. Inflorescences axillary or terminal racemes or panicles, to (2.5-)4.5-28 cm long; rachis glabrous to densely pubescent; pedicels 2-14 mm long, glabrous to densely pubescent; bracteoles 2 (to 4), alternate to opposite, from nearly basal to near middle of pedicel, triangular to narrowly so, to ca. 1.6 mm long; floral bracts to 4 mm long. Flowers with triangular calyx lobes, with acuminate apices, 1-2.7 x 0.6-2.2 mm, abaxial surface glabrous to sparsely (moderately) pubescent; corolla cylindrical to urceolate-cylindrical, white or greenish white to red, 6.5-11 x 3-6.5 mm, glabrous (with very few unicellular hairs near apex); filaments 4-6 mm long; anthers 1.3-2.3 mm long; ovary glabrous to moderately pubescent. Capsules short-ovoid to subglobose, 3-6 x 4.5-8 mm, placentae subapical (± central); seeds 1-2.6 mm long.
Distribution. Endemic to E Brazil (Bahia, Minas Gerais,
and Rio de Janeiro).
Key to the Varieties of Agarista coriifolia
1. Leaves usually ovate (to ± elliptic), base usually cordate
to rounded,
abaxial surface with glandular dots lacking to limited
to basal half
of blade; calyx lobes abaxially glabrous to sparsely
(moderately)
pubescent ................................................
var. coriifolia.
1. Leaves ± oblong to slightly elliptic (slightly ovate),
base usually
cuneate to rounded, abaxial surface with glandular
dots usually
extending along midvein to near apex of blade; calyx
lobes abaxially
glabrous ....................................................
var. bradei.
Agarista coriifolia (Thunberg) J. D. Hooker ex Niedenzu var.
coriifolia.
Andromdea coriifolia Thunberg, Pl. bras. 9. 1817. Leucothoe
coriifolia (Thunberg) A. P. de Candolle, Prodr. 7: 605. 1839.
Illustration: Judd (1995), fig 7. Type. Brazil.
Minas Gerais: Villa Rica, Freyreiss s.n. (holotype, UPS, n.v.).
Andromeda crassifolia Pohl, Pl. bras. icon. descr. 2: 34. 1828/29, non Nees, Flora 4: 297. 1821. Agarista pohlii G. Don, Gen. hist. 3: 837. 1834, nom. nov. Leucothoe crassifolia (Pohl) A. P. de Candolle, Prodr. 7: 605. 1839. [Leucothoe crassifolia (Pohl) A. P. de Candolle var. subevenia Meissner in Martius, Fl. brasil. 7: 158. t. 59, fig. 1. 1863 (=var. crassifolia), nom. superfl.] Leucothoe pohlii (G. Don) Sleumer, Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 78: 463. 1959. Type. Brazil. Minas Gerais: Diamantina, Pico Itambé, Nov 1821, Pohl 3506 (holotype, W, n.v.; frag. of holotype, NY).
Leucothoe laxiflora Meissner var. martii Meissner in Martius, Fl. brasil. 7: 157. 1863. Type. Brazil. Rio de Janiero: Nr. Paraiba, Martius 1118 (holotype, M; frag. of holotype, NY; photos of holotype, F, GH; isotypes, M).
Leucothoe laxiflora Meissner var. subcordata Meissner in Martius, Fl. brasil. 7: 157. 1863. Type. n.v.
Leucothoe laxifolia Meissner var. hookeriana Meissner in Martius, Fl. brasil. 7: 158. 1863. Type. Cultivated in England, in garden of Mr. Cunningham (see Hooker & Smith, 1851, t. 4593) (holotype, K).
Leucothoe crassifolia (Pohl) A. P. de Candolle var. subreticulata Meissner in Martius, Fl. brasil. 7: 158. 1863. Type. Brazil. Minas Gerais: Itambé, Aug 1840, Martius 836 (holotype, M; frag. of holotype, NY; isotypes, BR, n.v., G, K, P, W, n.v.; photos of isotype, F, GH).
Leucothoe crassifolia (Pohl) A. P. de Candolle var. reticulata Meissner in Martius, Fl. brasil. 7: 158. 1863. Type. Brazil. Minas Gerais: Without definite locality, Claussen 535 (holotype, BR, n.v.; frag. of holotype, NY).
Leucothoe crassifolia (Pohl) A. P. de Candolle var. macrophylla
Meissner in Martius, Fl. brasil. 7: 158. 1863. Type. Brazil.
Serra da Paraca, Paraiba R., Martius s.n. (holotype, M; photos of
holotype, F, GH).
Distribution. Endemic to SE Brazil, from Bahia
to S Minas Gerais and adjacent Rio de Janeiro, in open rocky and/or grassy
campo, open scrub, thickets and forests, frequently along streams, usually
in sandy soil, with sandstone or manganese outcrops, at 500-1950 m alt.
Flowering chiefly June through September (to January or February).
Agarista coriifolia (Thunberg) J. D. Hooker ex Niedenzu var. bradei (Sleumer) Judd, J. Arnold Arbor. 65: 302. 1984. Leucothoe bradei Sleumer, Notizbl. Bot. Gart. Berlin-Dahlem 13: 213. 1936. Illustration: Judd (1995), fig. 7. Type. Brazil. Minas Gerais: Diamantina, June 1934, Brade 13614 (holotype, RB, n.v.; frag. of holotype, LIL, n.v.; photos of isotype at B, destroyed, S).
Shrub to 2 m tall; twigs glabrous to very sparsely pubescent. Leaves with petiole 4-11 mm long; blade ± oblong to slightly elliptic (slightly ovate), (2.4-)3-7.5 x 0.6-2.5(-3) cm, base usually cuneate to rounded, abaxial surface with glandular dots usually extending along midvein from base to near apex. Inflorescence rachis to (2.5-)4.5-15(-20) cm long, glabrous to sparsely pubescent; pedicels glabrous to sparsely pubescent. Flowers with calyx lobes abaxially glabrous; corolla red, 8-11 mm long; ovary glabrous to moderately pubescent.
Distribution. Endemic to SE Brazil (Minas Gerais), in rocky or grassy campo, shrubby cerrado, gallery forest, or sometimes on termite mounds, at ca. 1200-1410(?) m alt. Flowering September and October.