Agarista paraguayensis (Sleumer) Judd, J. Arnold Arbor. 65:
307. 1984. Leucothoe paraguayensis Sleumer, Bot. Jahrb. Syst.
78: 465. 1959. Type. Paraguay. Paraguarí: Piribebuy,
Salto Piravetá, 23 Nov 1950, Sparre & Vervoorst 501 (holotype,
LIL, n.v.; isotypes, C, K, TEX, n.v., S).
Leucothoe paraguayensis Sleumer var. calva Sleumer, Bot.
Jahrb. Syst. 78: 465. 1959. Type. Paraguay. Amambay:
Sierra de Amambay, Cerro Corá, Aug 1933, Rojas 6189 (holotype,
SI).
Shrub to ca. 3 m tall; twigs with or without scattered
gland-headed hairs, otherwise sparsely to densely pubescent, with nonchambered
to hollow or very sparsely septate pith; buds to ca. 2.5 mm long.
Leaves coriaceous, ovate, 1.8-5.2 x 0.7-2.2 cm, base rounded to cordate,
apex acute- to rounded-mucronate or slightly acuminate, margin entire (slightly
sinuous), plane to very slightly revolute, especially near base, adaxial
surface pubescent on midvein (also with few unicellular hairs on lamina),
abaxial surface densely to irregularly and sparsely pubescent on midvein
and lamina (glabrous or with pubescence limited to midvein), often with
inconspicuous glandular dots along midvein; petiole 2.5-6 mm long.
Inflorescences axillary racemes to 1.5-9 cm long; rachis with or without
scattered gland-headed hairs, otherwise moderately to densely pubescent;
pedicels 3-9 mm long, with or without gland-headed hairs, otherwise densely
to moderately (sparsely) pubescent; bracteoles 2, opposite to alternate,
from nearly basal to within lower 1/3 of pedicel, narrowly triangular,
to ca. 1.5 mm long; floral bracts to 1.5 mm long. Flowers with triangular
calyx lobes, with acuminate apices, 0.9-2.5 x 0.9-1.8 mm, abaxial surface
sometimes with few gland-headed hairs, otherwise sparsely to densely pubescent;
corolla cylindrical, red to white(?), 6.5-9 x 3-4 mm, slightly or very
slightly pubescent to glabrous; filaments 4.5-5.5 mm long; anthers 1.1-2
mm long; ovary nearly glabrous to densely pubescent. Capsules subglobose,
3.5-4.5 x 5-6.5 mm, placentae ± central; seeds 0.9-1.8 mm long.
Distribution. E Paraguay and adjacent Argentina,
in rocky areas, steep slopes, ravine slopes along arroyos. Flowering
August to December.