Agarista subrotunda (Pohl) G. Don, Gen. hist. 3: 837. 1834.
Andromeda
subrotunda Pohl, Pl. bras. icon. descr. 2: 32. t. 121. 1828/29.
Leucothoe
subrotunda (Pohl) A. P. de Candolle, Prodr. 7: 603. 1839. Type.
Brazil. Minas Gerais: São Joao d'El Rey, Oct 1819,
Pohl
s.n. (n.v.).
Andromeda pistrix Chamisso, Linnaea 8: 508. 1833. Agarista
pistrix (Chamisso) G. Don, Gen. hist. 3: 838. 1834. Leucothoe
pistrix (Chamisso) A. P. de Candolle, Prodr. 7: 604. 1839. Leucothoe
subrotunda (Pohl) A. P. de Candolle var. pistrix (Chamisso)
Meissner in Martius, Fl. brasil. 7: 161. 1863. Type. Brazil.
Minas Gerais: Serra do Lenheiro, Sellow s.n. (holotype, B destroyed;
frag. of holotype, NY).
Shrub to ca. 2.5 m tall; twigs with or without scattered
gland-headed hairs, otherwise densely pubescent, with nonchambered pith;
buds to ca. 1.2 mm long, leaves revolute. Leaves very coriaceous,
ovate to elliptic or nearly orbicular, 1-3.5(-4) x 0.7-2.5(-3.7) cm, base
cordate, apex acute- to rounded- or retuse-mucronate, margin entire (ciliate
due to gland-headed hairs), ± plane, adaxial surface sparsely pubescent
on lamina and midvein, often glabrescent, abaxial surface with or without
gland-headed hairs on midvein, otherwise moderately to densely pubescent
on lamina and sparsely to densely pubescent on midvein, with few to several
inconspicuous to conspicuous glandular dots along midvein (although these
often obscured by dense pubescence); petiole 2-4.5 mm long. Inflorescences
axillary racemes to 4-7 cm long; rachis with or without scattered gland-headed
hairs, otherwise densely pubescent; pedicels 5-12.5 mm long, with or without
gland-headed hairs, otherwise densely pubescent; bracteoles 2, alternate
to subopposite, from nearly basal to near middle of pedicel, narrowly triangular,
to ca. 1.3 mm long; floral bracts to 2 mm long. Flowers with triangular
to ovate calyx lobes, with acuminate apices, 1.5-2.5 x 1-2 mm, abaxial
surface sometimes with few gland-headed hairs, otherwise densely pubescent;
corolla cylindrical, red, 6.5-9 x 3-4.5 mm, sparsely to densely pubescent;
filaments 3.5-4.5 mm long; anthers 1.5-2 mm long; ovary densely pubescent.
Capsules short-ovoid, 4-5 x 6-7 mm, placentae subapical; seeds 1.3-2 mm
long, probably also larger.
Distribution. Endemic to Brazil (S Minas Gerais,
region surrounding São Joao d'El Rey), at ca. 1065-1675 m alt.
Flowering July and August.