Agarista uleana (Sleumer) Judd, J. Arnold Arbor. 65: 332. 1984.
Leucothoe uleana Sleumer, Notizbl. Bot. Gart. Berlin-Dahlem 12:
481. 1935. Type. Brazil. Guanabara: Rio de Janeiro, Pico
da Tijuca, 1000 m, Nov 1897, Ule 4576 (holotype, B, destroyed; lectotype,
designated by Judd (1984), HBG; isolectotype, R, n.v.).
Leucothoe ambigua Meissner var. parvifolia Meissner in
Martius, Fl. brasil. 7: 156. 1863. Type. Brazil. Guanabara:
Rio de Janeiro, Riedel s.n. (holotype, Herb. Sonder, n.v.; frag.
of holotype, NY).
Shrub to small tree to 3 m tall; twigs very sparsely
to moderately pubescent, with nonchambered to clearly chambered pith; buds
to ca.1.3 mm long, leaves revolute. Leaves coriaceous, ovate to elliptic
(oblong), 2-6 x 0.6-2.1 cm, base cuneate to rounded, apex acuminate, to
acute with small mucro, margin entire, very slightly revolute (±
plane), adaxial surface glabrous, but sparsely pubescent on basal portion
of midvein, abaxial surface glabrous, but sparsely pubescent along midvein,
usually with few inconspicuous glandular dots along midvein; petiole 4-10
mm long. Inflorescences axillary racemes to 1-2.5(-4) cm long; rachis
moderately to densely pubescent; pedicels 3-8 mm long, sparsely to densely
pubescent; bracteoles 2, alternate to ± opposite, nearly basal,
triangular to narrowly so, to ca. 1 mm long; floral bracts to ca. 1.5 mm
long. Flowers with triangular calyx lobes, with acuminate apices,
1-2 x 0.6-1.2 mm, abaxial surface glabrous to moderately pubescent; corolla
cylindrical, white, 6.5-10 x 2-4.5 mm, glabrous; filaments 4.5-5.2 mm long;
anthers 1-1.6 mm long; ovary glabrous to sparsely pubescent, especially
near apex and base. Capsules short-ovoid to subglobose, (3-)4-6 x
(5-)5.5-8 mm, very thick walled, placentae subapical; seeds 1.5-2.8 mm
long.
Distribution. Endemic to SE Brazil (Guanabara,
chiefly limited to Pico da Tijuca region), in low forest and scrub, sunny
open areas, at ca. 700-1020 m alt. Flowering September through November.