Cavendishia purdiei A. C. Smith, Contr. U.S. Natl. Herb. 28: 472. 1932. Type. Colombia. Without location, Purdie s.n. (holotype, K, photo NY neg. 9061 and ACS neg. 6).Epiphyte or terrestrial shrub to 2 m tall; mature branches terete, glabrous, grayish; bark cracking longitudinally; twigs subterete, striate, densely short-pilose, reddish-brown. Leaves lanceolate, ovate-elliptic, oblong-elliptic, oblanceolate, or linear-lanceolate, (1.5-)3-6(-8) x (0.4-)0.6-1.4(2.5) cm, basally rounded to narrowly obtuse and subcordate, apically short- to long-acuminate, apex itself sharply acute or blunt, margins entire or rarely irregularly crenate, basically glabrous on both surfaces although extreme distal margins usually persistently ciliate with translucent hairs 0.5-0.7 mm long; 3-5-plinerved with nerves impressed or elevated above and weakly raised beneath; petioles terete, rugose, 1.5-2.5 mm long and 0.5-0.8 mm in diam., densely short-pilose. Inflorescence 6-12-flowered; rachis bluntly angled, glabrous, 1-1.5 cm long and 1.5 mm in diam.; floral bracts oblanceolate, 16-18 x 8 mm, apically emarginate, glabrous, purple to purplish-violet when fresh; pedicels terete, striate, glabrous, 4-6 mm long at anthesis (elongating to 8 mm) and 0.8 m diam., with irregularly shaped, angular glands at distal tip which secrete a white, sticky latex; bracteoles located at base, succulent, ovate, 0.6-1 mm long, glabrous, glandular-callose over entire margin and distal 1/3 of blade. Flowers: calyx glabrous, 2-4.5 mm long; hypanthium cylindric, smooth, 0.5-1.5 mm long, basally apophysate with a short rim which is shallowly undulate or lobed; limb campanulate, 1.5-2.5 mm long; lobes triangular, acute, 0.75-1.5 mm long, erect after anthesis, margins glandular-callose with glands contiguous at apex; sinuses broadly rounded; corolla cylindric, glabrous or rarely puberulent in distal half, 12-14 mm long and 4.5 mm diam., lower 3/4 purple (or purplish-green), upper 1/4 white (or pale green), lobes deltoid, 1.5-2 mm long, wide-spreading at anthesis, their margins purple; stamens 11-11.5 mm long (from 12 mm corolla); filaments with the short ones pilose at distal tip, the long ones pilose medially, alternately ca. 1.5 mm and 3-3.5 mm long; anthers alternately ca. 10 mm and 8.5-9 mm long; thecae 2.5-3.5 mm long; style ca. 14 mm long. Berry 9-10 mm diam., blue-black.
Distribution (Map).
Endemic to Colombia, where it is found in all three cordilleras, inhabiting
primary forest, cloud forest, secondary forest, brushy roadside slopes,
and remnant trees in pastureland, at elevations of 400-2500 m.