Tag Archives: Ericaceae

Sphyrospermum spruceanum Sleumer

(Sphyrospermum spruceanum)

This species was described in 1934; it is known only from the type that was found in 1860 near the foot of Mt. Chimborazo in central Ecuador.

The species was an epiphyte with subterete twigs and small elliptic leaves; it was superficially quite similar to the Boxwood-leaved Sphyrospermum (Sphyrospermum buxifolium Poepp. & Endl.)

*********************

Boxwood-leaved Sphyrospermum (Sphyrospermum buxifolium)

Photo: Mariu Avila
https://www.inaturalist.org/people/mariubio
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/

*********************

edited: 17.01.2024

Ericaceae gen. & sp. ‘Rapa Nui’

(Ericaceae gen. & sp.)

Some member of the heath family (Ericaceae) formerly occurred on Rapa Nui, it is either known based on subfossil wood remains or from subfossil pollen.

This may have been a species from the genus Leptecophylla.

*********************  

References:  

[1] Jean-François Butaud: Inventaire des espèces natives de l’île de Pâques, pp. 138-139. In: l’île de Pâques. Le nombril du monde? MUSEO Éditions 2018

*********************

edited: 21.01.2022

Rhododendron wilhelminae Hochr.

Wilhelmina’s Rhododendron (Rhododendron wilhelminae)

Wilhelmina’s Rhododendron, described in 1925, is known from only a single locality in the vicinity of the crater of Mt. Salak in the Gunung Halimun Salak National Park on the island of Java, Indonesia, where it was found growing amongst other shrubs at an elevation of about 1350 m.

The taxon was not found since its description and may be extinct now.

However, it may, however, not be a real species but instead a natural hybrid of the Javan Rhododendron (Rhododendron javanicum (Blume) Benn.) and the Malayan Rhododendron (Rhododendron malayanum Jack) (see photo below), which obviously both grow at the same locality.

*********************

Malayan Rhododendron (Rhododendron malyanum)

Photo: Dick Culbert
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/deed.de

*********************

edited: 19.02.2023

Leucopogon cryptanthus Benth.

Small-flowered Leucopogon (Leucopogon cryptanthus)

The Small-flowered Leucopogon was described in 1868; it was known from the south-west of Western Australia.

The species was described as follows.:

“A slender, much-branched, apparently diffuse shrub, not exceeding 6 in., the branches pubescent. Leaves erect, linear or linear-lanceolate, tapering into a pungent point, rigid, concave, prominently ribbed, 1 to 3 lines long. Flowers few, very small and inconspicuous, in short spikes, solitary or clustered at the ends of the branches, forming little leafy cymes. Bracts similar to the leaves, and mostly exceeding the flowers; bracteoles acutely acuminate, more than half as long as the calyx. Sepals acutely acuminate, under 1 line long. Corolla rather shorter than the calyx, the lobes as long as the tube. Anther attached by the middle, oblong, obtuse, with very minute sterile tips or sometimes none. Hypogynous disk sinuate-lobed. Ovary 2-celled; style very short.” [1]

The species is now considered extinct.

*********************

References:

[1] George Bentham; Ferdinand von Mueller: Flora Australiensis. Vol. 4. London: Lovell Reeve & Co. 1868

*********************

edited: 17.02.2024

Erica velitaris Salisb.

Armed Heath (Erica velitaris)

The Armed Heath is one of numerous heath species that are endemic to the Western Cape Province of South Africa, its taxonomic status is not fully clearified and it may in fact be a hybrid, however, there are two additional varieties that sometimes are accepted, Erica velitaris var. hemisphaerica Bolus, and Erica velitaris var. parvibracteata Bolus.

If this is in fact a true species with three subspecies, then the nominate may be extinct. 

*********************

References:

[1] N. A. Helme; T. H. Trinder-Smith: The endemic flora of the Cape Peninsula, South africa. South African Journal of Botany 72: 205-210. 2005

*********************

edited: 18.05.2019

Erica pyramidalis Aiton

Pyramid Heath (Erica pyramidalis)

The Pyramid Heath was restricted to what today is the city of Cape Town in the Western Cape Province, South Africa.

The species disappeared at the beginning of the 20th century due to the destruction of its habitat by the expanding city, and, despite the fact that the species was even cultivated for some time it is now considered extinct. [1]

*********************

References:

[1] N. A. Helme; T. H. Trinder-Smith: The endemic flora of the Cape Peninsula, South africa. South African Journal of Botany 72: 205-210. 2005

*********************

Depiction from: ‘Conrad Loddiges & Sons; George Loddiges; John & Arthur Arch: The Botanical Cabinet: consisting of coloured delineations of plants, from all countries, with a short account of each, directions for management &c. &c.. London: John & Arthur Arch 1817-1833’

(public domain)

*********************

edited: 18.05.2019