(Last Modified On 7/23/2013)
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(Last Modified On 7/23/2013)
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Genus
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Gaultheria L.
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PlaceOfPublication
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Sp. P1. 1: 395. 1753
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Note
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TYPE: G. pro- cumbens L.
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Synonym
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Chiogenes Salisb., Trans. Hort. Soc. London 2: 94. 1817. TYPE: C. serpyllifolia Salisb. G. hispidula (L.) Muhl.
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Description
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Upright terrestrial or epiphytic shrubs, prostrate undershrubs or rarely small trees. Leaves persistent, short petiolate, usually serrate, pinnately veined. Inflorescences terminal panicles, axillary racemes or rarely solitary in the axils of the leaves; pedicels clearly articulated or jointed below the flower; bracteoles 2 or several, basal, medial or closely subtending the pedicels. Flowers with the calyx (4)5-parted, usually accrescent and becoming somewhat fleshy; corolla campanulate to urceolate, white to pinkish or reddish; stamens (8)10, the filaments distinct, basally expanded, borne on the base of the corolla, the anthers with white tissue on the abaxial side and often with 2, ascendent, terminal awns on each anther sac which open introrsely by a single apical pore; stigma obtuse or truncate, the style straight, the ovary superior or rarely partly inferior, (4)5- locular, ovules 5-10 (or many). Fruit a (4)5-valved, loculicidal capsule en- closed by the usually colored, slightly to conspicuously fleshy calyx and thus sometimes appearing superficially berrylike; seeds usually numerous, small, an- gled, and wingless.
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Habit
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shrubs
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Distribution
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Gaultheria is a genus of 150 species widespread in temperate regions and extending into the montane tropics. It occurs in both northern and southern hemispheres and in both the New and the Old World.
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Note
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Neither Williams' (1965) attempt to deal with the genus in Guatemala nor ours in southern Central America has satisfactorily resolved the large number of problems associated with the genus in Mexico and Central America; the resolu- tion of problems in the genus in this area clearly demands an intensive study from throughout at least this range. We find ourselves very sympathetic to the findings of Williams (Fieldiana Bot. 31: 169-172. 1965.) that". . . the characters which have been used to segre- gate species in this genus are not impressive and . . . are obviously subject to variation which is almost endless" and "one begins to wonder if perhaps the systematics of the group may not have degenerated to the naming of specimens rather than . . . biological units."
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Key
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a. Leaves elliptic to lance elliptic, (1-)1.5-2.5(-3.4) cm wide, usually (2.5) 3-times as long as wide ...... 1. G. gracilis aa. Leaves broadly elliptic to oblong elliptic to oblong, (1.5-)2.5-4.0(-5.5) cm wide, usually less than 2.5-times as long as wide ...... 2. G. odorata
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