Appearance
"Macleania pentaptera" is an epiphytic or terrestrial, branched shrub with up to 3 m long branches. The terete, glabrous branches have smooth, brown bark. The internodes are 2–3 cm long. The glabrous, coriaceous, ovate to elliptic leaves with an entire margin are 7–14.5 cm long, and 3.5–9 cm wide. The pinnate leaf venation is impressed above, and is prominent on the abaxial leaf surface. The glabrous petiole is 2–6 mm long.The axillary or terminal, racemose inflorescence with an up to 4 cm long rhachis bears 2–7 fleshy, waxy, nectariferous, pedicellate, tubular, vibrant, orange-red, green-tipped flowers with 9–25 mm long pedicels. The five-winged, obconical, 0.8–1 cm long, and 0.6 cm wide calyx has five acute teeth. The tubular, fused, urceolate, pentagonal corolla is 1.7 cm long, and 0.4–0.5 cm wide. The throat is densely pilose. The androecium consists of 10 stamens, which are 10–12.5 mm long. The gynoecium consists of 5 carpels. The translucent, white to green, globose, 20 mm wide berry bears numerous seeds.Naming
The specific epithet "pentaptera" from the Greek "pente" meaning five, and "pteryx" meaning wing, refers to the five-winged calyx.Distribution
It occurs in montane forests of Ecuador at elevations of 150–2100 m above sea level.Habitat
It occurs in montane forests of Ecuador at elevations of 150–2100 m above sea level.References:
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