Cavendishia bracteata

The Lost World, Cloud Forest

Cavendishia bracteata belongs to the genus Cavendishia, a diverse group of about more than 100 neo-tropical species in the heath family (Ericaceae), which also includes many edible fruits such as blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum) and cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon). The genus was named in honour of Lord William George Spencer Cavendish, the 6^th Duke of Devonshire (1790-1858) by John Lindley, an English botanist, in 1835. Being one of the major genera of neo-tropical endemics in the Ericaceae family, Cavendishia species are largely associated with the cool, wet uplands of tropical America, especially the cloud forests, but some species can be found in elevations ranging from 300m low tropical forests to as high as 5000m high elevation páramo - a unique and diverse range of tropical cold, humid ecosystems above the timberline in the Andes. The genus is widely distributed from Veracruz in Mexico south to northern Bolivia, with Colombia having the largest diversity. Some species are endemic only to the individual mountains they evolved on.

Cavendishia bracteata has one of the widest native ranges of all species in its genus, stretching from the montane forests and cloud forests of southern Mexico all the way through Central America and as far south as Bolivia. The plants are morphologically very variable, ranging from shrubs from 0.5-4m tall to small trees up to 15m tall, and may be either terrestrial, growing on the ground, or epiphytic, growing on the branches of larger trees, likely from seed deposited in the droppings of the birds that consume its fruits. Depending on its population and form, its leaves can range in shape from oblong or oval to lance-shaped (lanceolate) from as small as 2.5cm in length, to as long as 22cm, with newly emerged leaves a bright red in colour. 

Like most members of the heath family, the flowers of Cavendishia bracteata have characteristically narrow-lipped, red and white or pinkish vase or bell-shaped flowers formed from petals fused into a tubular form. These emerge in clusters from beneath large, bright pink bracts that help make the flowers more noticeable in the forest, acting like a visual signpost for pollinators. With a long and narrow flower shape, Cavendishias are typically pollinated by hummingbirds, whose bills can reach deep into the floral tube to access the nectar at its base, transferring pollen between flowers in the process.

The ripe sweet berries of this species are also known as uva de anís, which means 'anise grape', as they have a pleasant anise-like flavour. They are globose and ripen from green to pink or purple when fully mature and are eaten and distributed by birds as well as people. Both the berries and the leaves are used medicinally, particularly as an astringent and anti-rheumatic, and they have also been used traditionally to relieve toothache. Current research is investigating both the medicinal and nutritional properties of this cloud forest species and developing better ways to propagate it in order to explore its cultivation potential as a wild fruit crop.

As you are wandering though the Lost World, look up to the left of the arch and try spotting this plant cascading down before venturing onto the Cloud Walk!

This article is part of our What's Blooming series.