Psammisia is a genus of flowering plants in the family Ericaceae. It contains the fruiting bushes commonly called joyapas and is distributed throughout the Neotropics.
Description
Psammisia are shrubs can be found on land or as epiphytes. Their leaves are usually arranged alternately, occasionally in pairs, with a leathery texture and smooth edges. The flowers are typically grouped in small clusters or elongated spikes, with each flower having a small bract and two basal bracteoles. The flowers have five petals, no scent, and a valve-like arrangement as they open. The calyx is fused, forming a tube that is round or occasionally winged, with the upper part standing upright or spreading out. The corolla is also fused, forming a tube that can be cylindrical, elongated, urn-shaped, or nearly spherical, with a fleshy texture. Psammisia flowers have 8 to 12 stamens, which are equal in length to about one-third of the corolla or almost as long as the corolla itself. The stamen filaments may be separate or joined together, and they often have two conspicuous spurs at the tips. The anthers are rigid and open through elongated slits facing inward. The ovary is positioned below the flower. Psammisia plants produce fruit in the form of berries, which have a leathery texture.
Taxonomy It was described by Johann Friedrich Klotzsch in 1851.Garcke, Aug., Schlechtendal, D. F. L. von, & Schlechtendal, D. F. L. von. (1826). Linnaea : Ein Journal für die Botanik in ihrem ganzen Umfange (Vol. 24, p. 42). F. Dümmler. https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/111546Psammisia Klotzsch. (n.d.-b). International Plant Names Index. Retrieved October 17, 2025, from https://www.ipni.org/n/41101-1 The type species is Psammisia falcata . Within the subfamily Vaccinioideae it is placed in the tribe Vaccinieae.USDA, Agricultural Research Service, National Plant Germplasm System. 2025. Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN Taxonomy). National Germplasm Resources Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland. URL: https://npgsweb.ars-grin.gov/gringlobal/taxon/taxonomygenus?id=9891. Accessed 17 October 2025.Psammisia Klotzsch. (n.d.-c). Catalogue of Life. Retrieved October 17, 2025, from https://www.catalogueoflife.org/data/taxon/63PBC
Species Species include:List: Psammisia of Ecuador
Image Name DistributionPsammisia aberrans Colombia, Ecuador, and PeruPsammisia amazonica Ecuador (Morona-Santiago Prov.) and PeruPsammisia aurantiaca Ecuador (Pichincha)Psammisia caloneura southern Colombia and northern EcuadorPsammisia chionantha Ecuador Psammisia columbiensis Colombia and EcuadorPsammisia corallina EcuadorPsammisia cuyujensis Ecuador (Napo Prov.) Psammisia darienensis Panama Psammisia debilis Southern Colombia to central Ecuador. Psammisia dolichopoda Panama, Colombia, and EcuadorPsammisia ecuadorensis EcuadorPsammisia ferruginea W Panama, Colombia, and EcuadorPsammisia fissilis Ecuador and PeruPsammisia flaviflora Ecuador (Pichincha Prov.)Psammisia grabneriana Colombia and Ecuador Psammisia guianensis Brazil and the Guianas, to Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and BoliviaPsammisia idalima Southern Colombia (Putumayo) and EcuadorPsammisia incana Ecuador (Napo Prov.)Psammisia montana West-central Colombia to northern Ecuador (Carchi)Psammisia oreogenes EcuadorPsammisia orientalis Ecuador (Morona-Santiago) Psammisia pauciflora Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and BoliviaPsammisia ramiflora Costa Rica and PanamaPsammisia roseiflora Oriente of EcuadorPsammisia sclerantha EcuadorPsammisia sodiroi Colombia and EcuadorPsammisia ulbrichiana Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru Psammisia williamsii Costa Rica
Distribution and habitat Psammisia occurs in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Guyana, Panama, Peru, Trinidad-Tobago, and Venezuela.Psammisia Klotzsch. (n.d.). Plants of the World Online. Retrieved October 17, 2025, from https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:41101-1
References
External links
NYBG key