Two new pendulous epiphytic Columnea L. (Gesneriaceae) species from the Chocó forests of the Northern Andes

By

Tobar Suárez, Diego Francisco
Smith, James
Clark, John L. (John Littner)

Type

Article

Date of Publication

2022

Original Publication

PhytoKeys

Volume

196

Pages

49--61

Subjects

Chocó , Colombia , Columnea , Ecuador , Gesneriaceae , taxonomy

Contributed by

Pensoft Publishers

Language

English

Published by

Sofia, Bulgaria Pensoft Publishers [2010]-

Identifiers

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3897/phytokeys.196.79673

 

Abstract

Exploratory field expeditions to the Chocó forests in the northwestern slopes of the Ecuadorian and Colombian Andes resulted in the discovery of two new species of Columnea (Gesneriaceae). Columnea fluidifolia J.L.Clark & F.Tobar, sp. nov., is described as a narrow endemic from Bosque Protector Mashpi and surrounding areas in the province of Pichincha in northern Ecuador. Columnea pendens F.Tobar, J.L.Clark & J.F.Sm., sp. nov., is described from recently discovered populations in the provinces of Carchi and Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas (Ecuador) and the departments of Cauca and Nariño in southwestern Colombia. The two new species are pendent epiphytes with elongate shoots and shallowly bilabiate to nearly tubular corollas. Descriptions, complete specimen citations, and a distribution map are provided. Based on IUCN guidelines, a preliminary conservation status of Critically Endangered (CR) is provided for C. fluidifolia and Endangered (EN) is provided for C. pendens.