Two new species of Columnea (Gesneriaceae) from the Colombian Andes

By

Clark, John L. (John Littner)
Lozano-Cifuentes, David
Ríos-Cervera, Jorge
Clavijo, Laura
Ballesteros, Sofía

Type

Article

Date of Publication

2025-8-22

Original Publication

PhytoKeys

Volume

261

Pages

317--328

Subjects

Andes , Columneinae , Gesnerieae , Gesnerioideae , taxonomy

Contributed by

Pensoft Publishers

Language

English

Published by

Sofia, Bulgaria Pensoft Publishers [2010]-

Identifiers

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3897/phytokeys.261.160135

 

Abstract

Two new species of Columnea are described based on recent field expeditions and herbarium research. These species are unusual within Columnea for exhibiting a dorsiventral epiphytic habit typical of many northern Andean species, but they lack conspicuous floral bracts. Columnea combeimae Lozano-Cif., J.E.Ríos & J.L.Clark, sp. nov. is distinguished by uniformly green leaves, prominent extrafloral nectary glands on the pedicels, and a hirsute indumentum of purple trichomes. Columnea rubropilosa J.L.Clark & Clavijo, sp. nov. is characterized by a conic purple berry and a densely pilose indumentum of red trichomes on both vegetative and reproductive structures. Both species are endemic to the Colombian Andes.