Passiflora kumandayi M.A. Buitrago A. & Coca, 2018

Buitrago, María Alejandra, Macdougal, John M. & Coca, Luis Fernando, 2018, Passiflora kumandayi (Passifloraceae), a new species from the Colombian Andes in a new section within subgenus Decaloba, Phytotaxa 344 (1), pp. 13-23 : 17-21

Passiflora kumandayi M.A. Buitrago A. & Coca sp. nov. ( Figs. 2−4 )

Type: — COLOMBIA. Caldas: Villamaría, Vereda Gallinazo, road from Termales del Ruiz to La Gruta, 14 Km from Gallinazo, 4°58’44.42”N, 75°23’14.65”W, 3200 m, 17 January 2015, M. A. Buitrago-A. & L. F. Coca 220 (holotype: FAUC; isotypes: B, COL, HUA, HUQ, F) .

Passiflora kumandayi is closely related to Passiflora apoda , by sharing hyaline strigose indumentum, rounded floral bud apex, absent androgynophore and glabrous ovary. However, P. kumandayi differs in the presence of shorter internodes 2.5–5 cm (vs. 8–10 cm in P. apoda ), slightly stipitate petiole glands (vs. sessile petiole glands), longer pedicels (3–) 5–13 mm (vs. 2.5–4 mm), longer and yellow outer corona filaments 0.7−1.3 cm (vs. ca. 0.7 cm and purplish), size of the flower 3.0– 3.5 cm (vs. 2.3–2.6 cm), ovoid ovary (vs. globose) and fruit acorn-shaped (vs. fruit subglobose).

Semi-woody vine; indument densely strigose, trichomes hyaline. Stem sub-angular, striate. Stipules 0.5−0.8 × 0.1−0.2 cm, linear-subulate. Tendrils cylindrical. Leaves with petioles 0.7−2 cm long, canaliculate, with one pair of slightly stipitate glands, 0.1−0.2 cm diam., 0.2 cm high, saucer-like, fleshy, located 0.4−0.7 cm from the petiole base, at the upper third; blades coriaceous, slightly 3-lobed, ovate-oblong, 6−9 cm long, 3−5 cm wide, apex obtuse, base truncate to some degree cordate, margin revolute, ocelli present between the main veins, adaxial surface with dispersed trichomes, abaxial surface setose. Inflorescence cymose, single or paired, 5−9 flowered, peduncles 0.3−0.5 cm long villous; bracts 0.2−0.35 cm long, lanceolate, acuminate, villous. Floral buds rounded at apex, greenish-white. Flowers 3.0– 3.5 cm, white; pedicels 0.3−1.3 cm; sepals 0.9−1.5 × 0.4−0.7 cm, apex rounded, corniculate to slightly carinate below apex, pale green, villous in the outer surface; petals 1.0 × 0.8 cm, apex obtuse, white, glabrous; corona biseriate, outer elements 0.7−1.3 cm long, pale greenish yellow, undulated, filiform, free from the base, apex sometimes slightly capitate, inner elements 0.3–0.5 cm long, white with irregular purple spots, capitate, papillose; operculum 0.15−0.3 cm long, purplish, plicate, margin fimbriate; limen annular, 0.2 cm wide, yellowish; androgynophore absent; gynophore absent to ca. 0.1 cm long; stamens 0.8–0.9 cm long, filaments free 0.7 cm, coherent at base surrounding the ovary, anthers 0.2−0.3 cm long; ovary 0.3 × 0.4 cm, pale green, ovoid, glabrous; styles 0.45 cm long; stigmas 0.2 cm long. Fruit a berry 2.5–3.5 x 2.0–3.0 cm, green, turning yellow when mature, with minute white spots all-around, acorn-shaped, glabrous. Seeds 0.4–0.5 × 0.3–0.35 cm, reticulate, obovate.

Distribution and ecology:—This species is located in high Andean forests in the Central Andes of Colombia, between 3000−3600 m. The species has been collected in flower and in fruit between December and January; in March this species remains sterile. Rove beetles ( Staphylinidae ) have been observed visiting the flowers of this species at the type locality.

Conservation Status:— Passiflora kumandayi only has been recorded in a small region outside the protected areas of the Parque Nacional Natural Los Nevados, but not in the park itself. It grows in shrubby vegetation along a main road, in an area highly fragmented by agriculture and subject to future urban development for the touristy industry, putting this species in imminent danger. Thus, according to the criteria of extent of occurrence (EOO of 0.458 km 2) and continuing decline in the area of occupancy (AOO of 8.000 km 2), the conservation status of this species should be ranked as Critically Endangered (CR; IUCN 2017).

1 cm; B = 4 mm; C = 2 cm; E = 0.5 cm. Photograph by L. F. Coca.

Etymology:— The species is named after Kumanday (the White Giant), a majestic snowy mountain and deity who guards the lands of the native Quimbaya people at the type locality in Caldas. Nowadays, this volcano is also known as Volcán Nevado del Ruiz.

Additional specimens examined:— COLOMBIA. Caldas: Villamaría, Road from La Gruta to PNN Los Nevados , 14 km from Gallinazo , 3300–3600 m, 4°58’20.29”N, 75°22’58.86”W, 14 December 2013, M. A. Buitrago-A. & L. F. Coca 14, 15, 16, 17 ( FAUC) ; 7 December 2015, M. A. Buitrago-A. et al. 113 ( FAUC). Villamaria: Loc. La Gruta, El Topacio Farm , Between the road from Manizales to Termales del Ruiz , 3400 m, 4°58’21.9”N, 75°23’04.3”W, 20 March 2015, L. F. Coca 7219 ( FAUC, COL). Villamaría, Road from La Gruta to PNN Los Nevados, 3300 m, 4°58’20.29”N, 75°22’58.86”W ; 17 January 2015, M. A. Buitrago-A. & L. F. Coca 221, L. F. Coca 8300 ( FAUC). Tolima: Ibagué , Juntas , PNN Los Nevados , south face of Nevado del Tolima, on the trail from El Rancho to the glacier, one kilometer after the waterfall, 3290 m, 4°37’3.50”N, 75°19’51.37”W, 16 March 2015, L. F. Coca 6740, 6741 ( FAUC) .

Provisional key to species of section Apodae

1. Androgynophore present, 5–7 mm long, ovary visible. ....................................................................................................... P. sodiroi Androgynophore absent or less than 3 mm long, ovary hidden.........................................................................................................2

2. Flower buds acute, sepals and petals acute, flowers 4.7–6.5 cm in diameter .......................................................... P. munchiquensis Flower buds rounded, sepals and petals rounded, flowers 2.3–3.5 cm diameter...............................................................................3

3. Ovary pubescent to velutinous ..................................................................................................................................... P. monadelpha Ovary glabrous...................................................................................................................................................................................4

4. Indument reddish brown, petiole glands absent, or if present, sessile and inconspicuous near base of petiole..................... P. ursina Indument hyaline-white, petiole glands stipitate or sessile, conspicuous, on or near distal half of petiole (rarely in lower third)...5

5. Pedicel (peduncle distal to articulation) 2.5–4 mm long, internodes 8–10 cm long .............................................................. P. apoda Pedicel (peduncle distal to articulation) (3–) 5–13 mm long, internodes 2.5–5 cm long................................................ P. kumandayi

Figures

FIGURE 2. Passiflora kumandayi. A. Detail of a flowering branch. B. Detail of a node with petiole, slightly stipitate glands position, stipules and inflorescence. C. Node with developing inflorescence and stipule. D. Detail of base of leaf and glands with a slightly stipitate position. E. Flower in transversal section. F. External filament of the corona. G. Inner filament of the corona. H. Operculum. I. Fruit. J. Seed. Original drawing by L. F. Coca.

FIGURE 3. Reproductive structures and general view of Passiflora kumandayi A. General view of plant. B. Transversal section of floral buds at different stages of development, notice the color of operculum and inner elements of the biseriate corona and development of staminal filaments around the ovary. C. Corona biseriate, inner coronal filaments and operculum. D. Fruit with rapid oxidation. E. Inflorescence with bracts and floral buds. Scale bar:A, D = 2 cm; B = 1 cm; C, E = 0.5 cm. Photograph by L. F. Coca.

FIGURE 4. Detail view of reproductive and vegetative structures of P. kumandayi. A. General view of flower. B. Transversal section of flower show limen, nectar ring and operculum.C.Adaxial face of coriaceous and lustrous blades. D.Abaxial face of leaf, see the trichomes disposition and the extra-floral nectaries (ocelli). E. Slightly stipitate petiolar glands at upper middle F. Stipules. Scale bar: A, D and F =