Passiflora mistratensis Kuethe & Vanderplank, 2022

Kuethe, J. R. & Vanderplank, John, 2022, Passiflora mistratensis, a new species of Passiflora (Passifloraceae) from Colombia, commonly known from European cultivation, Phytotaxa 552 (2), pp. 159-165 : 160-163

Passiflora mistratensis Kuethe & Vanderplank sp. nov. ( Figure 1 )

Type:— COLOMBIA. Risaralda department: Mistrató, Vereda río arriba, 5°18’38”N 75°53’11”W, 1700 m, fl., 27 April 1992, C. Lozano 6389 (holotype: COL!, isotypes: COL!, HUA!) .

Diagnosis: —This new species is nearest related to Passiflora danielii and Passiflora trisulca , from which it differs in always having unlobed leaves and up to three pairs of large, stipitate nectaries. The flowers of Passiflora mistratensis further differ from these abovementioned species by having awns of less than 2 mm long (vs. long, conspicuous awns in excess of 6–7 mm in length).

Description: —Vine medium size, robust, 2–7 m high. Stem terete, striate, glabrous. Tendrils terete, glabrous, 12–18 cm long. Stipules foliaceous, semi-ovate, margin glandular, 25–35 × 12–20 mm, adaxial surface glabrous, abaxial surface sparsely lanate, apex green, without mimicry but very occasionally a slight yellowish tip of less than 1 mm. Petiole sub-terete with sulcus on adaxial surface, 2.2–4 cm long, glabrous with (2–) 3 pairs of glands, one pair of glands held close to the leaf blade the other one or two pairs in the distal half of the petiole (glands auriculate-capitate, 2–2.7 mm long, 1.3–1.7 mm in diam.). Leaf blade lanceolate, entire, 10–18.5 × 4.5–8.5 cm, sub-coriaceous, adaxial surface glabrous, abaxial surface appressed-lanate, rounded at base with 3–6 small nectariferous glands each side on the edge of the leaf blade close to the point of attachment, acute at apex. Peduncle single, terete, glabrous, 5–7 cm long. Bracts lanceolate, 10–15 × 4–5 mm, smooth margin, glabrous, deciduous as flower buds mature. Flowers pale mauve and purple, 7.5–8 cm in diam., diurnal. Hypanthium campanulate, 8–10 mm diam., 5–6 mm high, green. Sepals ovatelanceolate, fleshy, 25–32 × 9–12 mm, adaxial surface greenish-white, abaxial surface of the petals rugged, covered with tiny spines along the midribs, green with white margin and short awn ca. 1–2 mm long (if present). Petals ovatelanceolate, 25–32 × 7–9.5 mm, adaxial and abaxial surfaces pale mauve. Corona filaments in 6 series, outer 1 st and 2 nd series fleshy, 20–24 mm long, 0.8–1.1 mm in diam., banded purple, white and violet, 3 rd and 4 th series fleshy ca. 3.5 mm long, linear-clavate with purple tips, 5 th series ca. 2.5 mm long, erect, linear-clavate with white tips, 6 th series ca. 4.5 mm long, erect, clavate with white tips. Operculum erect, 5–6 mm high, free nearly to base, purple with white tips, lower quarter “z” shaped and membranous. Limen cupuliform. Androgynophore slender ca. 2.3 cm long, pale green speckled purple. Staminal filaments pale green speckled purple, 7–8 mm long. Anthers pale green. Pollen deep yellow. Ovary ovoid, glabrous, ca. 5 mm long, pale green. Style green speckled purple, 7–8 mm long. Stigma olive green. Fruit only seen in a photograph without scale, not mature, obovate, not stipitate, green with white speckles. Arils unknown. Seed unknown.

Phenology: —This species can be found in flower between October and April, with fruit recorded in March and April. The effective pollinator of the flower has not been observed, however, the structure of the flower suggests pollination by bees and medium sized flying insects.

Etymology: —This species is named after the municipality Mistrató, Risaralda, Colombia.

Distribution and habitat: —This new species can be found at various locations throughout the Cauca Valley of Colombia ( Fig. 2 ), where it has been reported from the departments of Antioquia, Risaralda and Valle de Cauca. This for a large part follows the course of the Río Cauca, which is the central river between the Colombian Cordillera Occidental and the volcanic Central Cordillera. This species appears to be restricted to premontane cloudforests of the east-facing slopes of the Cordillera Occidental, where it grows at elevations between 1400 and 2000 m above sea level. Notable populations have been cited in the municipalities of La Ceja (Antioquia) just south of the city Medellín; Mistrató (Risaralda) west of the city Manizales; and Darién (Valle de Cauca) north of Calí, where it was first found growing near the shores of the Calima Reservoir in secondary disturbed forest.

Conservation notes: —The several collections (<25 specimens recorded in situ) of this species and georeferenced sightings (unvouchered) were found mostly within the northern extent of the Cauca Valley , and may show the limit of its potential distribution. Plotting those georeferenced points in GeoCat software gives a total Area of Occupancy (AOO) of about 20 km 2 and an Extent of Occurrence of 2,940 km 2, scaling Passiflora mistratensis EN (Endangered) according to the software. This is further supported by the IUCN (2019) criterion B1a quantifying a 5,000 km 2 threshold; and criterion C2a quantifying an estimated total population of less than 2,500 mature individual plants and a decline caused by its fragmented distribution and habitat disappearance. Of course, before an official Conservational Assessment could be given, other factors such as habitat stability and extent of deforestation within this distribution have to be taken into account. This would require much additional fieldwork to be carried out in this region. There is only one National Park (Cerro Tatamá) located within its distribution, however, several smaller nature protectorates (Quinchia, Santa Emilia, Farallones de Citara) are situated across this area. The species has also been collected for conservation by Gustavo Morales, and is cultivated both locally (Jardín Botanico de Bogota - JBB) and in private collections across Europe and the United States.

Additional specimens examined (paratypes): — COLOMBIA. Caldas: “Canaan” South of Salento , 1500 m, 31 July 1922, F.W. Pennell 9064 ( PH, US) ; Risaralda: Mistrató, Verede río Arriba , 1700 m, 27 April 1992, C. Lozano 445355 ( COL) ; Risaralda: Mistrató, Verede río Arriba , 1700 m, 27 April 1992, C. Lozano 445357 ( COL) ; Risaralda: Municipio de Sta. Rosa, Alrededores del Hotel Termales , Declive a la izquierda de la quebrada del hotel, Cordillera Central , vertiente occidental, 1640 m, 22 July 1980, J.M. Idrobo, A.M. Cleef, J.O. Rangel Churio, S. Salamanca Villagas 9814 ( NL) ; Valle del Cauca: Hoya del rio Cali , vertiente derecha Los Carpatos , 2000 m, 3 March 1944, J. Cuatrecasas 18510 ( US) ; Valle del Cauca : 4 km NW of San Antonio, 1981 m, 3 July 1958, V. D. Miller & B. D. Miller 42 ( US) ; Valle del Cauca: Chanco, orilla rio Calima , 1600 m, 19 November 1989, D.A. Wilson, F. Prado 2527 ( US) ; Valle del Cauca : La Cumbre, 1800 m, 14 May 1922, E.P. Killip 5555 ( GH, NY, US) ; Valle del Cauca : La Cumbre, 1600 m, 14 May 1922, E.P. Killip 5682 ( GH, MA, PH, NY, US) . CULTIVATED. English National Passiflora Collection, material from Embalse de Calima in Valle de Cauca , 2016, R. J. R. Vanderplank 2466/20 ( NCP) ; R. J. R. Vanderplank 2465/20 ( NCP) .

Figures

FIGURE 1. Passiflora mistratensis sp. nov.A) The fully open flower during anthesis, bar representing 1 cm; B) detail of the ovate foliage and large foliaceous stipules; C) detail of the 3 pairs of large conspicuous petiolar nectaries; D) Detail of the flower bud and short awns. Photograph courtesy by A) John Vanderplank; B) Paulo Mendonca; C–D) Arjen Lommen.

FIGURE 2. Map of western Colombia showing distribution of Passiflora mistratensis sp. nov.