Passiflora splendida M. Bonilla, C. Aguirre & C. Caetano, 2016

Morales, Miguel Macgayver Bonilla, Aguirre-Morales, Adriana Carolina & Caetano, Creucí María, 2016, Passiflora splendida and P. quinonesiae, two new species of Passiflora supersection Tacsonia (Passifloraceae) from the Colombian Andes, Phytotaxa 268 (3), pp. 181-192 : 182-186

Passiflora splendida M. Bonilla, C. Aguirre & C. Caetano sp. nov. ( Figs.1 , 2 and 3 ).

Type:— COLOMBIA. Cundinamarca: La Calera-Mundo Nuevo, 2400 m, 20 December 2008, G. Morales, C. Becerra & M. Medina 3086 (holotype JBB!, isotype COL!).

Passiflora splendida differs from P. cremastantha in its internodes up to 10 cm long, linear stipules, petioles up to 1.8 cm long, lanceovate leaves 6–8.5 × 2.5–3.3 cm, flowers 9–11 cm diam. and perianth with intermediate disposition at anthesis, sepals and petals longer than the tube floral, floral tube 3.2–4.5 cm long, androecium up to 10 cm long and fusiform ovary (versus internodes <10 cm long, linear-lanceolate stipules, petioles up to 4 cm long, ovate leaves (5.3–) 8.8 (–15.3) × (3–) 4.5 (–11.5) cm, flowers 5.2–5.4 cm diam. and perianth with campunalate disposition at anthesis, sepals and petals less than the tube floral, floral tube 4.2–4.6 cm long, androecium up to 8.2 cm long and oblong ovary in P. cremastantha ).

Liana up to 7 m; internodes 2–10 cm. Stems terete, densely pubescent with transparent trichomes. Stipules linear, 8–10 × 1 mm, glabrous and green. Petiole 1–1.8 cm long, pubescent, with 4–10 adaxial glands, pubescent. Leaves simple 6.5–8.5 × 2.5–3.3 cm, lanceolate-ovate, base truncate, apex acute or acuminate, margin glandular-serrate and revolute. Flowers axillary, solitary, pendant, 9–11 cm diam., perianth with intermediate disposition at anthesis. Peduncle 20–27 cm long, pubescent, thin. Pedicel 2 mm long, glabrous. Bracts 3.7 × 1.5 cm, lanceolate, free, cuneate at base, margin entire, green. Floral tube 3.2–4.5 × 0.8 cm, green abaxially. Five sepals of 4.8–5 × 1 cm, oblong, apex round, sub-apical awn 3–4 mm, fuchsia. Five petals sub-equal to sepals. Corona reduced to a ring with tuberculiform elements, purple. Androecium 10 cm long. Ovary 7 × 2 mm, fusiform. Fruit elliptic, 5.1–5.4 × 2 cm, green.

Distribution and ecology: —Two individuals have been identified as Passiflora splendida . The specimens were collected by G. Morales et al. (3086) and by G. Morales & M. Medina (3110). Both were found only in the Department of Cundinamarca, Municipality La Calera, Mundo Nuevo ( Figure 3 ). This species was encountered on a farm where they consume their edible fruits. The common name for this species is Curuba de Monte. The floral structure and coloration of P. splendida according to Abrahamczyk et al. (2014) allows pollination by short-billed hummingbirds.

Phenology: —Known to flower in July and December.

Etymology: —The epithet refers to the splendid flower structure of the perianth and their fuchsia color.

Conservation status: —The two individuals were found in the same locality, conform to the IUCN (2016) criteria B1a (i,ii), B2a (i,ii), C1, and D1 as Critically Endangered (CR). Currently, an ex situ conservation program is advancing at the Botanical Garden of Bogotá.

Additional specimen examined (paratype):— COLOMBIA. Cundinamarca: La Calera-Mundo Nuevo, 2400 m, 21 July 2009, G. Morales & M. Medina 3110 (JBB).

Additional specimen examined (related species):— Passiflora cremastantha . COLOMBIA. Cauca: Alto de Pesares de Guanacas, between Popayan and Coconuco, Lehmann 5421 (lectotype, designated by Escobar 1988: 36, F 0066798F!, isolectotypes GH 00068060!, K 000323347!, NY).

Discussion: Passiflora splendida belongs to section Colombiana ,series Leptomischae with seven species, including the new species ( Escobar 1986: 137, 1988a: 26, Ulmer 1999: 196). Species that belong to series Leptomischae have Andean distribution in Colombia (western and central Cordillera) and Ecuador ( Bonilla 2014). Passiflora splendida is the first record of a species series Leptomischae from the eastern Cordillera.

Passiflora splendida is closely related to P. cremastantha Harms (1922: 294) . Morphological differences in the vegetative parts with P. cremastantha are internodes up to 10 cm long, linear stipules, petioles up to 1.8 cm long, lanceovate leaves 6–8.5 × 2.5–3.3 cm [versus internodes <10 cm long, linear-lanceolate stipules, petioles up to 4 cm long, ovate leaves (5.3–) 8.8 (–15.3) × (3–) 4.5 (–11.5) cm]. Main floral differences are shown in Table 1 and Figure 4 .

Species that belong to the series Leptomischae such as P. tenerifensis L.K. Escobar (1988b: 6) , P. leptomischa Harms (1922: 295) and P. flexipes Triana & Planchon (1873: 142) differs from P. splendida by their dimorphic leaves (rarely entire in P. tenerifensis ), peduncle up to 36 cm long, pink or magenta perianth and external corona with filiform elements (versus entire leaves, peduncle up to 26 cm long, fuchsia perianth and external corona without filiform elements). P. antioquiensis Karsten (1859: 162) differs from the new species in having dimorphic leaves, peduncle up to 40 cm, red perianth and an internal and external corona series up to 3 series with filiform elements (versus entire leaves, peduncle up to 26 cm long, fuchsia perianth and external corona 1 without filiform elements).

Figures

FIGURE 1. Passiflora splendida M. Bonilla, C.Aguirre & C. Caetano. A, Habit of plant, leaf and open flower; B, fruit (G. Morales et al. 3086, JBB). Illustration: Miguel Bonilla, Carolina Aguirre & Natalia Briceño.

FIGURE 2. Passiflora splendida M. Bonilla, C. Aguirre & C. Caetano. A, Habit of plant, leaf, and open flower; B, Flower. Photos: Gustavo Morales (G. Morales et al. 3086, JBB).

FIGURE 3. Distribution of P. splendida M. Bonilla, C. Aguirre & C. Caetano (triangle).

FIGURE 4. Passiflora splendida M. Bonilla, C. Aguirre & C. Caetano (Left). A, Leaf blade; B, Flower (G. Morales et al. 3086, JBB). Passiflora cremastantha Harms (Right). C, Leaf blade; D, Flower (Lehmann 5421, K). Illustration: Miguel Bonilla & Carolina Aguirre.