Passiflora hexadenia T. Boza & J. M. MacDougal, 2025

Espinoza, Tatiana Erika Boza, Macdougal, John M. & Jørgensen, Peter Møller, 2025, Five New Species of Passiflora (subgenus Decaloba, Passifloraceae) from Peru, Phytotaxa 716 (2), pp. 72-86 : 76-77

2. Passiflora hexadenia T. Boza & J. M. MacDougal , sp. nov.

TYPE: Peru. Pasco: Oxapampa: road from Oxapampa to Yaupi , Torrebamba , hedges between fields , 10°44’S, 75°28’W, 1830 m, 6 Apr. 2001, M. Weigend et al. 5504 (Ref. Nr. 2001/504. 9) ( holotype, NY!; isotypes, HUT- 41618 [image!]; M- 0142684 ! [barcode], MO- 5731213 ! [barcode MO-1272544 ], MO- 6147706! [barcode MO- 1183418]) . Figure 3 .

Diagnosis:—Similar to P. pilpintu T. Boza but the lamina differs by the wider angle between the lateral lobes veins (22–28° vs. 10–17°). Furthermore, P. hexadenia has extrafloral laminar nectaries outside (exmedial) the primary lateral veins at the leaf base in addition to between the primary veins, instead of having nectaries only between the primary veins. Moreover, the corona is white and diagnostically unbanded in P. hexadenia , while in P. pilpintu it is purple banded.

Vine, sparsely puberulous. Stems striate. Stipules 2.9–3.2 × 0.3–0.4 mm, narrowly triangular, more or less falcate; petioles 11.5–17.5 mm long, glandless; laminas 4.8–8.3 × 3.2–5.3 cm, entire, obovate, round at the base, glabrous abaxially and adaxially, (2–)3-lobed, the lateral and central lobe emarginate; the angle between the lateral lobes veins 22–28°, with 12–15 ocellate glands 0.8–1.3 mm diam., 6 glands located at the base of the lamina, four in two lines between the primary veins and two outside of the primary veins, each primary vein ending in a distinct mucro. Peduncles 13.3–16.1 mm long, slender, in pairs; bracts 1.8–2.1 × 0.2–0.3 mm, scattered along the peduncle, floral stipe 1.1–1.8 mm long to 2.1–7.7 mm long in fruit. Flowers 3.5–3.6 cm diam., greenish white or pale yellow-green; sepals 15.7–16.8 × 3.7–3.9 mm, narrowly oblong triangular, glabrous outside, acute apex, occasionally pink near base; petals 4.6–6.1 × 1.5–1.7 mm, narrowly obovate; obtuse apex, ca. 1 / 3 as long as sepals, white; coronal filaments in 2 series, filaments of outer row 7.4–8.7 mm long, filiform, pure white, very rarely with pink base; filaments of the inner row 1.5–2 mm long, operculum 1.5–1.7 mm long, membranous, plicate; nectar ring 1.6 mm high; limen annular, membranaceous, erect; androgynophore 5.0– 5.5 mm long, green; filaments 3.3–3.7 mm long; anthers 2.8–3.6 × 1.2–1.5 mm; ovary 1.7–3.0 × 1.6–2.4 mm, ellipsoid, sparsely hirsute; styles 3.6–4.3 × 0.2–0.3 mm; stigma 0.8–1.1 mm diam. capitate. Immature fruit 6.0–7.7 × 6.2–6.5 mm, globose, sparsely hirsute. Seeds unknown.

Etymology. The name refers to the six glands crowded at the base of the leaf blade, which looks like six eyes.

Distribution and Habitat. Endemic to the central forests of Peru in Oxapampa. Passiflora hexadenia is known only from the type and has been found at 1830 m elevation.

Conservation status. The EOO could not be estimated because the species is only known from the type; the AOO is 4 km 2. The type locality is 21 km from the Yanachaga Chemillen National Park, in an area that is highly degraded and under logging pressure. Passiflora hexadenia is provisionally assigned a conservation status of “Critically Endangered” [CR B2a].

Phenology. Passiflora hexadenia was collected in flower and immature to nearly mature fruit in April.

Discussion. Passiflora hexadenia resembles P. pascoensis by having 2–3-lobed leaves, however it differs from P. pascoensis by having the lateral and central lobe emarginate (vs. acute) and the four ocellate glands located in two lines between the primary veins along the lamina (vs. at the apex). Passiflora hexadenia is characterized by having smaller flowers than P. pascoensis (3.5–3.6 vs. 7.0–8.0 cm in diam.).

Acha et al. (2021) reported a DNA analysis under their sample 565 as “ P. hexadenia ,” but the identification was corrected later to P. pilpintu (see next species).

Figures

FIGURE 3. Passiflora hexadenia T. Boza & J. M. MacDougal. A. Habit. B. Floral bracts on peduncle. C. Leaf. D. Flower. E. Immature fruit. (A–E from Weigend et al. 5504.)