Passiflora pilpintu T. Boza, 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 : 77-79

3. Passiflora pilpintu T. Boza , sp. nov.

TYPE: Peru. Pasco: Oxapampa: Distr. Chontabamba. Carretera la suiza nueva, bosque intervenido en borde la carretera , 10°40’44”S, 75°26’34”W, 2360 m, 8 Aug. 2008, D. Rodríguez M., Antonio Peña, & R. Rivera 100 ( holotype, MO- 6253990 ! [barcode MO1183704 ] and MO- 6253991 ! [barcode MO1183703 ]; HOXA 031903 [image!], HUT, USM) . Figures 4 , 5 .

Diagnosis:—The flower and narrow leaves of this new species are very similar to those of P. quadriflora Killip (1927: 424) , as is the subangular stem, which often dries flattened and scabrous, but the leaves differ by having the two primary lateral veins spreading 10°–17°, reaching the laminar margins, and forming mucros and a lobed leaf (vs. lateral veins arching inwards distally toward the central vein and not reaching the margin in P. quadriflora ).

Vine 1–2 m long, glabrescent. Stems striate, subangulate, drying slightly scabrous. Stipules 1.9–2.7 × 0.3–0.4 mm, narrowly triangular, more or less falcate, glabrous; petioles 5.2–12.5 mm long; laminas 4.6–5.7 × 2.0– 2.3 cm, entire, variegated as juveniles, variegation often retained at maturity, narrowly oblong-obovate (obovate), rounded at the base, often reddish purple abaxially, glabrous or abaxially very sparsely glabrescent and with a few lax trichomes on the primary veins, 3-lobed, the lobes ca. equal or the center slightly longer, or slightly shorter or obscure and the leaf thus very shallowly bilobed, the lateral and central lobes obtuse to acute, variegated along veins only; the angle between the lateral lobes veins 10°–17°, with (7–)10–14 ocellate yellow glands 0.5–0.8 mm diam. in lines between primary veins only, each primary vein ending in a distinct mucro. Peduncles 9.4–21.3 mm long, in pairs, bracts 1.4–4.6 × 0.1–0.2 mm, linear, scattered along the peduncle; floral stipe ca. 3.5 mm long to 3.4–4.2 mm long in fruit. Flowers 3.5–6.3 cm diam., greenish white or pale yellow-green; sepals 20.9–24.8 × 4.4–4.6 mm, narrowly ovate-oblong, glabrous, acute apex, pale green to white; petals 10.5–8.9 × 0.3–0.5 mm, narrowly oblong-ovate; about ½ as long as the sepals or slightly less, round apex, white; coronal filaments in 2 series, filaments of outer row 5.9–10.0 mm long, white with 3–4 purple bands; filaments of the inner row 2.4–3.2 mm long; operculum 3.1–3.4 mm long, membranous, plicate; nectar ring present; limen annular, membranaceous, erect; androgynophore 10.5–12.2 mm long, pale green; stamens with filaments 4.2–5.6 mm long; anthers 4.3–4.4 × 1.7–2.0 mm; ovary 2.1–2.8 × 1.3–1.4 mm, ovoid, glabrous to minutely puberulous; styles 3.9–4.3 × 0.5–0.6 mm, purplish; stigma 1.2–1.7 mm diam., capitate. Fruit 11.2–13.9 × 9.1–12.7 mm, globose to widely ellipsoid, glabrous to sparsely pubescent, aril unknown, seeds 3.3–3.7 × 2.3–2.9 mm, transversely ridged with rugulose or verrucose ridges with 7–9 sulci.

Etymology. This new species is named for the shape of the leaf, which resembles the shape of Lepidopteran wing scales. The indeclinable term “pilpintu ” comes from the Quechua language meaning butterfly and is allowed under International Code of Nomenclature [ICN] Art. 23.2, ( Turland et al. 2018).

Distribution and Habitat. Passiflora pilpintu has only been collected near the edge of the Yanachaga-Chemillén National Park, in secondary forest. It is found at 2360–2478 m elevation.

Conservation Status. The species is known from four neighboring localities, none of which are protected. Logging activities and deforestation represent a potential threat to the species. The AOO is estimated at 8 km 2, a decline in its extent and number of individuals may therefore be expected. Passiflora pilpintu is assigned a conservation status of “Endangered” [EN B2a].

Phenology. Flowering material of P. pilpintu has been collected in August–September and fruits have been found in January and August–September.

Discussion. The taxonomic placement of this species in section Decaloba was investigated in detail by Acha et al. (2021). Samples from the specimens Valenzuela 13876 and Vásquez 28889 (as samples “sp.nov.388” and “ P. hexadenia 565”, respectively) were genotyped and they emerged together into the southern Andean “South American Clade 7” of 20–25 species of this section, including P. indecora Kunth (1817: 134) and P. quadriflora .

Paratypes: PERU. Pasco: Oxapampa: Dist. Huancabamba, zona de amortiguamiento del Parque Nacional Yanachaga Chemillén , Sector Torre Bamba , camino a Oso Playa , 10°20’09”S, 075°34’58”W, 2444 m, 10 sept. 2010, E. Briceño et al. 229 ( HOXA 044866 ) ; Sector Oso Playa , camino hacia el campamento , 10°18’52”S, 075°34’31’’W, 2478 m, 22 Oct. 2009, L. Valenzuela et al. 13876 ( MO- 6748874 [barcode MO-2080699 ] SRA acc. no.—SRS7821085) ; Parque Nacional Yanachaga-Chemillén, Sector Chacos , 10°37’S, 075°17’W, 2471 m, 24 Jan. 2006, R. Vásquez et al. 28889 ( HOXA, MO- 6147476 [barcode MO-1183262 ] SRA acc. no.—SRS7820982, USM) .

Figures

FIGURE 4. Passiflora pilpintu T. Boza. A. Habit. B. Node showing mature fruit and base of leaf with laminar nectaries and variegation along veins. (A & B from Rodríguez et al. 100)

FIGURE 5. Passiflora pilpintu T. Boza. From Rodríguez et al. 100 at type locality. Photo: Diana Rodríguez.