Passiflora luyensis 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 : 73-76

1. Passiflora luyensis T. Boza , sp. nov.

TYPE: Peru. Amazonas: Luya, Camporredondo, El Cedro , 6°14’07”S, 78°20’01”W, 1550 m, 18 June 1999, J. Campos [de la Cruz] 6049 ( holotype, USM- 164664 !; isotype, MO- 6147261 ! [barcode MO-2080242 ]) . Figures 1 , 2 .

Diagnosis:—Similar to P. andicola Esquerre (2019: 280) but the outer corona differs in the new species by being (2.0–)2.9–3.7(–4.4) mm long and having a single purplish band, instead of 4–5 mm long and with three purplish bands. Furthermore, the leaves of P. luyensis are abaxially densely pubescent as opposed to only slightly pubescent in P. andicola .

Vine, densely pubescent throughout. Stems striate. Stipules (2.9–)3.3–4.0(–5.0) × 0.3–0.4(–0.5) mm, falcate, sparsely pubescent abaxially, petioles (8.4–)11.1–17.3(–21.8) mm long, glandless; laminas (5.1–)5.6–7.5(–8.8) × (2.1–)2.3–3.6(–4.7) cm, entire, narrowly obovate to obovate, not variegated, round at the base, densely pubescent abaxially, tomentose trichomes 0.2–0.3 mm long, glabrous adaxially, 3-lobed, the lateral lobes slightly obtuse, the central lobe slightly obtuse to acute; the angle between the lateral lobes veins (14–)16–18(–22)°, with 4–8 ocellate yellowish glands (0.9–)1.1–1.7(–2.5) mm diam. in two lines between primary veins, with two of the glands located at the very base, and rarely and only on the largest leaves two additional glands outside the base of the two primary lateral veins, each primary vein ending in a distinct mucro. Peduncles (9.6–)17.0–18.0(–25.2) mm long, in pairs, bracts (1.2–)1.8–2.5(–3.5) × 0.3–0.4 mm, linear-triangular, entire or 2-cleft, scattered along the peduncle; floral stipe (1.4–)2.2–2.7(–3.4) mm long to (2.4–)2.8–3.9(–4.1) mm long in fruit. Flowers (32.2–)33.4–33.6(–36.5) mm diam., white, born suberect or facing above the horizontal plane; sepals (13.2–)14.4–15.4(–17.0) × (2.8–)4.0–4.5(–5.5) mm, oblong-triangular, densely minutely pubescent outside, obtuse to rounded apex, occasionally with pinkish base; petals (5.8–)8.2–8.7(–10.2) × (1.4–)2.1–2.4(–3.1) mm, ca. ½ as long as sepals, narrowly oblong to oblong-ovate, rounded apex, white; coronal filaments in 2 series, filaments of outer row (2.0–)2.9–3.7(–4.4) mm long, filiform, distally slightly dilated, white or cream, with one subapical purple or reddish purple band, rarely with pink base; filaments of the inner row (2.1–)2.6–2.8(–2.9) mm long, capillary, erect, green, fimbriate; operculum (1.5–)1.9–2.3(–3.1) mm long, green with purplish apex; nectar ring 0.42–0.48 mm high; androgynophore (4.5–)6.0–7.5(–9.4) mm long, pale green to whitish; filaments (4.3–)4.9–5.5(–6.0) mm long; anthers (2.8–)3.8–4.3(–4.9) × (1.2–)1.8–2.0(–2.5) mm; ovary (1.6–)2.4–3.1(–4.9) × (1.2–)2.2–2.5(–3.7) mm, ovoid to globose, densely pubescent; styles (3.1–)4.7–5.0(–6.2) × 0.3–0.4(–0.5) mm, flushed purple; stigma (0.4–)0.9–1.1(–1.3) mm diam., capitate. Fruit (6.9–)10.1–13.6(–18.0) × (6.9–)10.6–12.3(–16.6) mm, subglobose; aril unknown; seeds 2.7–3.2(–3.5) × (2.1–)2.2–2.4(–2.5) mm, transversely sulcate with 8 sulci, rugulose.

Etymology. The species is named after the province of Luya (Department of Amazonas), where it was found.

Distribution and Habitat. Passiflora luyensis is found in the Departments of Amazonas and Cajamarca, twice in Luya province and once each in Cutervo and Cajamarca at 1550 to 2750 m elevation.

Conservation status. The EOO is estimated as 129 Km 2 and AOO as 12 km 2. The species is known from four locations. None of these locations are protected, and deforestation represents a clear threat to the species. A decline in AOO, extent and quality of habitat, number of locations and number of individuals is therefore expected, and P. luyensis is assigned a conservation status of “Endangered” [EN B1a+B2a].

Phenology. The species has been collected from May to June in flowers and nearly mature fruit, and photographed in late October in bud, flowers, and immature fruit.

Discussion. Passiflora luyensis is similar to P. andicola and P. pascoensis L. Escobar (1989: 880) . The easiest character to distinguish these three species is the flower diameter, which is smallest ( 32.2–36.5 mm) in P. luyensis , 40–43 mm in P. andicola , and largest ( 70–80 mm) in P. pascoensis . Passiflora luyensis can also be distinguished by the number of the purple bands in its outer row of filaments, which have one subapical purple or reddish-purple band, rarely with pink base, while P. andicola has two or three purple bands and P. pascoensis has three to six purple bands.

Paratypes: PERU. Amazonas: Luya. Camporredondo, Fundo Cedro , 2450–2550 m, 26 May 1989, C. Diaz et al. 3549 ( MO- 4355746 , MYF, QCNE, USM- 127287 ). Cajamarca: Cutervo, outskirts of Socota , weedy roadside , 06°19’S, 078°41’W, 1800 m, 10 Feb. 1988, Gentry et al. 61472 ( MO- 6147775 , USM- 121749 ) .

Figures

FIGURE 1. Passiflora luyensis T. Boza. A. Habit. B. Node with leaf and developing fruit. C. Flower. D. Inner and outer coronal filaments. (A, C, D from Campos 6049. B from Diaz 3549)

FIGURE 2. Passiflora luyensis T. Boza. Unvouchered observation from Distr. Chetilla, 7°09’S, 078°39’W, Cajamarca, 2750 m. Photo: Patrick Worley.