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| Nototriche antisanensis E.J. Trujillo, Muriel, Espinel-Ortiz & Romol., in Trujillo, Espinel-Ortiz, Romoleroux et Muriel. 2025. |
Abstract
A new species of Nototriche (Malvaceae, Malvoideae) growing in the high Andes of Ecuador is described. Nototriche antisanensis E.J.Trujillo, Muriel, Espinel-Ortiz & Romol. is a cushion plant known only from the Antisana volcano in northeastern Ecuador. Morphologically, it is most similar to N. jamesonii A.W.Hill, but it differs in its cushion habit and vegetative characters, such as indumentum, corolla tube size, stamen head morphology, and the number of mericarps per fruit. Photographs of living plants and a scientific illustration of the new species are provided. In addition, a distribution map, an identification key, and a table comparing the habit, morphology, and distribution of all Nototriche species known from Ecuador are included.
Key words: Antisana, Ecuador, Malvaceae, Nototriche, páramo, taxonomy
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| Nototriche antisanensis, from the collection E.J Trujillo et al. 41. A. Habit; B. Leaves in rosette; C. Top view of a flower; D. Fruit. Photographs by Erick Troncoso-López. |
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| Nototriche antisanensis E.J. Trujillo, Muriel, Espinel-Ortiz & Romol. A. Habit; B. Leaf; C. Lower surface (left) and upper surface (right) of the sepals; D. Fruit; E. Corolla; F. Isolated mericarp. (A–C, E. Based on E.J. Trujillo et al. 41 (QCA); D, F. Based on E.J. Trujillo et al. 50 (QCA)). Illustrations by Carla J. Rodríguez. |
Nototriche antisanensis E.J.Trujillo, Muriel, Espinel-Ortiz & Romol., sp. nov.
Diagnosis. Nototriche antisanensis is morphologically most similar to N. jamesonii in having both surfaces of the leaf lamina covered by small stellate trichomes, triangular stipules and connate petals but the former differs from the latter in its cushion-forming (vs. prostrate shrubby) habit, dense (vs. lax) rosettes with 3 (vs. 9) lobes, free part of the stipule narrowly triangular with a 6:1 proportion (vs. triangular with a 2:1 proportion), sheath with both faces covered by stellate indumentum (vs. abaxial face glabrous), flowers with corolla tubes 1–2 mm (vs. 2.5–5 mm) long, anthers forming a globose head with a spherical 1:1 proportion, 2–3 × 2–3 mm (vs. elliptic 2:1 proportion, 3–5.5 × 2.2–3 mm); and a fruit with 11 (vs. 10) mericarps.
Etymology. The specific epithet honors the páramos of the Antisana volcano, where this species was found and collected for the first time.
Emilio J. Trujillo, David A. Espinel-Ortiz, Katya Romoleroux and Priscilla Muriel. 2025. A New Species of Nototriche (Malvaceae, Malvoideae) from the high Andes of Ecuador. PhytoKeys. 261: 1-12. DOI: doi.org/10.3897/phytokeys.261.157043