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| Heliconia berguidoi
R.Flores, C.Black & A.Ibáñez
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Abstract: Heliconia berguidoi (Heliconiaceae), a new species from premontane forest of eastern Panama, is described, illustrated and its conservation status evaluated. H. berguidoi bears pink flowers, an uncommon color in this group. It differs from the Colombian species Heliconia rhodantha and Heliconia sanctae-theresae, the most similar taxa, by the combination of a petiole glabrous except for the woolly base, a very long peduncle, the perianth pubescent at the apex and staminode with cuspidate apex. H. berguidoi is also similar to Heliconia pogonantha in all four of its varieties and to Heliconia ramonensis in two of its four varieties, but differs by a combination of the long peduncle, pink flowers and staminode with cuspidate apex. Fifty-six Heliconia species have been found in Panama, eighteen of them endemic.
Keywords: Barbatae, Cerro Chucantí, Griggsia, Heliconia, Heliconiaceae, Serranía de Majé, Zingiberales
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| Figure 2. A Habit of Heliconia berguidoi B Inflorescences touching the ground C Plant with two of the authors (R. Flores and C. Black). |
Taxonomic treatment
Heliconia berguidoi R.Flores, C.Black & A.Ibáñez, sp. nov.
Diagnosis: This species is distinguished from other species of Heliconia by the combination of the long petioles (up to 180 cm), glabrous but woolly at the base; blade splitting into narrow lateral segments; peduncle red, woolly with golden hairs, very long (125-150 cm); slightly flexuous rachis; bracts spirally arranged; pink flowers, perianth pubescent at the apex and staminode with cuspidate apex.
Type: PANAMÁ. Provincia de Darién: Reserva privada Chucantí, Sendero al filo (roca grande). Bosque premontano. 900 m. 8°47'33.46"N, 78°27'6.72"W, 26 agosto 2006, individuo colectado por Carla Black. Floreció en cultivo el 12 de marzo de 2016, Finca las Chichicas, corregimiento de Volcán, distrito de Bugaba, Provincia de Chiriquí. Col. R. Flores, O. Ortiz y C. Black, 3855 RF (Holotype PMA!, Isotype, MO!, SEL!, UCH!, US!).
Etymology: The specific epithet, berguidoi, honors the Panamanian biologist Guido Cesar Berguido F., who first brought national attention to Cerro Chucantí after witnessing not only its natural splendor, but the rampant ongoing deforestation. He mustered support from family and friends to purchase a property and set it aside for conservation before the previous owners could burn the forest to ashes. He received further private support and acquired more lands to create the Chucantí Private Nature Reserve. Mr. Berguido continues to invite fellow biologists to study the flora and fauna of Cerro Chucantí, which has resulted in the discovery of various species new to science. He recently founded the Asociación Adopta el Bosque Panamá, Adopt a Panama Rainforest, ADOPTA (www.chucanti.org) to further his conservation mission. It is an honor to thus recognize Mr. Berguido´s contributions to increased biological knowledge and his great efforts to conserve the unique forests of Cerro Chucantí. His generous logistical assistance to the authors was invaluable.
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Rodolfo Flores, Carla Black and Alicia Ibáñez. 2017. A New Species of Heliconia (Heliconiaceae) with Pendent Inflorescence, from Chucantí Private Nature Reserve, eastern Panama. PhytoKeys. 77: 21-32. DOI: 10.3897/phytokeys.77.11190
Resumen: Heliconia berguidoi (Heliconiaceae), una nueva especie de bosque premontano del este de Panamá, es descrita, ilustrada y su estado de conservación evaluado. H. berguidoi tiene flores rosadas, color poco común en este grupo. Difiere de las especies de Colombia Heliconia rhodantha y Heliconia sanctae-theresae, taxones más similares, por la combinación de un pecíolo glabro aunque lanudo en la base, pedúnculo muy largo, ápice del perianto pubescente y estaminoide con el ápice cuspidado. H. berguidoi es también similar a Heliconia pogonantha en sus cuatro variedades y a Heliconia ramonensis en dos de sus cuatro variedades, pero difiere por la combinación de su largo pedúnculo, el color rosado de las flores y el estaminoide con ápice cuspidado. En Panamá se han encontrado cincuenta y seis especies de Heliconia, dieciocho de ellas endémicas.
Palabras claves: Barbatae, Cerro Chucantí, Griggsia, Heliconia, Heliconiaceae, Serranía de Majé, Zingiberales
