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| Gasteranthus extinctus L.E.Skog & L.P.Kvist in Pitman, White, Andino, Couvreur, ... et Rivas-Torres, 2022. Photographs by X. Cornejo, R. Fortier, N. Zapata, T.L.P. Couvreur, D. White, . Pitman |
Abstract
We report the rediscovery of the Critically Endangered cloud forest herb Gasteranthus extinctus, not seen since 1985. In 2019 and 2021, G. extinctus was recorded at five sites in the western foothills of the Ecuadorian Andes, 4–25 km from the type locality at the celebrated Centinela ridge. We describe the species’ distribution, abundance, habitat and conservation status and offer recommendations for further research and conservation efforts focused on G. extinctus and the small, disjunct forest remnants it occupies.
Keywords: Andes, Centinela, Chocó, cloud forest, endemic, extinction, iNaturalist, tropical forest
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| Field photographs of Gasteranthus extinctus habitats in the Centinela Region of western Ecuador A small stream where Thomas Couvreur et al. 1502 was collected B recently planted Gmelina arborea plantation and forest C cloud forest understorey D D. White et al. 830 river-side at Bosque y Cascadas Las Rocas E steep hills covered in a mosaic of cattle pasture, tree plantations and forest remnants. Photographs A, B by T.L.P. Couvreur C by R. Fortier D by D. White E by N. Pitman. |
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| Field images of Gasteranthus extinctus A herbivore-damaged corolla showing inflorescence branches and calyx with conspicuous pilose-villous indument B relatively (< 4 cm) short peduncles C relatively fewer flowers (2–6) per inflorescence and pouched or hypocyrtoid corollas D elliptic leaves. Photographs A by X. Cornejo B, D by R. Fortier C by N. Zapata. Scale bar: 1 cm. |
Nigel C. A. Pitman, Dawson M. White, Juan Ernesto Guevara Andino, Thomas L. P. Couvreur, Riley P. Fortier, José Nicolás Zapata, Xavier Cornejo, John L. Clark, Kenneth J. Feeley, Mark K. Johnston, Alix Lozinguez and Gonzalo Rivas-Torres. 2022. Rediscovery of Gasteranthus extinctus L.E.Skog & L.P.Kvist (Gesneriaceae) at Multiple Sites in western Ecuador. PhytoKeys. 194: 33-46. DOI: 10.3897/phytokeys.194.79638
