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| Prunus luxurians Pérez-Zab., Á.J.Pérez, Romol. & N.Albán, in Pérez, Pérez-Zabala, Romoleroux, Espinel-Ortiz, Romoleroux et Albán-Vallejo. 2025. |
Abstract
Prunus luxurians, a new species from Buenaventura Reserve at El Oro province in Ecuador is described and illustrated. Additionally, notes on its geographical distribution, ecology, conservation status, and taxonomic affinities are documented. Prunus luxurians has some vegetative and floral similarities with other Andean species, but the unique combination of oblong-lanceolate leaves with prominent secondary and tertiary veins, densiflorous floriferous shoots less than 5 cm long, sepals with two marginal glands and flowers with turbinate hypanthium clearly differentiates it from the rest. This is the first species of Prunus described from the western flank at elevation below 1500 m, and particularly from a humid spot surrounded by dry areas (Tumbesian influence). Other taxonomic novelties of Prunus on this flank can be expected, so further botanical exploration is needed to better understand the diversity of the genus in the region.
Key words: Buenaventura Reserve, El Oro, Neotropics, plant taxonomy
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| Prunus luxurians Pérez-Zab., Á.J.Pérez, Romol. & N.Albán A habit B branch with leaves and floriferous shoots C flowers. Photos by Á.J. Pérez. |
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| Prunus luxurians Pérez-Zab., Á.J.Pérez, Romol. & N.Albán A habit B floriferous shoot C leaf lower surface D, E leaf glands F flower G petal lower surface H petal upper surface I detail of petals and sepals (notice marginal glands). A–I based on Á.J. Pérez et al. 11743 (QCA). Illustrations by Natasha Albán. |
Prunus luxurians Pérez-Zab., Á.J.Pérez, Romol. & N.Albán, sp. nov.
Diagnosis. Prunus luxurians has a unique combination of leaves oblong lanceolate, cernuous in posture, around three times longer than wider, with prominent secondary and tertiary veins, secondary veins curved toward the margin and apparently eucamptodromous but becoming brochidodromous distally, base rounded to subcordate, floriferous shoots erect, densiflorous, less than 5 cm long, sepals with 2 marginal glands and flowers with turbinate hypanthium. Prunus integrifolia (Presl.) Walp. share with the new species the leaf shape and transverse posture, number of secondary veins, erect floriferous shoots and anthers of similar size; but, the new species has leaves shorter than 14 cm (vs. more than 15 cm.), chartaceous (vs. coriaceous), with conspicuous venation (vs. relatively obscure), glands submarginal and separated from the midrib (vs. attached to the midrib), turbinate hypanthium (vs. wide turbinate) and erect pedicels (vs. recurved) (Fig. 4).
Álvaro J. Pérez, Jorge Andrés Pérez-Zabala, Katya Romoleroux, David A. Espinel-Ortiz, Chaquira Romoleroux, Natasha Albán-Vallejo. 2025. A new cherry species (Prunus, Rosaceae) from south-western Ecuador. PhytoKeys. 255: 23-34. DOI: doi.org/10.3897/phytokeys.255.151041
Resumen: Se describe e ilustra Prunus luxurians, una nueva especie de la Reserva Buenaventura en la provincia de El Oro en Ecuador. Además, se documentan notas sobre su distribución geográfica, ecología, estado de conservación y afinidades taxonómicas. Prunus luxurians comparte algunas similitudes vegetativas y florales con otras especies andinas, pero la combinación única de hojas oblongo-lanceoladas con venas secundarias y terciarias prominentes, brotes floríferos densifloros de menos de 5 cm de largo, sépalos con dos glándulas marginales y flores con hipanto turbinado la diferencian fácilmente del resto. Esta es la primera especie de Prunus descrita del flanco occidental a una altitud inferior a 1500 m, y particularmente de un lugar húmedo rodeado de zonas secas (influencia tumbesina). Se espera que existan otras novedades taxonómicas de Prunus en este flanco, por lo que es necesaria una mayor exploración botánica para comprender mejor la diversidad del género en la región.