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| Ceratostema limonensis M.M.Jiménez & H.Garzón, in Jiménez, Iturralde, Pozo, Lapo-González, Kuethe et Garzón-Suárez, 2025. |
Abstract
A new species of Ceratostema (Vaccinieae) from south-eastern Ecuador is here described and illustrated. Ceratostema limonensis is distinguished by the singular, subflexuous young branches. The new species is compared to the morphologically similar C. gualaquizensis, which differs by the subterete, longer rachis and shorter corollas with narrower monochromatic corolla lobes. A brief history of the species from the tribe Vaccinieae in Ecuador is provided. Further taxonomic discussions, distribution and conservation status for the new species are provided in this paper.
Key words: Amazon, Andes, premontane forest, rainforest, taxonomy
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| Lankester Composite Dissection Plate (LCDP) of Ceratostema limonensis. A. Lignotuber; B. Fertile branch with a close-up of the node (B1) and rachis of the inflorescence (B2); C. Complete flower with a ventral view of the corolla lobes (C1); D. Flower with a longitudinal section of the corolla showing stamens and the corolla without stamens (right); E. Calyx, pedicel and style with a close-up of the ovary (E1) and the bracteole (E2); F. Stamens with a close-up of the pores of the tubule (F1), anther thecae (F2) and external surface of the filament (F3). Prepared by N. Lapo-González from photographs of the holotype. |
Ceratostema limonensis M.M.Jiménez & H.Garzón, sp. nov.
Diagnosis. Ceratostema limonensis is morphologically similar to C. gualaquizensis, but differs by the longer (4.8–5.1 mm vs. 1 mm long), subterete (vs. obconical) rhachis; the shorter (1.4–1.8 mm vs. 3.4–4.7 mm long), ovate-deltate (vs. narrowly lanceolate) calyx lobes; the shorter corolla (2.9 cm vs. 4.5–4.7 cm long) with narrower lobes (2.3 mm vs. 3.7–4.0 mm wide), that have the same colour as the rest of the corolla (vs. black at the apex and inside); and the shorter (3.1–3.3 cm vs. 4.6–4.7 cm long), pilose (vs. glabrous) filaments.
Marco M. Jiménez, Gabriel A. Iturralde, Diego Gutiérrez del Pozo, Nadia Lapo-González, J. R. Kuethe and Henry X. Garzón-Suárez. 2025. Ceratostema limonensis (Ericaceae), A New Species from the Province of Morona-Santiago, Ecuador. PhytoKeys. 263: 37-47. DOI: doi.org/10.3897/phytokeys.263.159645
