[Botany • 2025] Nasa katjae (Loasaceae) • No end to endemism – Contributions to the difficult Nasa Series Alatae. A New Species from Peru

Nasa katjae  T.Henning, J.P.Allen & R.H.Acuña,

Henning, Allen, Montesinos-Tubeé, Rodríguez-Rodríguez, Peña et Acuña-Castillo, 2025.   

DOI: doi.org/10.3897/phytokeys.252.141635

Abstract

A new species of Nasa ser. Alatae (Urban & Gilg) Weigend from Northern Peru is described and illustrated. Nasa katjae sp. nov. was at first encountered by an observation on iNaturalist and subsequently collected in the humid Andean forests near Colasay in the province of Jaén (Cajamarca, Peru). Whilst comparing the new species with closely related Nasa loxensis (Kunth) Weigend, a taxon widespread in Southern Ecuador (and tentatively adjacent Peru), a reevaluation of the status of earlier synonymized Loasa calycina Benth. became necessary. Consequently, Nasa calycina comb. nov. is rehabilitated at species level and Nasa loxensis is redefined.

Key words: Amotape-Huancabamba Zone, Andes, Cajamarca, cloud forest, Cornales, iNaturalist, Loasoideae, narrow-endemic 

Lankester Composite Dissection Plate (LCDP) of Nasa katjae
A Flower, fronto-lateral view B flower, lateral view, sepals lifted C frontal view in late anthesis D inflorescence, not the elongated sepals on the young fruits E nectar scale, dorsal view F nectar scale lateral view with free inner staminodes G leaf adaxial surface H leaf abaxial surface I seed.

Credit: A–H J. P. Allen I Y. Malkowsky.

 Nasa katjae T.Henning, J.P.Allen & R.H.Acuña, sp. nov.

Diagnosis. The new species is morphologically most similar to Nasa calycina comb. nov. (see below) and differs from it in its very elongated stems, subscandent habit, proportionately broader leaf blades with a conspicuously deeply cordate base, sepals and petals almost twice as long (to 4 cm and 4.5 cm respectively), sepals and petals of equal length and nectar scales with 3 conspicuous apical dorsal threads up to 5 mm long.

Etymology. The new species is named after Katja Lohse, beloved partner of the first author, mother of their children and steady supporter of his scientific endeavors.

 Tilo Henning, Joshua P. Allen, Daniel Montesinos-Tubeé, Eric F. Rodríguez-Rodríguez, José Luis Marcelo Peña and Rafael Acuña-Castillo. 2025.  No end to endemism – Contributions to the difficult Nasa Weigend Series Alatae (Loasaceae). A New Species from Peru and the Rehabilitation of “ Loasa” calycina Benth. PhytoKeys. 252: 163-186. DOI: doi.org/10.3897/phytokeys.252.141635

Resumen: Describimos e ilustramos una nueva especie de Nasa ser. Alatae (Urban & Gilg) Weigend del norte de Perú. Nasa katjae sp. nov. fue inicialmente encontrada gracias a la plataforma de ciencia ciudadana iNaturalist y posteriormente recolectada en los bosques húmedos andinos cerca de Colasay en la provincia de Jaén (Cajamarca, Perú). Al comparar la nueva especie con Nasa loxensis (Kunth) Weigend, un taxón estrechamente relacionado y ampliamente distribuido en el sur de Ecuador (y posiblemente en Perú adyacente), fue evidente que una reevaluación del estado de Loasa calycina Benth., anteriormente sinonimizada, era necesaria. En consecuencia, proponemos la rehabilitación de Nasa calycina comb. nov. a nivel de especie y redefinimos a Nasa loxensis basados en la evidencia acumulada.

[Botany • 2019] Nasa angeldiazioides (Loasaceae) • A New Striking and Critically Endangered Species of Nasa from North Peru

Nasa angeldiazioides 

 T.Henning, R.H.Acuña, E.Rodr., L.García-Llatas & Weigend

in Henning, Castillo, Rodríguez, et al., 2019. 

  DOI: 10.3897/phytokeys.121.33927

Abstract

Nasa angeldiazioides sp. nov. is described and illustrated. The species is restricted to two forest remnants on the western slope of the northern Peruvian Andes (Dept. Lambayeque) where it is found in the undergrowth of primary forest. The new taxon shows a unique leaf morphology in the family Loasaceae. Molecular and morphological data show that the new species belongs to the Nasa triphylla group. Since the relic forests of the north-western Andes are increasingly threatened by the effects of climate change, i.e. droughts and wildfires, the new species already faces imminent extinction.

Keywords: Loasaceae, Peru, Laquipampa, Nasa, Lambayeque, Amotape-Huancabamba-Zone, narrow-endemic, Chiñama, Angeldiazia, new species

Figure 2. Morphology of Nasa angeldiazioides (A–E, L, M) and similar taxa (F–K).
A Flower, frontal view B Flower, lateral view C Capsule, lateral view, note the thin, curved pedicel D General habit of several flowering plants in their natural habitat, Bosque de Chiñama E Mature basal leaf

F Mature leaf of Nasa urens G Young plant of N. pteridophylla H Flower of Nasa formosissima, lateral view I Amplexicaul bract of N. formosissima J, K Leaves of Angeldiazia weigendii, abaxial surface, note the overall shape and the ampexicaul leafbase visible in the background

L Bract, prophyll and capsules of Nasa angeldiazioides M Lowermost bract of N. angeldiazioides, outlined from a specimen photograph.

(photographs: A, B, D B. Esquerre-Ibañez J, K Mario Zapata).

 Figure 3. Nasa angeldiazioides.
A Flowering shoot B Mature leaf C Flower D Petal E Calyx lobe F Nectar scale, abaxial view G Staminode, lateral view H Capsule, lateral view.

Drawing prepared by L. García (D–H), T. Henning (A, B) and R. Acuña (C).

Nasa angeldiazioides T.Henning, R.H.Acuña, E.Rodr., L.García-Llatas & Weigend, sp. nov.

  

Diagnosis: Nasa angeldiazioides is similar to N. bicornuta, N. pteridophylla and N. urens but differs in having strongly amplexicaul leaves, sessile to amplexicaul prophylls on the pedicels and flowers with white petals and dark red nectar scales. The unique interrupted bipinnatisect leaves with rounded leaflet apices distinguish N. angeldiazioides from all other taxa of Nasa and Loasaceae as a whole.

Etymology: The epithet refers to a recently described monotypic genus of Asteraceae from the same area, Angeldiazia weigendii M.O.Dillon & Zapata (Dillon and Zapata 2010). The latter species has an extremely peculiar leaf morphology: deeply pinnatisect, amplexicaulous leaves with rounded leaflet apices, i.e. leaves that in the living state look extremely similar to the upper leaves and bracts of the new species here described (Figs 2J–M, 3A).

 Tilo Henning, Rafael Acuña Castillo, Eric Frank Rodríguez Rodríguez, Luis Felipe García Llatas and Maximilian Weigend. 2019. A New Striking and Critically Endangered Species of Nasa (Loasaceae, Cornales) from North Peru. PhytoKeys. 121: 13-28.  DOI: 10.3897/phytokeys.121.33927

Resumen: Se describe e ilustra la especie inédita Nasa angeldiazioides sp. nov. Esta especie está restringida a dos remanentes de bosque de la vertiente occidental de los Andes del norte del Perú (Depto. Lambayeque), donde se la encuentra en el sotobosque de bosques primarios. Nasa angeldiazioides muestra una morfología foliar única en la familia Loasaceae. Tanto la evidencia morfológica como la molecular muestran que esta nueva especie pertenece al grupo de Nasa triphylla. Dado que los bosques relictos de los Andes noroccidentales del Perú se encuentran cada vez más amenazados por los efectos del cambio climático, como lo son las sequías e incendios forestales más frecuentes, esta nueva especie podría estar enfrentando una extinción inminente.