A new species of Meriania (Melastomataceae: Merianieae) from southeastern Ecuador

Meriania judithiae, a new species from the southeast of Morona Santiago in Ecuador, is described and illustrated. With this new addition, the number of species of the genus increases to 33 in this country. Meriania judithiae has leaves with a attenuate base extending down the petiole as wings, multiflorous inflorescences with sub-umbellate paraclades, pink-orange campanulate flowers, the calyx with conical projections, and isomorphic stamens with connectives prolonged below the thecae. It is compared with M. cuneifolia, its most similar species which shares the distant supra-basal venation and gradually narrowing base of the leaves. In addition, the taxonomic similarities of the new entity are discussed and information about its distribution, habitat, and conservation status is provided.