New species of Ceratostema (Ericaceae: Vaccinieae) from the southeast Andes of Ecuador-I

Two new species of Ceratostema from the Morona-Santiago province in Ecuador are described and illustrated. Ceratostema jorgebritoi has unique spirally arranged leaves, and is the second species in the genus with tetramerous flowers. Ceratostema sieteiglesiana is distinguished by the plinerved leaves and the peculiar five-winged hypanthium, further complimented with a conspicuous calyx limb. The taxonomic similarities of these new taxa are discussed and information about their distribution, habitat, and conservation status is provided.