Two new species of Meliosma (Sabiaceae) from the Eastern Cordillera in Colombia

Two new species of Meliosma (sect. Lorenzanea), Meliosma primogenita, and Meliosma quercifolia, found in the Northern Andes, are described, illustrated, and differentiated from related species. Meliosma primogenita was traditionally missidentified as M. bogotana but differs by being puberulous on the petioles, veins, abaxial surface, and inflorescences and having glandular trichomes on these structures. The petioles of M. primogenita are longer, 7–10 cm and their inflorescences are erect, terminal, or axillary up to 50 cm long. The outer and inner petals of M. primogenita are reclined at anthesis and the connective tissue of the stamens extends beyond the thecae. Meliosma quercifolia resembles M. cundinamarcensis, but differs by its chartaceous leaves with curved and appressed trichomes on the abaxial surface of the blades, a higher number of secondary veins per side, and pilose young branches, petioles, and inflorescences. A preliminary conservation status of Endangered (EN) is assigned for each species.