Passiflora agudeloi (Passifloraceae, subgenus Decaloba): A new endemic species from cloud forests in the Central Cordillera of the Colombian Andes
<i>Passiflora agudeloi</i> is herein recognised as a distinct species, based on a unique combination of vegetative, floral and seed characters. It differs from morphologically related species with smaller vegetative and floral structures, such as <i>P. hyacinthiflora</i> and <i>P. bicuspidata</i>, by its larger leaves and flowers. Unlike <i>P. trinervia</i>, which exhibits a hypanthium exceeding 10 cm in length, <i>P. agudeloi</i> possesses a shorter hypanthium (0.4-0.5 cm). It can be separated from <i>P. sierrae</i> by the absence of foliar nectaries and by its longer petioles and non-pendent flowers. The new species is clearly distinct from closely-related species <i>P. azeroana</i> in many key characters, including flower size and colouration, length and pigmentation of petioles, peduncles and stipules, shape and distribution of laminar glands, as well as seed morphology and ornamentation. Its preliminary conservation assessment, categorised as Critically Endangered (CR) under the IUCN Criteria, underscores the urgent need to implement both in situ and ex situ conservation strategies to ensure its long-term survival.
Authors
- Larri Álvarez Rodas
- JOHN OCAMPO
- Santiago Montoya-Rubio
Institutions
- University of Quindío (CO)
- Universidad Nacional de Colombia (CO)
Publication Details
- Journal
- PhytoKeys
- Published
- 2026-03-13
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.3897/phytokeys.271.175046
- Primary Topic
- Medicinal Plant Extracts Effects
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00
Funders
- Universidad del Quindío
- Universidad Pedagógica y Tecnológica de Colombia
- Universidad de Caldas