Corresponding author: James G. Graham (
Academic editor: Eric Tepe
Graham JG, Janovec JP (2016) A remarkable new species of
During the course of botanical exploration in the Cordillera El Sira (see Figure
Location of known specimens of
The
All
This new species is distinguished by its unique cauline inflorescence not encountered in any other member of the genus. A key to distinguish other known Peruvian species is provided.
1 | Inflorescences terminal, subterminal or axillary | 2 |
– | Inflorescences cauline (borne along the main trunk or on tertiary vertical branchlets) |
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2 | Corolla lobes spreading at anthesis; leaves less than 8 cm wide | 3 |
– | Corolla lobes deflexed at anthesis; leaves greater than 8 cm wide |
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3 | Leaves more or less two ranked, scattered along branchlets, with 5-9 lateral nerves; inflorescences lax, often short-branched; corolla tube 15-40 mm long |
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– | Leaves crowded towards apex of stem, subverticillate, to about six per whorl, with 8-13 lateral nerves; inflorescences dense, capituliform; corolla tube 25-38 mm long |
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PERU. Ucayali: Prov. Coronel Portillo, Dist. Iparia, Reserva Comunal El Sira, 1500 m,
Pachycaulescent shrub to few-branched, sprawling small tree to 3 m.
Known from central Peru in the Departments of Ucayali and Pasco where it is of extremely limited distribution but locally abundant at the type locality in the El Sira Communal Reserve. This understory species inhabits rocky slopes and ridge tops in cloud forests on the eastern slopes of the Cordillera El Sira, between 1100–1600 m, and has been found as a rare element in cloud forests on the northwestern slopes of the Cordillera Yanachaga, at ca. 2300 m.
Flowering in
The species epithet honors Dr. Fernando Cabieses Molina, noted neurosurgeon, ethno-pharmacologist, author and educator. Dr. Cabieses was cofounder of the
This species is of extremely limited distribution (see Figure
Given the extremely limited known area of occupancy of
Inflorescences of
Fruits of
Estivation of
Profile of a flower of
Two habit forms of
There is a clear divergence in elevational range between the Yanachaga and El Sira populations of
Our sincere gratitude is extended to Carlos Reynel at Herbario Forestal, La Molina, Lima, Peru (