One of the key characters discussed by Kvist and Skog (1992) as the basis for the generic circumscription of Kohleria was a terrestrial (i.e., non-epiphytic) habit. In the generic delimitation of Kohleria (Kvist and Skog 1992), the habit is described as herbs, subshrubs, shrubs, or rarely scandent shrubs. The terrestrial habit was considered a character by Kvist and Skog (1992) to differentiate Kohleria from closely related genera that are epiphytes or lianas. Phylogenetic studies by Roalson et al. (2005b) showed that Kohleria was paraphyletic with the exclusion of “Capanea”, a group of epiphytic subshrubs from the Andes. Thus, many of the features that differentiated “Capanea” from Kohleria, such as an epiphytic habit and four-valved capsules, are autapomorphic. The transfer of two species from “Capanea” to Kohleria is well-supported, and combinations were made by Roalson et al. (2005b). Roalson et al. (2005b) did not make a combination for Kohleria andina because it was considered a heterotypic synonym of Kohleria affinis. Examination of material in the field and in herbaria allowed us to recognize K. affinis and K. andina as different species. Outlined here are characters to differentiate K. andina from K. affinis (see Table 1 for a summary of the characters that are discussed below).

Another feature that defines the clade previously recognized as “Capanea” is the presence of resupinate flowers via a twisted pedicel. The androecium and gynoecium are located in the lower region of the corolla tube (Fig. 1B, C and Fig. 2B, C). In contrast, all other Kohleria and closely related genera have the androecium and gynoecium in the upper region of the corolla tube.

Figure 1. 

Kohleria affinis (Fritsch) Roalson & Boggan A lateral view of flower B female phase of mature flower C male phase of mature flower D habit (A Clark et al. 7698 B Clark s.n. C Clark et al. 12979 D Clark et al. 15845). Photos by J.L. Clark.

The flowers of Kohleria affinis are often photographed because of their conspicuous clusters of brightly colored purple-red corolla tubes with contrasting green lobes (Fig. 1). It is common to see individuals with 50+ pendent flowers, especially in abandoned cow pastures or recently cleared forests. Herbarium specimens do not preserve floral colors and most corollas dry uniformly black. Thus, corolla colors are challenging to determine on dried herbarium specimens unless noted by collectors in the descriptions. Use of field-based images, review of taxonomic literature, and examination of type specimens provided information for re-assessing the circumscription of Kohleria affinis and K. andina.

The corolla tube of Kohleria andina is white, but appears bright yellow from dense tomentose yellow trichomes (Fig. 2). In contrast, the corolla tube of Kohleria affinis is dark red to bright purple (Fig. 1). The corolla tube in most Kohleria affinis is narrow, but some populations from Colombia are broad. The corolla tube of Kohleria andina is consistently broad. Corolla length in Kohleria affinis is highly variable and ranges from 3 to 6 cm. In contrast, the corolla tubes of Kohleria andina are usually less than 3.5 cm long. Both species have bright green corolla lobes that contrast with dark purple spots on the inner surface (Figs 1, 2).

Figure 2. 

Kohleria andina (Fritsch) J.L. Clark & Jost A lateral view of flower B female phase of mature flower C male phase of mature flower D habit (A–D Clark et al. 7750). Photos by J.L. Clark.

An additional character useful for differentiating Kohleria andina from K. affinis is the presence of dark red-purple trichomes on the peduncles and pedicels (Fig. 2A, D). The red-purple trichomes on the peduncles were noted by Fritsch (1913: page 432) in the protologue, “Pedunculi axillares elongati purpureo-villosi.” In contrast, the peduncles in Kohleria affinis are sparsely pilose and appear green due to transparent trichomes.

Kohleria andina and K. affinis are geographically separated by elevation. K. andina is endemic to elevations above 2500 meters on the western Andean slopes (Cordillera Oriental) in the Tungurahua province of Ecuador. In contrast, Kohleria affinis is widespread in the northern Andes of Colombia (Antioquia, Boyacá, Caldas, Caquetá, Cauca, Chocó, Cundimarca, Huila, Nariño, Putumayo, Quindío, Risaralda, and Valle del Cauca), Ecuador (Azuay, Bolívar, Carchi, Chimborazo, Cotopaxi, Esmeraldas, Imbabura, Loja, Napo, Pichincha, Santo Doingo, Tungurahua, and Zamora-Chinchipe), and northern Peru (Amazonas and Cajamarca). The authors’ field work from the upper slopes of Tungurahua, an active volcano in the western Andean slopes of the Cordillera Oriental, revealed little overlap. Kohleria andina is locally endemic to elevations above 2500 meters and K. affinis is widespread and located in forests below 2500 meters. Intermediate forms were not found here, indicating that these two forms are geographically separated by elevation and supported as different biological species.

Syntypes are from two distinct localities: F.C. Lehmann 4869 (F0060498) from Colombia and R. Spruce 5178 from K (K000395097) from Tungurahua, Ecuador. The specimen of F.C. Lehmann 4869 (F) is more similar to the widespread Kohleria affinis. The specimen of R. Spruce 5178 from (K) is similar to the locally endemic Kohleria andina, and is designated as the lectotype to stabilize this species concept. According to Fritsch (1913), Richard Spruce cites Tunguarahua as a locality and the specimens have characters that are congruent with the Tungurahua populations featured in the images here (Fig. 2). The lectotype has a corolla that is wide and more ampliate (Fig. 2) relative to the narrower corolla tube of K. affinis (Fig. 1). An additional character that is congruent with material from the type locality and the lectotype (R. Spruce 5178) is the presence of dark red trichomes on the peduncles and pedicels. In contrast, the peduncle and pedicel trichomes on F.C. Lehmann 4869 are transparent and more similar to K. affinis.

Kohleria anisophylla (Fig. 3) was previously recognized by Kvist and Skog (1992) as a variety of Kohleria villosa (Fig. 4). The strongly anisophyllous leaves and dorsiventral shoots (Fig. 3D) are more similar to Kohleria hypertrichosa (Fig. 5D) than K. villosa (Fig. 4D). All three species are found on the northwestern Andean slopes of Ecuador. Only Kohleria anisophylla is documented from Colombia (Nariño department). Wiehler (1978) made the combination Kohleria anisophylla and recognized it at the rank of species. Kvist and Skog (1992) recognized this taxon as Kohleria villosa var. anisophylla. Based on limited material, Wiehler (1978) cited the type (F.C. Lehmann 5843) and a recently collected specimen from Ecuador (C. Luer & A. Hirtz 2672). Kvist and Skog (1992) cited the same Ecuadorian collection and mentioned the study of eleven additional specimens. This species is common along the northwestern slopes of the Ecuadorian Andes, especially along the old road between Quito and Santo Domingo where many of the images were taken for Figure 3. Outlined here are characters to differentiate K. anisophylla, K. villosa, and K. hypertrichosa (see Table 2 for a comparison of characters that are discussed below).

Figure 3. 

Kohleria anisophylla (Fritsch) Wiehler A lateral view of flower B front view of corolla C mature fruit D dorsiventral habit with anisophyllous leaves (A, B Clark et al. 10981 C Clark 10948 D Clark et al. 14295). Photos by J.L. Clark.

The recent transfer (Roalson et al. 2005b) of Kohleria affinis and K. tigridia (Ohlend.) Roalson and Boggan represented an autapomorphic synapomorphy of epiphytism in traditionally recognized Kohleria. What is noteworthy about Kohleria anisophylla and K. hypertrichosa is their previously unreported epiphytic habits. Thus, the presence of an epiphytic habit in K. anisophylla and K. hypertrichosa could represent an additional independent origin of epiphytism in Kohleria. Several populations of Kohleria anisophylla were observed and documented with dorsiventral shoots, a feature that is common in facultative epiphytes in other Gesneriaceae genera. Many members of Columnea have strongly anisophyllous leaves – especially species that are facultative epiphytes with dorsiventral shoots. Other species of Gesneriaceae that are facultative epiphytes with dorsiventral shoots include Cremosperma anisophylla J.L. Clark & L.E. Skog, Drymonia anisophylla L.E. Skog & L.P. Kvist, and the majority of species in Monopyle Moritz ex Benth. and Trichodrymonia Oerst. Likewise, Kohleria anisophylla and K. hypertrichosa are facultative epiphytes with dorsiventral shoots and anisophyllous leaves. In contrast, Kohleria villosa is a terrestrial herb with isophyllous leaves (Fig. 4D).

Figure 4. 

Kohleria villosa (Fritsch) Wiehler A lateral view of flower B front view of corolla C mature fruit D erect herbaceous habit with isophyllous leaves (A Clark et al. 14295 B Clark 7331 C Clark et al. 7400 D Clark et al. 14295). Photos by J.L. Clark.

The corollas of Kohleria villosa and K. anisophylla are villous (Figs 3, 4). The corollas of Kohleria hypertrichosa are densely tomentose (Fig. 5). The specific epiphyte, “hypertrichosa” refers to the abundance of trichomes, which is why it is commonly known in the horticultural community as “Chewbacca,” a reference to the Wookie (fictional character) in the movie Star Wars.

Figure 5. 

Kohleria hypertrichosa J.L. Clark & L.E. Skog A lateral view of flower B front view of corolla C mature fruit D dorsiventral habit with anisophyllous leaves (A Clark et al. 15900 B Clark 6539 C Clark et al. 10310 D Clark et al. 14942). Photos by J.L. Clark.

Kohleria villosa and K. anisophylla are easily recognized when sterile. The opposite leaves of Kohleria anisophylla are consistently unequal in size or anisophyllous (Fig. 3D). In contrast, the opposite leaves of Kohleria villosa are consistently equal in size or isophyllous (Fig. 4D). In addition, the dorsiventral shoots distinguishes K. anisophylla from the erect shoots of K. villosus.