Rubus longistipularis x Rubus boliviensis

Espinel-Ortiz, David A. & Romoleroux, Katya, 2021, Two new species of Rubus L. (Rosaceae) from the western Andes of Ecuador, PhytoKeys 187, pp. 141-159 : 141

Rubus longistipularis x Rubus boliviensis

Specimens examined.

Ecuador. - Imbabura: Cotacachi, road Cuicocha-Apuela, Comuna Santa Rosa-Pucara , Apuela entrance, 00°21.826'N, 78°29.901'W, 1998 m, 28 Nov 2020, D. Espinel-Ortiz, M.P. Ortiz, M.A. Espinel-Ortiz y C. Castillo 260 (QCA (QCA-243440, QCA-7010741 and QCA-7010742)) . - Pichincha: Nono-Tandayapa road, between km 116-117, 00°01.787'S, 78°38.567'W, 1950 m, 02 Aug 2021, D. Espinel-Ortiz, C. Restrepo & A. Sanguano 286 (HA, HUTI, QCA (QCA-243438 and QCA-7010738 to QCA-7010740)) .

Notes.

The above specimens may be hybrids between Rubus longistipularis and R. boliviensis . Both samples were collected in places where both species coexist and showed mixed characteristics from both species. For instance, the stipules of samples D. Espinel-Ortiz et al. 260 and D. Espinel-Ortiz et al. 286 were shorter (10.8-18.2 mm) and narrower (0.7-1.7 mm) than those of R. longistipularis (20.0-34.7 × 1.7-3.3 mm), but longer and wider if compared to those of R. boliviensis (6.0-10.0 × 1.0-2.0 mm). Furthermore, both samples showed sparsely pilose to pilose leaf margins and deeply villous to slightly pannose leaf abaxial surface, whereas R. longistipularis has tomentose leaf margins and pannose leaf abaxial surface, and R. boliviensis has glabrous leaf margin and densely villous leaf abaxial surface. The prickles from both samples were from the base ⅓-⅔ sparsely villous and glabrous towards the apex, while that of R. longistipularis is villous, and that of R. boliviensis is from the base ⅓ sparsely pilose to glabrous. Finally, sample D. Espinel-Ortiz et al. 286 showed mainly 3-5-foliolate leaves, while R. longistipularis has mainly trifoliate leaves and R. boliviensis has 3-5-foliolate leaves.