Critoniopsis killipii (Cuatrec.) H. Rob., Phytologia 46: 440. 1980.

Robinson, Harold & Keeley, Sterling C., 2015, A refined concept of the Critoniopsis bogotana species group in Colombia with two new species (Vernonieae, Asteraceae), PhytoKeys 48, pp. 85-95 : 88

Critoniopsis killipii (Cuatrec.) H. Rob., Phytologia 46: 440. 1980.

Vernonia killipii Cuatrec., Bot, Jahrb. Syst. 77: 71. 1956.

Vernonia bogotana var. santandarensis Cuatrec., Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 77: 66. 1956.

Specimens examined.

COLOMBIA: Norte de Santander: Road from Pamplona to Toledo, crossing the divide between Río La Teja (Maracaibo drainage) and Río Mesme (Orinoco drainage), thickets along stream, alt. 2500-2800 m, 28 Feb 1927, E.P. Killip & A.C. Smith 19886 (holotype US). Santander: vicinity of California, shrub 10-12 ft., pappus greenish-white, open hillside, alt. 3000 m, 11-27 Jan 1927, E.P Killip & A.C. Smith 16941 (holotype of Vernonia bogotana var santanderensis , US); vicinity of La Baja, shrub 10-12 ft, pappus yellowish-white, dense forest, alt. 3000 m, 14-31 Jan 1927, E.P. Killip & A.C. Smith 18332 (US); 65 km NNW of Duitama on road to Charaló, about 1 km below La Palmera, growing in sphagnum -covered bog, saturated, over limestone rock. Trees 3.5-4 m tall (others 8-10 m tall), with slender trunk and spreading crown to 5 m across, with clusters of light lavender-white flowers; style long exerted, anthers inside corolla, short, pappus pale white, apparently deciduous, locally common, elev. 1900 m, 23 July 1983, S,C. Keeley with J.E. Keeley 4290-4 (US). Venezuela: Tachira: selva. nublada húmeda, faldas del Páramo de Tamá, cerca de la frontera Colombo-Venezolana, arriba de Betania y Tamá, cerca de la Quebrada Buena Vista, tree 10 m, leaves subcoriaceous, deep green above, white below, alt. 2300-2450 m, 22-24 May 1967, J.A. Steyermark & G.C.K & E. Dunsterville 98656 (US).

The placement of the variety santandarensis in the species bogotana indicates the confusion that has existed between Critoniopsis bogotana and Critoniopsis killipii from the time of their description. This is surprising since Critoniopsis killipii is distinct in both its leaf base and its geography. The base of the leaf blade has a strongly recurved margin and an abrupt decurrence ca. 1 cm long on the petiole. The specimens seen are from Depto Santander and Norte de Santander in Colombia and adjacent Tachira in Venezuela, both areas distinctly to the northeast of any known collections of Critoniopsis bogotana .

Leaf bases similar to those of Critoniopsis killipii , led to the misidentification of a series of Keeley collections of Critoniopsis glandulata (Cuatrec) H. Rob. as Critoniopsis killipii . On closer examination, Critoniopsis glandulata is strikingly distinct in its more thyrsiform inflorescence branches, apiculate involucral bracts, and stalked T-shaped trichomes. Critoniopsis glandulata was originally described from Norte de Santander in Colombia. The 1983 Keeley collections, 4464, 4465, 4466, 4467, 4468 extend the range into Tachira in Venezuela.