Hydrangea schlimii Briq., Annuaire Conserv. Jard. Bot. Geneve 20: 400. 1919.

Samain, Marie-Stephanie, Granados Mendoza, Carolina & Martinez Salas, Esteban Manuel, 2021, On Hydrangea peruviana, an endangered species from Ecuador, and Hydrangea oerstedii, very common in Costa Rica and Panama, and seven threatened Central and South American Hydrangeas, which have been confounded with these, PhytoKeys 171, pp. 91-153 : 91

7. Hydrangea schlimii Briq., Annuaire Conserv. Jard. Bot. Geneve 20: 400. 1919. Figures 2 , 12

Type.

Colombia. Norte de Santander, Ocaña, without date, ♂, old flowers, J.J. Linden 1139 (lectotype, designated by McClintock 1957, pg. 238 [as “holotype”]: G; isotypes: BR! [BR0000005119318], US! [00097002]).

Description.

The most complete description to date can be found in the treatment by Briquet (1919), pages 400-401.

Distribution.

This species is currently known from the type locality in Colombia only (Fig. 2 ).

Notes.

This species concerns a very distinct taxon with more enlarged “marginal” flowers than any other member of Cornidia . In fact, from the type specimen it seems that most flowers possess enlarged sepals. It is only known from its type collection made around 1850 and to our knowledge has not been collected since. It cannot be excluded that it concerns a local “mophead” mutation, but in the absence of recently collected material and as the leaf morphology of the type specimens cannot be matched with better-known species, we decide here to recognize this taxon as a distinct species, although we cannot present an amended description at this time, given that we only dispose of the type specimen, which already was given an excellent description by Briquet (1919).

As in the case of H. durifolia , exploring field work in forests around Ocaña in the Colombian department of Norte de Santander might lead to the rediscovery of this species, which will be helpful to define its taxonomic status.

McClintock (1957) cited as “holotype” the collection in G, which we have not been able to locate. Based on the many enlarged marginal flowers and the inflorescence leaf morphology, this species should not be considered a synonym of H. oerstedii .

The phylogenetic relationships of Hydrangea schlimii are yet unknown as there was no fresh material available for our molecular study (Granados Mendoza et al. unpublished results).

Preliminary conservation status.

We currently propose this species as Data Deficient (DD), as its taxonomic status in unclear, it is only known from the type locality, and no recent collections are available.

Figures

Figure 2. Distribution of Hydrangea caucana, Hydrangea durifolia and Hydrangea schlimii.

Figure 12. Hydrangea schlimii. Branch with inflorescences with many enlarged flowers. Image of specimen Linden 1139 (BR).