Passiflora cocuyensis Kuethe, Molinari & Vecchia, 2024

Kuethe, J. R., Bernal, Hernan Dario, Molinari, Miguel & Vecchia, Maurizio, 2024, Validating the names of three species of Passiflora from the northern portion of South America, Phytotaxa 663 (2), pp. 77-89 : 85-87

Passiflora cocuyensis Kuethe, Molinari & Vecchia , sp. nov. ( Figs 5 ).

Type: — COLOMBIA. Boyacá: La Uvita region, Parque Nacional El Cocuy, Valle de la Uvita , bosquecillo y matorrales junto al pueblo, 2560 m.a.s.l., 16 September 1938, (fl.), J. Cuatrecasas 1808 (holotype: COL000382932 !; isotype: US!).

Diagnosis: — Passiflora cocuyensis is similar to P. gritensis and P. semiciliosa but differs in the tri-lobate (vs. tri-foliate) foliar structure, the partially smooth margins of the stipules (vs. serrate throughout), and the position of the petiolar nectaries that are just below the blade (vs. scattered). In addition, the flower is much smaller (6.5–7.5 cm) than those in P. gritensis or P. semiciliosa (9–10 cm), with only 4 corona series (vs. 5 or more).

Description: —A wiry tendrillate vine, 4–7 m long, semi-woody at base, glabrous throughout. Stems terete, green; internodal distance 10–15 cm. Stipules 4.2–6.1 × 2.4–3.5 cm, semi-ovate to caudate, obliquely cordate at base, terminating in a small mucro, margins entire, occasionally becoming serrate in lower half, green. Petioles 2–4 cm long, caniculate only in the upper portion between the nectaries, bearing 4(–5) conspicuous nectaries arranged in two opposite pairs, pairs located just below (<0.6 cm) the blade, the fifth (if present) single just below the bottom pair, long ligulate to filiform, 4–5 mm in length, light green. Leaf blade 7.5–12.7 × 6.0– 10.5 cm, 3-lobed, lobation initiated at about 1.5–2.2 cm distance from base, lobes 6.0–10.5 × 1.0– 1.8 cm, ovate or ovate-lanceolate, lateral lobes and intermediate lobes subequal in length, acuminate and very slightly mucronate at apex, very broadly to squarely cordate at base, margin entire with the exception of having 1–4 ciliate glands present within the sinuses, ciliates 1–2 mm long, foliar texture membranous, green on both sides. Inflorescence solitary, very showy, borne on long peduncles. Peduncles 15–20 cm long, pendent, green, articulate 7–8 mm below the base of the flower. Bracts 1.0–1.4 × 0.6–0.8 cm, ovate-oblong, slightly cordate at base, acute at apex, margin entire, green. Flower 6.5–7.5 cm diam., deep red to deep purple-red; hypanthium 1.3–1.5 × 0.8–1.0 cm, urceolate-tubular, pale green outside, yellow-green inside; sepals 3.2–3.6 × 0.7–0.9 cm, linear lanceolate, obtuse at apex, green abaxially, deep red adaxially, dorsally corniculate just below the apex, awn 5–8 mm long, green to reddish, thin; petals 3.3–3.7 × 0.5–0.7 cm, subequal to sepals, linear lanceolate, narrowly obtuse at apex, deep red on both sides, membranous; corona composed of 4 filamentose series, deep red, arranged in 4 series of filaments; the outer series the longest, 1.0– 1.2 cm long, filiform, red, slightly outfacing; the two proceeding series slightly shorter, 0.8–0.9 cm long, red, filiform, erect; inner series the shortest, 0.4–0.6 cm long, facing inwards and slightly curved up against the androgynophore, deep red in colour; operculum 3–4 mm long, fleshy, dependent and curved inwards into the base of hypanthium, reddish, margin slightly crenulate at apex; limen whitish green, erect around the base of androgynophore, white with a slight pinkish rim at apex; androgynophore 4–5.5 cm long, green with reddish specks; anthers 8–10 mm long, pale yellow; ovary 1.2–1.4 × 3–5 mm, ovate, glabrous to glabrescent, green. Fruit 3.4–5.8 × 2.5–4.2 cm, ellipsoid or ovate to oval, rounded at apex, glaucous, green becoming slightly yellowish when mature, inedible; mesocarp white; arils whitish. Seeds dark brown [not measured].

Phenology: —This species is found in flower between September and March, which in its native Colombia corresponds with the dry season. Fruit have been seen between December and April.

Etymology: —This imposing species is named in honor of the El Cocuy National Park, location of the first collection by Miguel Molinari and Bleddyn Wynn-Jones.

Distribution: — Passiflora cocuyensis is endemic to the Colombian departments of Boyaca and Arauca, where it is found throughout the El Cocuy National Park and the neighbouring San Mateo region ( Fig. 1 ). The first plants were collected in the El Cocuy National Park, close to the town of El Cocuy along the road between El Cocuy and Guicán. Several plants were sighted at this locality, though the species is notably of a very low abundance outside of this population. Few sterile specimens of P. cocuyensis were seen along the road between El Cocuy and Chita, where it crosses the Cerro Los Miraderos south of the type locality, with a third population seen in the San Mateo region along the road from Guacamayas to San Mateo village. This species grows in disturbed primary to secondary cloud forest at elevations between 2450 m and 2700 m.

Conservation: — Passiflora cocuyensis has a very low abundance within its natural habitat, with only three populations currently known through photographed (not vouchered) sightings. Although this species was typified from within the peripheries of a National Park, the two other populations were seen outside of any protected area. Deforestation and habitat clearing are of a significant threat to the local ecosystems of this region, and the populations outside of the El Cocuy National Park are at potential risk of being eradicated.AOO is 28 km 2, EOO is 125 km 2, scaling P. cocuyensis Endangered (EN) h B1, B2civ and D..

Additional specimens in situ: —No additional specimens were found in other herbaria.

Cultivated collections: —Blumen & Passiflora ( Germany), M. Drews; Jardin Jungle Karlostachys ( France), C. Boulanger; Madeira Passiflora Gardens, P. Mendonca ; Nadines ( Germany), N.v. Rüschen; Passiflora collection Austria, M. Varga; Passiflora -de ( Germany), M. Tessmann; Passiflorae Cormeray ( France), C. Houel; Passiflorahoeve ( Netherlands), P. Moerman; Passifloratuin ( Netherlands), H.v. Aalst; Portland Botanical Gardens ( USA), D. Pogust; RBG Kew ( UK), C. Magdalena; The Italian Collection ( Italy), M. Vecchia. Private collections: R. McPhail, A. Lommen, M. Kopřiva, H. Zárubová, S. Berger, P. Butel.

Notes: — Passiflora cocuyensis belongs to Passiflora subg. Passiflora supersect. Stipulata sect. Kermesinae (Cervi) Feuillet & MacDougal (2003: 38) by having long, pendent peduncles (> 5 cm), 4 stipitate and opposite petiolar nectaries and flowers with complex coronal structures containing more than 4 series of filaments. Within this alliance, P. cocuyensis belong to a group of three species concentrated in the northern Colombian and Venezuelan Andes, showing a strong morphological relationship to P. gritensis Karst. (1859: 163) and P. semiciliosa . Passiflora cocuyensis is remarkable for having vibrant red flowers, whereas the other related species have flowers more akin to shades of reddish pink to magenta. All three species do have ciliate glands positioned within the sinuses of the leaves, however only in P. semiciliosa and P. cocuyensis is this trait very much developed, showing potentially a strong ancestral relationship between these two species.

Following the collection of real Passiflora semiciliosa by the first and second author near Cucúta, northern Colombia, the differences between P. cocuyensis and P. semiciliosa were easy to attain. The flowers of P. cocuyensis are a vibrant red in colour, the intensity of which amplified in the corona, and stand relatively small at a diameter of 6–7 cm. In contrast, the flowers of P. semiciliosa are a deep rose-pink, the intensity of which fades slightly in the corona, and stand at 9–10 cm in diameter. Vegetatively, both species show considerable variation but are consistent in the leaf structure which is always trilobate in P. cocuyensis , but trifoliate to very narrowly trilobate in P. semiciliosa . In addition, the petiolar nectaries in P. cocuyensis are always positioned in two opposite pairs located just below the blade; whilst in P. semiciliosa the petiolar nectaries are sub-opposite and scattered across the upper half of the petiole. In Passiflora gritensis the petiolar nectaries are similarly scattered across the petiole, although the leaf structure for that species is consistently trifoliate. All three species of this alliance are allopatric in distribution, with P. cocuyensis found in Boyaca and Arauca; P. semiciliosa in Santander and Norte de Santander; and P. gritensis in Táchira and Mérida, Venezuela.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Map showing the allopatric distribution of the concerning new species (diamonds) and their nearest relatives (circles). Passiflora azulitensis (white); P. cocuyensis (red); P. rogitamensis (purple); Passiflora gritensis (green); P. semiciliosa (yellow); and P. longipes (blue). Map generated using both herbarium coordinates and georeferenced sightings (fieldwork supplemented with iNaturalist observations).

FIGURE 5. A–G. Passiflora cocuyensis., Lankaster Composite Dissection Plate (LCDP); A. flower in situ; B. comparison amobg P. cocuyensis (B1), P. gritensis (B2) and P. semiciliosa (B3); C. longitudinal of the flower; D. Detail of the flower bud a day before opening; E. detail of the bracts below the flower; F. Detail of the leaves both upper (F1) and lower (F2) surface; F3. Detail of the petiolar nectaries; G. Habit of a flowering specimen in situ. G1. Position of the stipules (attached); G2. detail of the stipules (detached). Compiled from photographs taken by Bleddyn Wynn-Jones, J.R. Kuethe, Hernan Bernal, Maurizio Vecchia and Markus Varga.