Two new species of Chlorospatha section Orientales (Araceae) from western Andes in Colombia

Abstract

Two new species of Chlorospatha (section Orientales) from the western slope of the Cordillera Occidental in the departments of Valle del Cauca and Choco (Colombia) are described here. The new species represent the first records of section Orientales for Colombia, which was previously known only from the eastern Andes in Ecuador. The two new species are similar to C. longipoda, C. hannoniae and C. boosii. Chlorospatha minima sp. nov. is differentiated by its small overall size (less than 30 cm tall), blade strongly inequilateral with smooth adaxial surface, and spadix less than 2.2 cm long. Chlorospatha silverstonei sp. nov. is differentiated by its large overall size (30–60 cm tall), 1–3 leaves per plant, and quilted adaxial blade surface.