Two new species of Drymonia (Gesneriaceae) from Northwestern South America, including the discovery of the longest flower known in the genus

Abstract

Two new species, Drymonia intermedia Clavijo & J.L.Clark, sp. nov. and D. longiflora J.L.Clark & Clavijo, sp. nov. (Gesneriaceae, Columneinae), are described from the western Andean slopes of Ecuador and Colombia. The new species are similar to D. fimbriata, D. laciniosa, D. macrophylla, and D. peponifera because of the facultative epiphytic habit, deeply serrate to laciniate calyx margins, and fleshy bivalved capsules with tardily dehiscent endocarps. Leaves with brochidodromous venation, narrowly elongate corolla tube, and laciniate calyx margins differentiate D. intermedia. The longest corolla of any known Drymonia (> 6.5 cm long) differentiates D. longiflora. Digital photographs, geographic distributions, and IUCN categories are provided for the new species.