Stenospermation selvaflorensisCastaño-Rubiano, L. Ibañez & Zuluaga sp. nov.TYPE: COLOMBIA. Depto. Caldas. Munic Samaná, corregimiento de Florencia, PNN Selva de Florencia, microcuenca La Selva, 05° 31’ 16” N, 75° 3’ 25.1” W, 1400 m s.m., 22-II-2018 (fl.), N. Castaño-Rubiano 2193 (holotype: FAUC-37711!; isotypes: COL!, CUVC!, HUA!). Figs. 1, 6, 7.Diagnosis.Similar to S. gentryi Croat, S. longifolium Engl., S. longispadix Croat, S. multiovulatum (Engl.) N. E. Br. and S. popayanense Schott, due to its large size (50-100 cm tall) and the almost erect inflorescences. All similar species have cylindrical inflorescences rounded at the apex and epiphytic habit, meanwhile, S. selvaflorensis has cylindrical, tapered at apex inflorescences and terrestrial habit. It is also similar to S. weberbaueri Engl., because of the cylindrical and tapered at apex spadices, but differs by the terrestrial (vs. terrestrial to epiphyte habit), the bigger size in general, and the erect inflorescence with exserted stamens during male phase of anthesis (vs. pendent inflorescences with inserted stamens at male phase of anthesis)
Description. Terrestrial 50-100 cm tall. Stem with internodes 20-52 mm long, 3.5-11 mm diam. when fresh, 12-32 mm long, 4.7-10 mm diam. when dry; cataphylls persistent, intact, 3.03-5.05(-7.07) × 0.6-0.81 cm when dry; petioles 13-28.1 cm long, 0.2-0.32 cm diam. when fresh, 14.9-25.8 cm long, 0.18-0.32 cm diam. when dry; geniculum concolorous, 7-21.2 mm long, 1.8-3.3 mm diam. when dry; sheath 12.1-20.3 × 0.3-0.5 cm, covering (70%-)80% of the petiole (up to 90% in those preceding inflorescence), apex rounded on one side, acute on the other, entire margin. Blades 15-32 × 4.7-8.6 cm when fresh, 13.7-30.2 × 4.0-7.74(-2.5) cm when dry, lanceolate, attenuate at base, acuminate at apex, coriaceous; upper surfaceglossy, somewhat cover with pale lineations, dark green when alive, drying olive-green; lowersurface somewhat glossy, greenish-white when fresh, drying brown; midribflat above, prominent and U-shaped bellow; primary lateral veins inconspicuous on both surfaces, ca. 31-49 pairs, arched, starting from an angle of 50°; tertiary veins less prominent than primary lateral veins; marginal bandnarrow (1 mm), bent towards the underside. Inflorescences erect, eventually a little cernuous; peduncles 17-39 cm long, 0.3-0.52 cm diam. when fresh, up to 50% sheathed by the preceding sheath; spathe 6.2-9.7 cm long × 4.0-5.9 cm wide. when fresh, papyraceous, naviculiform, meeting on the peduncle in a obtuse angle, white to pale withe-yellowish, matte, cuspidate at the apex, deciduous; stipe 0.4-0.7 cm long, 0.4-0.97 cm diam. when fresh, 0.6-0.13 cm long, 0.18-0.3 cm diam. when dry; spadix 5.5-9.7 cm long, (0.4-)0.8-1.5(-0.23) cm diam. when fresh, 4.36-8.1 cm long, 0.6-0.8 cm diam. when dry, white to cream, cylindrical and tapered at the apex, apical flowers sterile. Flowers0.21-0.35 cm long × 0.19-0.31 cm broad × 0.3-0.4 cm wide, 6 visible in the principal spiral and 4 in the alternate spiral, one locule evident, hexagonal, those near to the apex non-functional; stigma 0.22-0.43 mm in the major diam. when fresh; stamens 3-4 × 0.8-1 mm, hyaline, divaricated, exerted and persistent after male anthesis. Berries 4-6 mm long × 4-5 mm broad, 4-6 mm wide, white, when fresh, 1.18-4.1 mm long × 2.37-4.23 mm broad × 3-3.5 mm wide when dry; seeds 1.7-2.32 × 1-1.71 mm, (1-)6-8 per locule, ellipsoid, flattened towards the raphe, beige with white aril when fresh.Etymology.The epithet selvaflorensis is in honor of Parque Nacional Natural Selva de Florencia, one of the most important protected areas in the Central Andes, an important relict of biodiversity around a coffee zone in Colombia.Distribution and habitat. This species is endemic to Colombia and is only known from the Central Andes in the Department of Caldas, in the PNN Selva de Florencia in the corregimiento de Florencia (Samaná), at an elevation of 1700 m. a.s.l., in clearings and forest edges.Phenology. We found specimens flowering throughout the year, but with a peak of productivity in May and January, with a low number of inflorescences/infructescences, and a low rate of fruit productivity.