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Type: Article
Published: 2017-03-07
Page range: 65–70
Abstract views: 37
PDF downloaded: 1

A new, critically endangered species of Aiphanes (Arecaceae) from Colombia

Jardín Botánico del Quindío, Avenida Centenario No. 15–190, Calarcá, Quindío.
Corporacion Fragmento, Carrera 77 No 33 A 61 Medellín, Colombia.
Science Museums, Aarhus University, Ole Worms Allé 1, building 1137, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark.
endangered species palms rheophytes South America Monocots

Abstract

Aiphanes argos is a new species of palm segregated from Aiphanes parvifolia, which is now recognized to be a species complex. Aiphanes argos is one of the few rheophytic members of the palm family, and is endemic to a small area in the Samaná Norte River canyon in Antioquia, Colombia, where it is critically endangered because its populations are threatened by the damming of the river for a hydroelectric plant. The epiteth argos is the name of the conglomerate that intends to build the dam, and is given to the palm as a plea for the conservation of the Samaná Norte River canyon.