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Issue: Vol. 697 No. 2: 15 Apr. 2025
Type: Article
Published: 2025-04-15
DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.697.2.1
Page range: 147-165
Abstract views: 159
PDF downloaded: 10

Passionflower trees of Ecuador: revising the presence of Passiflora subg. Astrophea (Passifloraceae) and including resolution to the P. putumayensis and P. macrophylla taxonomic complexes

School of Environment, Faculty of Sciences, University of Auckland, City Campus for science and engineering, Symonds Street, Auckland, New Zealand
Herbario GUAY, Departamento de Botánica, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad de Guayaquil, Av. Raúl Gómez Lince s.n. y Av. Juan Tanca Marengo (campus Mapasingue), Guayaquil, Ecuador
Herbario HUTPL, Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Técnica Particular de Loja, San Cayetano Alto s/n 11-01-608, Loja, Ecuador; Jungle Dave’s Science Foundation, San Juan Bosco, Ecuador; Grupo Científico Calaway Dodson: Investigación y Conservación de Orquídeas del Ecuador, Quito, 170510, Pichincha, Ecuador
Grupo de Investigación en Medio Ambiente y Salud (BIOMAS), Ingeniería en Agroindustria, Facultad de Ingenierías y Ciencias Aplicadas, Universidad de Las Américas, Vía a Nayón, Quito 170124, Ecuador
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Science & Horticultre Researchers, London, United Kingdom
Provincia del Carchi, Cantón Espejo, Parroquia San Isidro, calle Espejo y Gustavo Almeida, Ecuador
Independent researcher, Pedro Vicente Maldonado, Pichincha Ecuador
Estación Científica Los Cedros, Chalguayacu Alto, via Gualimán – Imbabura, Ecuador
Eudicots Granadilla Passionfruit taxonomy

Abstract

This study presents a comprehensive revision and evaluation of all species of Passiflora subgenus Astrophea found in Ecuador, with a focus on several key findings. The distribution of P. putumayensis has been closely examined, revealing its restriction to northern Ecuador through comparison with type material from the Putumayo, Colombia. Additionally, three new species exhibiting an arborescent and free-standing habit have been identified and are here described and illustrated under the proposed names of P. dendroidea, P. kyathantha and P. panguiensis. The longstanding conundrum surrounding the synonymy and type designation of P. macrophylla has been addressed, with a proposed solution offered by designating neotypes and lectotypes coherent with the matching species found in specific habitats. Furthermore, P. gigantifolia has been studied in the field and is now recognized as a distinct species. For surveying purposes, the most recent specimen of each species found within Ecuador has been identified and documented. Notes on its distribution, ecology and botanical relationships is provided.

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How to Cite

Kuethe, J., Cornejo, X., Garzón-Suárez, H.X., Jiménez, M.M., Magdalena, C., Mejía-Pazos, N., Flores, J.C.E. & Decoux, J. (2025) Passionflower trees of Ecuador: revising the presence of Passiflora subg. Astrophea (Passifloraceae) and including resolution to the P. putumayensis and P. macrophylla taxonomic complexes. Phytotaxa 697 (2): 147–165. https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.697.2.1