Skip to main content Skip to main navigation menu Skip to site footer
Type: Article
Published: 2026-10-06
Page range: 61-72
Abstract views: 45
PDF downloaded: 8

Exploring the diversity of the genus Passiflora (Passifloraceae): Passifora tenensis, a new species of the section Decaloba from Colombia

Programa de Biología; Facultad de Ciencias; Universidad del Tolima; Calle 42 #1B-1; Ibagué; Colombia
Jardín Botánico de Bogotá "José Celestino Mutis"; Av. José Celestino Mutis #68-95; Bogotá; Colombia
School of Environment; University of Auckland; Auckland; New Zealand
Independent botanical researcher; Passifloras de Colombia; Bogotá; Colombia
Jardín Botánico de Bogotá "José Celestino Mutis"; Av. José Celestino Mutis #68-95; Bogotá; Colombia
Eudicots Colombia Cundinamarca endemic Lianas Neotropics Passifloraceae taxonomy

Abstract

A new species of Passiflora subgenus Decaloba section Decaloba (Passifloraceae) is described from the Cordillera Oriental of Colombia. Passiflora tenensis sp. nov., is a narrow endemic and was discovered during an ecological survey in the Tena region of Cundinamarca department. The new species shows close morphological affinity to Passiflora bicornis and a new species currently described from Huila department, but is readily distinguished by differences in the shape of its foliaceous bracts, coloration of the flower, and distribution. Leaf morphology is distinct from other members of sect. Decaloba known to the region by being distinctly three-horned in the apical portion. This study compares similar species and discusses the taxonomy, distribution, ecology, and conservation status of Passiflora tenensis sp. nov.

References

  1. Bachman, S., Moat, J., Hill, A.W., De La Torre, J. & Scott, B. (2011) Supporting Red List threat assessments with GeoCAT: Geospatial conservation assessment tool. ZooKeys 150: 117–126. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.150.2109
  2. Biodiversity Heritage Library. (n.d.) Biodiversity Heritage Library. Available from: https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/ (accessed 25 September 2025)
  3. de Candolle, A.P. (1822) Passifloraceae. Memoires de la Société de Physique et d’ Histoire Naturelle de Géneve 1: 434–436. [https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/bibliography/13710]
  4. Engler, A. (1881) Botanische Jahrbücher fur Systematik, Pflanzengeschichte und Pflanzengeographie, 18, 46.
  5. Engler, A., Krause, K., Pilger, R. & Prantl, K. (1887) Die Natürlichen Pflanzenfamilien nebst ihren Gattungen und wichtigeren Arten, insbesondere den Nutzpflanzen, unter Mitwirkung zahlreicher hervorragender Fachgelehrten begründet, Vol. 3 (6a). 294 pp. https://doi.org/10.5962/bhl.title.4635
  6. Espinoza, T.E.B., MacDougal, J.M. & Jørgensen, P.M. (2025) Five new species of Passiflora (subgenus Decaloba, Passifloraceae) from Peru. Phytotaxa 716 (2): 72–86. https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.716.2.1
  7. Feuillet, C. & MacDougal, J.M. (2003) A new infrageneric classification of Passiflora L. (Passifloraceae). Passiflora 13: 34–38.
  8. GBIF. (2025) GBIF occurrence data [Dataset]. Global Biodiversity Information Facility. [https://www.gbif.org] https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.7387/supp-1
  9. Gadioli, I.L., da Cunha, M.de.S.B., de Carvalho, M.V.O., Costa, A.M. & Pineli, L.de.L.de.O. (2018) Una revisión sistemática de los compuestos fenólicos en las plantas de Passiflora: Exploración de la biodiversidad para la alimentación, la nutrición y la medicina popular. Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition 58 (5): 785–807. https://doi.org/10.1080/10408398.2016.1224805
  10. Guayasamin, J.M., Cisneros-Heredia, D.F., McDiarmid, R.W., Peña, P. & Hutter, C.R. (2020) Glassfrogs of Ecuador: Diversity, evolution, and conservation. Diversity 12 (6): 222. https://doi.org/10.3390/d12060222
  11. IUCN. (2024) Guidelines for using the IUCN Red List categories and criteria (Version 14). Standards and Petitions Subcommittee. [http://cmsdocs.s3.amazonaws.com/RedListGuidelines.pdf]
  12. JSTOR. (n.d.) JSTOR Global Plants [Dataset]. [https://plants.jstor.org]
  13. Jussieu, A.L.de. (1789) Antonii Laurentii de Jussieu Genera plantarum: secundum ordines naturales disposita, juxta methodum in Horto regio parisiensi exaratam, anno M.DCC.LXXIV. Apud viduam Herissant et Theophilum Barrois, 498 pp. https://doi.org/10.5962/bhl.title.284
  14. Killip, E.P. (1938) The American species of Passifloraceae. Field Museum of Natural History. Publications of the Field Museum of Natural History. Botanical series 19: 1–613. https://doi.org/10.5962/bhl.title.2269
  15. Linnaeus, C. (1753) Species plantarum (Vol. 2). Laurentii Salvii.
  16. Lopez-Gallego, C. & Morales-Morales, P.A. (2023) The Red List for the endemic trees of Colombia: Effective conservation targeted for plants required in biodiversity hotspots. Plants, People, Planet 5 (4): 617–627. https://doi.org/10.1002/ppp3.10360
  17. Lozano-Cifuentes, D., Bernal, H.D., Villanueva, B.T. & MacDougal, J.M. (2026) Exploring the diversity of the genus Passiflora (Passifloraceae): A new species from the Cordillera Oriental of Colombia. Novon 34: 115–123. https://doi.org/10.3417/20261020
  18. MacDougal, J.M. & Hernández, A. (2026) in paress
  19. MacDougal, J.M. & Esquerre-Ibanez, B. (2025) Passiflora cana, a new species of Passiflora section Decaloba (Passifloraceae) from Peru. Phytotaxa 697 (2): 197–205. https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.697.2.5
  20. Masters, M.T. (1885) Notes on certain Passifloreae from western Tropical America. The Journal of Botany British and Foreign 23: 113–116.
  21. Murcia, C., Kattan, G.H. & Andrade-Pérez, G.I. (2013) Conserving biodiversity in a complex biological and social setting: The case of Colombia. In: Conservation biology: Voices from the tropics. pp. 86–96. https://doi.org/10.1002/9781118679838.ch11
  22. Ocampo, J. (2018) Passionflowers of Colombia [Poster]. National University of Colombia. [https://www.researchgate.net/publication/326366326_Passionflowers_of_Colombia]
  23. Puri, V. (1948) Studies in floral anatomy V. Vascular anatomy of the flower of certain species of the Passifloraceae. American Journal of Botany 34: 562–573. https://doi.org/10.1002/j.1537-2197.1947.tb13031.x
  24. Thiers, B. (2025) Index Herbariorum: A global directory of public herbaria and associated staff. New York Botanical Garden. [http://sweetgum.nybg.org/science/ih]
  25. Tillett, S.S. (1988) New species and taxonomic notes on Passiflora (Passifloraceae) from South America. Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden 75 (4): 1123–1133.
  26. Tropicos.org. (2026) Missouri Botanical Garden. [http://www.tropicos.org]
  27. Ulmer, T. & MacDougal, J.M. (2004) Passiflora: Passionflowers of the world. Timber Press.
  28. Vanderplank, J. (1996) Passion flowers. Cassell.
  29. Ventenat, É.P. & Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh. (1799) Tableau du règne végétal, selon la méthode de Jussieu. Vol. 2. de l’Imprimerie de J. Drisonnier, 607 pp. https://doi.org/10.5962/bhl.title.144317

How to Cite

Lozano-Cifuentes, D., Tamayo, B.V., Kuethe, J., P., H.D.B. & Morales, G. (2026) Exploring the diversity of the genus Passiflora (Passifloraceae): Passifora tenensis, a new species of the section Decaloba from Colombia. Phytotaxa 778 (1): 61–72. https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.778.1.5