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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Miami, Florida » Subtropical Horticulture Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #358963
Research Project: Subtropical and Tropical Ornamental Genetic Resource Management, Characterization, and Genetic Improvement

Location: Subtropical Horticulture Research

Title: A remarkable new species of Pamianthe (Amaryllidaceae) from the Department of Cauca, Colombia

Author
item Meerow, Alan
item SILVERSTONE-SOPKIN, PHILIP A. - University Of Valley
item ZULUAGA-TRUCHEZ, ALEJANDRO - University Of Valley
item SANCHEZ-TABORDA, JHON A. - Ecohabitats Foundation

Submitted to: PHYTOKEYS
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/6/2018
Publication Date: 1/17/2019
Citation: Meerow, A.W., Silverstone-Sopkin, P., Zuluaga-Truchez, A., Sanchez-Taborda, J. 2019. A remarkable new species of Pamianthe (Amaryllidaceae) from the Department of Cauca, Colombia. Phytokeys. 115:673-682.

Interpretive Summary: We describe a new a species of saxicaulous Amaryllidaceae as Pamianthe ecollis, from a single population on the western slope of the Cordillera Occidental in the department of Cauca, Colombia, where it grows on rocky cliffs. The new species is different from the two previously known species of Pamianthe in its yellow flowers and in its nearly absent flower tube. The new species lacks a bulb; the stem sits directly on rocks and send roots into accumulated organic matter. It produces a large number of winged seeds that are wind-dispersed. An identification key to the species of Pamianthe is provided. This is the first record of the genus Pamianthe for Colombia. The discovery of this unusual species adds new data to our evolving understanding of the mega-diverse Andean Amaryllidaceae, an important ornamental family of flower bulbs.

Technical Abstract: A new saxicolous species of Amaryllidaceae tentatively assigned to the tribe Clinantheae, Pamianthe ecollis Silverst., Meerow & Sánchez-Taborda, is described from the western slope of the Cordillera Occidental in the department of Cauca, Colombia. The new species differs from the two hitherto known species of Pamianthe in its yellow flowers and in its nearly obsolete perianth tube. The near loss of the perianth tube may be correlated with a change in pollinator. The new species lacks a bulb; it produces a large number of winged seeds that are wind-dispersed. A key to the species of Pamianthe is provided. This is the first record of the genus Pamianthe for Colombia.