Passiflora lobbii subsp. charazanica Kuethe & Fuentes, 2025

Kuethe, J. R., Wettges, Martin, Jiménez, Marco M. & Fuentes, Alfredo, 2025, A new section within Passiflora subgenus Decaloba (Passifloraceae) borne from the “ Passiflora lobbii group ”, with three new species from the montane forests of southern Ecuador and Bolivia, Phytotaxa 691 (2), pp. 173-187 : 184-185

Passiflora lobbii subsp. charazanica Kuethe & Fuentes subsp. nov. ( Figures 4C )

Type: — BOLIVIA. La Paz department: Saavedra region , road between Charazani and Tuiluni, 15°1’’35.”” S 68 °5’’28.”” W, 2743 m, 24 November 2023 (fl.), Hermes Justiniano, J.R. Kuethe, Mattias Lanas, Ramón Vargas, Miguel Molinari 93 (holotype: LPB!; isotypes: LPB!, USZ, BOLV!) .

Diagnosis: This new varietal taxon is similar to Passiflora solomonii and Passiflora tesserula , from which it differs by its thick coriaceous (vs. membraneous) leaves, the absence (vs. presence) of foliar vestiture, the petiolar nectaries being located at, or just above, the middle (vs. absent [former] or located just below the blade), and the dark purple internal colour (vs. green to greenish-yellow) of the flowers with a straight (vs. slightly wavy) corona.

Description: — Plant a trailing vine with long trailing branches of 2–4 m, glabrous throughout, except for the youngest stems. Stem green, lighter green and very finely pubescent when young, obscurely striate. Internodal distance 1–3.5 cm. Stipules soon deciduous, greenish-yellow in color, drying out at the tip, setaceous, 1.2–1.5 mm long, 0.5 mm wide. Petiole 1.2–1.6 cm long, caniculate, glandular, with a single pair of opposite glands located at, or just above, the middle of the stalk, glands small, stout and stubby, 0.8–1 mm wide, brownish. Leaf blade transversely ovate to lanceolate, terminating in long acute apices, distinctly 2-lobed and very rarely 3-lobate, (6.3–)7–11(–13) cm wide, 1.6–2.5 cm long when measured along the central vein, length of the lateral veins 3.1–4.6 cm, lobes long lanceolate to ovoid, narrowing towards the inception of the petiole, base of the blade deeply cordate, apices acute; the central lobe (if present) very broadly founded to truncate, no more than 1–4 high, central vein terminating into a distinct mucro 1–2 mm long, location of central lobe deeply emarginate; usually truncate when absent, foliar texture very thick coriaceous to chartaceous, green adaxially, lighter green abaxially. Inflorescence in pairs or single, peduncles 9–14 mm, articulated at about¼4 th below the base of the flower. Bracts obscure, setaceous, 1.2–1.5 mm long, greenish. Flowers whitish-yellow with a dark purple center, 21–24 mm wide, slightly inconspicuous; hypanthium disc-shaped, circular in outline, 7–8 mm wide, about 1 mm high; sepals ovoid to obovate, 9–11 × 4.5–5.5 mm, apices obtuse, greenish white with a pinkish margin, ecorniculate; petals slightly shorter than sepals, ovoid, 7.5–8.7 × 2.6–3.0 mm, apex obtuse and slightly praemorse, white, membranous; corona biserial, outer series radiate, filiform to ligulate, 6–8 mm long, basally green becoming yellow to whitish yellow in upper half, straight; inner series finely filiform, clavate towards the apex, 1.5–2.0 mm long, whitish becoming a brownish green at base, erect; operculum plicate, pinkishwhite becoming whitish towards upper half, folded, margins slightly serrate, about 2.2–2.5 mm long; limen floor a very dark purple disk; androgynophore small, about 4 mm high, very dark purple in basal half, becoming dark green with blackish specks above; stamen approximately 3 mm long, green, pollen yellow; ovary globose, green, glabrous, 1–1.5 mm high; style ca. 3 mm long, green, stigma green, globose, ca. 1 mm. Fruit a small black berry, globose to subglobose, 12–15 × 14–16 mm when mature; mesocarp about 1 mm thick, whitish grey; with 5–10 black seed per fruit; seed ovoidal to ovoid, ca. 2–3 × 1–1.5 mm, resticulate.

Phenology: —This species has been observed with flowers in November and December, carrying fruits from November, December into January.

Distribution and habitat: — Passiflora lobbii subsp. charazanica is found in the montane seasonally dry forests of the far western Andes of Bolivia. It is found almost exclusively around the border regions with Peru, where populations of this subspecies were seen nearby the Inca towns of Charazani and Pelechuco, both within the Bautista Saavedra province of the department of La Paz. Substantial populations were seen growing in montane seasonally dry forests within interandean river valleys just above the mountain rivers, providing moderate moisture through vapor and cloud humidification. The largest population was seen just south of the town of Charazani, with few smaller populations found nearby Pelechuco and north of Chulina. This feeble subspecies is found at elevations between 2,600 and 2,950 meters, where it trails over ground down steep grassy slopes, or as a weak climbing vine over low secondary vegetation, with long trailing branches next to roadsides and river valleys.

Etymology: —This subspecies is named after the Andean town and border region of Charazani, the location where this subspecies was found.

Prelininary conservation status: —With an Extent of Occurrence (EOO) of about 220 km 2 and an Area of Occupancy (AOO) of about 28 km 2, P. lobbii subsp. charazanica scales EN (Endangered) in accordance with IUCN criteria B1 & B2a,b. Targeted field work to the locations where this species grows shows a relatively low abundance within its natural habitat, with plants appearing sporadically and in clusters throughout its native region. This suggests a possible absence of a seed dispersing mammal or bird. In addition, mining and climate aridification are serious threats to the long-term stability of the region, causing significant polution in the rivers and drying out of the land.

Additional specimens examined (paratypes):— Passiflora lobbii subsp. charazanica : Bolivia. La Paz: Saavedra region, Monte Puncu, Machayani, entre Camata y Cuibaja, 15°18’35”S 068°46’00”W, 2680 m, 16 May 2006, Alfredo F. Fuentes, A.S. Poma C., K. Wilk 10644 ( LPB, MO); ANMI Apolobamba, Carpa, primeros restos de casas al lado de carretera bajando de Charazani, 15°11’24”S 068°53’08”W, 2530 m, 17 April 2005, Alfredo F. Fuentes 6865 ( LPB, MO, NY, USZ); ANMI Apolobamba, Charazani, aguas termales mas abajo, 15°10’50”S 068°54’03”W, 2535 m, 17 April 2005, Alfredo F. Fuentes et al. 6836 ( LPB, MO); Pelechuco-Apolo, Laitiki, Area Natural de Manejo Integrado Apolobamba, 14°46’54”S 069°01’00”W, 2680 m, 08 June 2008, Alfredo F. Fuentes, H. Huaylla 12850 ( BOLV, LPB, MO, USZ); Area Natural de Manejo Integrado Apolobamba, Laitiki a Piara, camino carretero abandonado hacia Pelechuco, 14°45’50”S 068°58’52”W, 13 June 2008, H. Huaylla, Alfredo F. Fuentes 2925 ( LPB, MO); Rio Charazani, Charazani-Camata, 15°12’S 068°50’W, 20 November 1982, Roberto Vásquez, Carl A. Luer, Jane Luer 1957 ( BOLV); Área Natural de Manejo Integrado Apolobamba, Chulina, al frente de estancia Wikjelani, pasando el río Sillaca, 15°07’51”S 068°52’51”W, 2836 m, 17 April 2010, Alfredo F. Fuentes, R. Rodas 16101 ( BOLV, LPB, MO, NY, USZ); Área Natural de Manejo Integrado Apolobamba, Chullina Titiriwaya, 15°08’11”S 068°52’47”W, 2706 m, 26 May 2010, L. Cayola, I. Jiménez, P. Calvi, L. Samo 3822 ( BOLV, COL, HSB, LPB, MO, RFA, USZ).

Figures

FIGURE 4. Comparative rubric of the habit and flower between Passiflora solomonii Escobar (A) from its type locality; Passiflora justinianoi sp.nov. (B); and Passiflora lobbii ssp. charazanica subsp.nov. (C). Photo courtesy of J.R. Kuethe.