Scyphostelma quitense (K. Schum.) Liede, Meve & Y. M. Pineda, 2023

Pineda, Yam M., Keller, Héctor A., Balderrama-Torrico, José A., Meve, Ulrich, Nürk, Nicolai M. & Liede-Schumann, Sigrid, 2023, Phylogenetics in Scyphostelma (Apocynaceae: Orthosiinae) and description of new species, Willdenowia 53, pp. 83-112 : 101

Scyphostelma quitense (K. Schum.) Liede, Meve & Y. M. Pineda , comb. nov.

≡ Cynanchum quitense K. Schum. in Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 25: 728. 1898. ≡ Metastelma quitense (K. Schum.) Liede in Novon 7: 43. 1997.

– Lectotype (designated here): Ecuador, Chimborazo, “Inter virgult. prp. pagum Pallatanga”, Sep 1891, L. Sodiro 107/17 ( QPLS7008224 ) . – Appendix S2, S3.

Iconography — Liede & Meve (1997: 43, fig. 4, as Metastelma quitense ).

Nomenclatural note – Of the two syntypes, L. Sodiro 107/16 (“ In coll. Panecillo ca. Quito”) and 107/17, none is still extant in B, where Schumann’s original material was housed. QPLS holds a specimen of Sodiro 107/17 annotated by Schumann’s hand, which is selected as the lectotype here. Of Sodiro 107/16, a well-preserved specimen is extant in P ( P00644874 ).

Remarks — The habit of the plants, which at first grow erect, later twining, the slender, linear to lanceolate leaves, the spindle-shaped follicles and in particular the densely bearded corolla lobes support the view expressed by Liede & Meve (1997) that the species belongs in Metastelma . However, the present molecular analysis shows that the species is a member of Scyphostelma (Appendix S2, S3), in which all the above characters can occur but are not combined in any other species. Therefore, the transfer of this species, which is endemic to central Ecuador (Chimborazo, Pichincha, Tungurahua), to Scyphostelma is carried out here. In consequence, no member of Metastelma s. str. is presently known to occur in Ecuador.