Stellaria smithii (Timaná) Montesinos & Borsch 2023

Montesinos-Tubée, Daniel B. & Borsch, Thomas, 2023, Molecular phylogenetics and morphology reveal the Plettkea lineage including several members of Arenaria and Pycnophyllopsis to be a clade of 21 South American species nested within Stellaria (Caryophyllaceae, Alsineae), Willdenowia 53 (3), pp. 115-148 : 136

14. Stellaria smithii (Timaná) Montesinos & Borsch , comb. nov.

≡ Pycnophyllopsis smithii Timaná in Lundellia 20: 10. 2017.

– Holotype: Peru, Lima, Huarochirí, Paso de Anticona , Ticlio , 4850 m, 16 Dec 1998, Timaná & Tate 3768 ( USM!; isotypes: BM, F, K!, LL, LPB [ LPB0000525 ], MICH) .

Morphological description — See Timaná (2005).

Distribution — According to Timaná (2017), the species should be distributed in the boundary between the Peruvian departments of Lima and Junín, at altitudes of 4300–4900 m, but should also be present in the Áncash department (Huascaran National Park) at an altitude of c. 4800 m. However, no further specimens in addition to the type appear to be known.

Notes — The characters such as the imbricate, lanceolate, stiff leaves, with ciliate margin, the short flower peduncles and the staminoid petals are considered to provide evidence for the inclusion of the species in the Plettkea clade.