A glimpse into the diversity of Colombian Acanthaceae

Abstract

A short visit to four Colombian herbaria in 2022 is highlighted as an example of modern-day herbarium plant hunting which resulted in the discovery of 14 new species: Aphelandra guacharorum J.R.I.Wood, A. montis-tusae J.R.I.Wood & Hoyos-Gómez, Justicia betancurii J.R.I.Wood, J. chloroleuca J.R.I.Wood, J. cristalina J.R.I.Wood & Hoyos-Gómez, J. daironcardenasii J.R.I.Wood & Hoyos-Gómez, J. ipanorensis J.R.I.Wood, J. lutescens J.R.I.Wood & Hoyos-Gómez, J. macuirensis J.R.I.Wood, J. perijaensis J.R.I.Wood, J. reniformis J.R.I.Wood, J. rheophytica J.R.I.Wood & Hoyos-Gómez J. santanderana J.R.I.Wood & Hoyos-Gómez and Ruellia rheophytica J.R.I.Wood & Hoyos-Gómez. These are described and illustrated with line drawings. Additionally, a full description and line drawings of two poorly known species, Justicia hochreutineri J.F.Macbr. and J. trianae (Leonard) J.R.I.Wood are provided. Notes are provided on 21 other species drawing attention to new records for Colombia, rediscoveries and taxonomic issues. Justicia hochreutineri J.F.Macbr., J. pilosa (Ruiz ex Nees) Lindau, J. zamorensis Wassh. and Stenostephanus lasiostachyus Nees are recorded for the first time for Colombia. Justicia pampolystachys Leonard is treated as a synonym of J. hyperdasya Leonard. Poikilacanthus moritzianus (Nees) Lindau is shown to be restricted to Venezuela. Adhatoda pilosa Ruiz ex Nees is lectotypified. Attention is drawn to the number of rheophytes in Colombian Acanthaceae and to the importance of the Río Claro and Río Samaná Norte area of Antioquia as a centre of plant diversity.