Aristolochia longissima and Aristolochia ornithorhyncha, two new species from the lowland moist forest from the Pacific watershed of southern Costa Rica and western Panama, are described and illustrated. Both species can be distinguished from most other species of Aristolochia series Thyrsicae, because of their leaves with pellucid gland dots, which are here documented in Aristolochiaceae for the first time. Comments about their distribution, habitat, phenology, conservation status and distinction from related species are provided. The circumscription of Aristolochia belizensis, A. chapmaniana, A. fragrantissima, A. ovalifolia, A. schmidtiana and A. tonduzii is discussed.
Abstract:The Reserva Biológica San Luis is a small protected area located on the Pacific side of the Cordillera de Tilarán, northwestern Costa Rica, with a forest transitioning between the basal and premontane floras according to Holdridge's Life Zones. An inventory of the vascular flora of the reserve was performed by collecting botanical samples during three years and consulting the databases of the CR, INB, MO and USJ herbaria. We report 130 families, 477 genera and 716 species of native vascular plants. Angiosperms comprise the largest group with 94.3%, followed by Pteridophytes 5.4% and Lycophytes 0.3%. The best represented life forms are herbaceous and arborescent with 35.7% and 26.8% respectively. Fabaceae and Piper are the most diverse family and genus, with 67 and 15 species respectively. Despite occupying 0.000049% of the total area of Costa Rica, this reserve protects approximately 7.3% of the vascular plants of the country.
Matelea tarrazuana, a new species endemic to Costa Rica, is described and illustrated. It is similar to M. pusilliflora, a vine from Yucatan Peninsula because of its green flowers with a reflective white spot in the apex at the apex of each lobe, but differs from that species by its longer pedicels, larger corolla lobes, staminal corona purple (vs. orange), gynostegium with the style apex purple (vs. green) and inhabiting premontane forests of Costa Rica. Data on its distribution and habitat, phenology, conservation status and taxonomy are included, as well as photographs of the living plant, and a key to identify the five related species in Mesoamerica.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.