Gesneria tuberifera (Gesneriaceae), a new lithophytic species from the Sierra de Bahoruco, Barahona Peninsula of southern Hispaniola (Dominican Republic)

Abstract

A narrowly endemic new species of Gesneria is described from the Sierra de Bahoruco in the Dominican Republic’s Barahona Peninsula of southern Hispaniola. Gesneria tuberifera J.L.Clark & T.Clase, sp. nov. differs from all other congeners by the presence of a tuber and tubular red corollas with yellow lobes. Images and a discussion are provided to summarize the presence of tubers in other Gesneriaceae and differentiate Gesneria tuberifera from congeners that share a lithophytic habit. Based on IUCN guidelines, a preliminary conservation status of Endangered (EN) is assessed for G. tuberifera.