Reldia oligantha (Gesneriaceae), a new lithophytic herb from the Cordillera del Cóndor in southern Ecuador

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.17348/jbrit.v20.i1.1465

Keywords:

Ecuador, Gesneriaceae, Reldia, taxonomy

Abstract

Recent fieldwork in southern Ecuador resulted in the discovery of a new species of Reldia (Gesneriaceae) from limestone outcrops in the Cordillera del Condor. Reldia oligantha J.L. Clark is described here as endemic to the eastern Andean slopes of Ecuador. The species is distinguished by its highly reduced, typically uniflorous inflorescences, lithophytic habit with leaves arranged in a basal rosette, and diminutive stature, representing the smallest species currently recognized in the genus.

References

CLARK, J.L., L.E. SKOG, J.K. BOGGAN, & S. GINZBARG. 2020. Index to names of New World members of the Gesneriaceae (subfamilies Sanan-goideae and Gesnerioideae). Rheedea 30: 190–256. https://dx.doi.org/10.22244/rheedea.2020.30.01.14.

GRC. 2026 [continuously updated] Gesneriaceae Resource Centre. Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, UK. Downloadable from: website: https://padme.rbge.org.uk/ (Accessed: 2 Jan 2026).

KVIST, L.P. & L.E. SKOG. 1989. Revision of Reldia (Gesneriaceae). Nordic J. Bot. 8:601–611.

MÖLLER, M. & J.L. CLARK. 2013. The state of molecular studies in the family Gesneriaceae. Selbyana 31(2):95–125.

OGUTCEN, E., D. CHRISTE, K. NISHII, N. SALAMIN, M. MÖLLER, & M. PERRET. 2021. Phylogenomics of Gesneriaceae using targeted capture of nuclear genes. Molec. Phylogen. Evol. 157. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ympev.2021.107068.

WEBER, A. 2004. Gesneriaceae. In: Kadereit J., ed. The families and genera of vascular plants, vol. 7. Flowering Plants. Dicotyledons. Lamial-es (except Acanthaceae including Avicenniaceae). Springer, Berlin, Germany. Pp. 63–158.

WEBER, A., J.L. CLARK, & M. MÖLLER. 2013. A new formal classification of Gesneriaceae. Selbyana 31(2):68–94.

WEBER, A., D.J. MIDDLETON, J.L. CLARK, & M. MÖLLER. 2020. Keys to the infrafamilial taxa and genera of Gesneriaceae. Rheedea 30:5–47. https://dx.doi.org/10.22244/rheedea.2020.30.01.02.

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Published

2026-04-15

How to Cite

Clark, J. L. (2026). Reldia oligantha (Gesneriaceae), a new lithophytic herb from the Cordillera del Cóndor in southern Ecuador. Journal of the Botanical Research Institute of Texas, 20(1), 75–78. https://doi.org/10.17348/jbrit.v20.i1.1465

Issue

Vol. 20 No. 1 (2026): Journal of the Botanical Research Institute of Texas

Section

SYSTEMATICS

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Copyright (c) 2026 Botanical Research Institute of Texas

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