Aristolochia hondurensis (Aristolochiaceae), a new species from Honduras

José Esteban Jiménez; Olvin Oyuela-Andino; Josué H. Bonilla; Mario A. Blanco

doi:10.14522/darwiniana.2023.111.1090

Authors

José Esteban Jiménez University of Florida Herbarium, Florida Museum of Natural History, 379 Dickinson Hall, 1659 Museum Rd., Gainesville, Florida 32611, USA; Department of Biology, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32611, USA; Research Associate, Herbario Luis A. Fournier Origgi (USJ), Centro de Investigación en Biodiversidad y Ecología Tropical, Universidad de Costa Rica, Apdo. 11501-2060, San José, Costa Rica. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8154-2156
Olvin Oyuela-Andino Herbario Cyril Hardy Nelson Sutherland (TEFH)/Escuela de Biología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Honduras, Boulevar Suyapa, Tegucigalpa, Honduras. https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7556-3519
Josué H. Bonilla Herbario Cyril Hardy Nelson Sutherland (TEFH)/Escuela de Biología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Honduras, Boulevar Suyapa, Tegucigalpa, Honduras. https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7477-5165
Mario A. Blanco Herbario Luis A. Fournier Origgi (USJ), Centro de Investigación en Biodiversidad y Ecología Tropical, Escuela de Biología, and Jardín Botánico Lankester, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica. https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7369-5411

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.14522/darwiniana.2023.111.1090

Keywords:

Aristolochia subseries Hexandrae, flora of Honduras, IUCN Red List categories, taxonomy

Abstract

Aristolochia hondurensis, a new species of Aristolochia series Hexandrae subseries Hexandrae, endemic to Honduras, is described and illustrated. It is a species morphologically similar to Aristolochia anguicida, from which it is distinguished by its much larger flowers (in all dimensions) with an oblong, attenuate, erect perianth limb, perpendicular to the tube. Comments about its distribution, habitat, phenology, conservation status, and distinction from morphologically similar species, and a dichotomous key of the species present in Honduras belonging to the subseries Hexandrae are provided. The new species is known from only two populations and is not known to occur in any protected area; it is provisionally categorized as Critically Endangered (CR) according to IUCN Red List criteria. Previous reports of A. inflata for Honduras appear to be unsubstantiated by herbarium specimens.