Sumacoa (Gesneriaceae), an Arborescent New Genus from the Eastern Andean Slopes of Ecuador

Abstract— A new neotropical genus, Sumacoa , with a single species, S. barbata J. L. Clark & D. A. Neill, is described from the Cordillera del Cóndor, Cordillera Galeras, and eastern slopes of the Andes in Ecuador and is placed in the family Gesneriaceae and tribe Beslerieae. The placement of Sumacoa in the tribe Beslerieae is strongly supported by molecular sequence data generated from analyses of nuclear ribosomal DNA internal transcribed spacer region (ITS). Sequence data were evaluated from 34 taxa representing all genera from the tribes Beslerieae and Napeantheae. Sumacoa is characterized by the following unique combination of relatively uncommon characters in the Gesneriaceae: arborescent habit, a tardily dehiscent globose bivalved capsule, and elongate multicellular trichomes clustered apically in the throat. Sumacoa is endemic to the provinces of Napo and Morona-Santiago and in lower montane cloud forest from the Cordillera del Cóndor and Cordillera Galeras at 1200‐1800 m elevation, as well as one locality on the eastern slopes of the Eastern Cordillera of the Andes. A key and a table are presented for differentiating Sumacoa from other genera. Based on IUCN guidelines, a preliminary conservation status of Vulnerable (VU) is provided for S. barbata .