A new cherry species (Prunus, Rosaceae) from south-western Ecuador
Prunus luxurians, a new species from Buenaventura Reserve at El Oro province in Ecuador is described and illustrated. Additionally, notes on its geographical distribution, ecology, conservation status, and taxonomic affinities are documented. Prunus luxurians has some vegetative and floral similarities with other Andean species, but the unique combination of oblong-lanceolate leaves with prominent secondary and tertiary veins, densiflorous floriferous shoots less than 5 cm long, sepals with two marginal glands and flowers with turbinate hypanthium clearly differentiates it from the rest. This is the first species of Prunus described from the western flank at elevation below 1500 m, and particularly from a humid spot surrounded by dry areas (Tumbesian influence). Other taxonomic novelties of Prunus on this flank can be expected, so further botanical exploration is needed to better understand the diversity of the genus in the region.
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