Calea bucaramangensis (Asteraceae), a New Species from the Colombian Andes

Abstract

Calea bucaramangensis, a radiate species occurring in the Andes of Northeastern Colombia, is described, illustrated, and compared with its nearest allies. Calea L. (Asteraceae: Heliantheae) contains ca. 100 species. Although traditionally placed in Galinsoginae, Robinson et al. (1978) and Rob- inson (1981) suggested that Calea is more closely allied to members of Neurolaeninae. Important features used in the circumscription of Calea are possession of simple, generally opposite leaves, striate phyllaries, ray and disk pappus of free scales, glabrous or glandular and yel- low or white corollas, non-striate, prismatic achenes, and shrubby habit. Species of Calea are common throughout the Neotropics in open, disturbed montane regions. The genus reaches its greatest species diversity in Brazil, the Guayana Highlands, and the Andes. During the investigation of the systematics of Calea in northern South America, three anomalous collections from the Cordillera Ori- ental of the Andes near Bucaramanga were encountered. These collections were made within 50 km of one another and are described here as a new species.