Passiflora sanctae-mariae in Series Luteae (Passifloraceae), a New Species and Series in Subgenus Decaloba

Abstract

Passiflora sanctae-mariae, restricted to Chiapas, Mexico, and adjacent Guatemala, is new- ly described and assigned to a species group that includes P. lutea L. of the United States. The five species of this group lack extrafloral nectaries and have very reduced or no bracts. The group is rec- ognized as Passiflora series Luteae (Small) J. MacDougal, comb. et stat. nov. Passiflora sanctae-mariae is a new species of small vining passionflower, known from nine dried collections and one living collection. The living col- lection, field collected by the author, was grown and observed in the greenhouse for several years, and it furnished the type collection. The species is re- stricted to the volcanic mountains of northwestern Guatemala and adjacent Chiapas, Mexico. It is close- ly related to P. lutea L. of the United States, the Mexican and Guatemalan P. pavonis Masters, an as yet undescribed species in east-central Mexico (Passiflora dictamo sensu Killip, not DC.), and P. filipes Bentham, which ranges from Texas to Ec- uador. These five species lack extrafloral nectaries and have very reduced or no bracts, and form a related species alliance here recognized as a series.