Piper alwynii (Piperaceae), a New Species from the Cordillera del Cóndor at the Border of Peru and Ecuador

Abstract

Piper alwynii M. A. Jaram. (Piperaceae), a new species occurring in sandstone outcrops of the Cordillera del Cóndor at the border of Ecuador and Peru, is here described and illustrated. Morphologically it shows similarities to species in the Radula clade. Piper alwynii is similar to P. purdiei C. DC. but differs in having leaves pinnately nerved within the lower two thirds of the midvein, nerves pubescent on the abaxial surface, villous peduncles, and spikes 2–2.7 cm long. An identification key for 32 northern South American Piper L. species with small (≤ 10 cm) leaves is presented.