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Peer-reviewedCC BYPhytoKeys

Puya ukumari sp. nov. (Bromeliaceae, Puyoideae), a new montane bromeliad species from southeastern Peru.

  • Jhon A Yuca-Palomino1,2
  • Norma G Mamani-Mayta1,2
  • Luis A Champi-Charalla1,2
  • Elias Condori-Cuti2
  • Narciso Llacta-Gomez1,3
  • Italo F Treviño-Zevallos4
  • Eric J Gouda5,6
  • Adrian Forsyth7,8
  • Andrew Whitworth8,9
  • Ruthmery Pillco-Huarcaya1,10
10 affiliations
  1. 1Asociación para la Conservación de la Cuenca Amazónica (ACCA), Cusco, Peru Asociación para la Conservación de la Cuenca Amazónica (ACCA) Cusco Peru https://ror.org/00xn8e010.
  2. 2Universidad Nacional de San Antonio Abad del Cusco (UNSAAC), Cusco, Peru Universidad Nacional de San Antonio Abad del Cusco (UNSAAC) Cusco Peru https://ror.org/03gsd6w61.
  3. 3Comunidad Campesina Juan Velasco Alvarado, Paucartambo, Cusco, Peru Comunidad Campesina Juan Velasco Alvarado Paucartambo Peru.
  4. 4Universidad Tecnológica del Perú (UTP), Tacna y Arica 160, 04001, Arequipa, Peru Universidad Tecnológica del Perú (UTP) Arequipa Peru.
  5. 5Quantitative Biodiversity Dynamics (QBD), Utrecht University (UU), Utrecht, Netherlands Quantitative Biodiversity Dynamics (QBD), Utrecht University (UU) Utrecht Netherlands.
  6. 6Botanic Garden, Utrecht University (UU), Utrecht, Netherlands Botanic Garden, Utrecht University (UU) Utrecht Netherlands.
  7. 7Andes Amazon Fund, 1759 1/2, R St NW #200, 20009, Washington DC, USA Andes Amazon Fund Washington DC United States of America https://ror.org/013agg827.
  8. 8Climate Corridors, Washington DC, USA Climate Corridors Washington DC United States of America.
  9. 9Department of Biology and Sabin Center for Environment and Sustainability, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC, USA Department of Biology and Sabin Center for Environment and Sustainability, Wake Forest University Winston-Salem United States of America https://ror.org/0207ad724.
  10. 10School of Animal, Rural and Environmental Sciences, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham, UK School of Animal, Rural and Environmental Sciences, Nottingham Trent University Nottingham United Kingdom https://ror.org/04xyxjd90.
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Abstract

Montane forests of the Tropical Andes are among the most diverse and endemic-rich ecosystems in the world; however, they remain insufficiently documented, particularly in remote and topographically complex landscapes. Here, we describe Puya ukumari sp. nov. (Bromeliaceae), a new species from humid montane forests and forest-puna ecotonal habitats in the Kosñipata and Mapacho valleys of southeastern Peru, occurring at elevations between 2,300 and 3,300 m a.s.l. The species was first detected during a long-term ecological monitoring program in the region but remained unrecognized for several years due to the limited number of recorded flowering individuals. Its taxonomic identity became evident following the observation of flowering plants during field surveys conducted in 2025. Puya ukumari resembles P. lineata in possessing a simple, nodding, dark-colored inflorescence; however, it is readily distinguished by its considerably larger flowering plant height (160-200 cm vs. 40-80 cm), significantly wider inflorescence diameter (11-12.5 cm vs. 3.5-6 cm), larger lanate sepals (30-33 × 15-18 mm vs. 13-18 × 6-10 mm and floccose), and markedly darker, nearly black petals. These characters support its recognition as a distinct taxon within the group of Puya species with simple inflorescences. The species is currently known from a limited number of confirmed localities within a restricted elevational range. Based on its distribution and the observed threats to its habitat, a preliminary conservation assessment suggests that it should be classified as Endangered (EN) according to IUCN Red List criteria.

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Cite

BibTeXRIS
BibTeX
@article{yucapalomino2026puya,
  title = {{Puya ukumari sp. nov. (Bromeliaceae, Puyoideae), a new montane bromeliad species from southeastern Peru.}},
  author = {Jhon A Yuca-Palomino and Norma G Mamani-Mayta and Luis A Champi-Charalla and Elias Condori-Cuti and Narciso Llacta-Gomez and Italo F Treviño-Zevallos and Eric J Gouda and Adrian Forsyth and Andrew Whitworth and Ruthmery Pillco-Huarcaya},
  journal = {PhytoKeys},
  year = {2026},
  month = oct,
  doi = {10.3897/phytokeys.280.211255},
  url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42959513},
  note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY  - JOUR
TI  - Puya ukumari sp. nov. (Bromeliaceae, Puyoideae), a new montane bromeliad species from southeastern Peru.
AU  - Jhon A Yuca-Palomino
AU  - Norma G Mamani-Mayta
AU  - Luis A Champi-Charalla
AU  - Elias Condori-Cuti
AU  - Narciso Llacta-Gomez
AU  - Italo F Treviño-Zevallos
AU  - Eric J Gouda
AU  - Adrian Forsyth
AU  - Andrew Whitworth
AU  - Ruthmery Pillco-Huarcaya
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/10/15
JO  - PhytoKeys
DO  - 10.3897/phytokeys.280.211255
UR  - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42959513
AB  - Montane forests of the Tropical Andes are among the most diverse and endemic-rich ecosystems in the world; however, they remain insufficiently documented, particularly in remote and topographically complex landscapes. Here, we describe Puya ukumari sp. nov. (Bromeliaceae), a new species from humid montane forests and forest-puna ecotonal habitats in the Kosñipata and Mapacho valleys of southeastern Peru, occurring at elevations between 2,300 and 3,300 m a.s.l. The species was first detected during a long-term ecological monitoring program in the region but remained unrecognized for several years due to the limited number of recorded flowering individuals. Its taxonomic identity became evident following the observation of flowering plants during field surveys conducted in 2025. Puya ukumari resembles P. lineata in possessing a simple, nodding, dark-colored inflorescence; however, it is readily distinguished by its considerably larger flowering plant height (160-200 cm vs. 40-80 cm), significantly wider inflorescence diameter (11-12.5 cm vs. 3.5-6 cm), larger lanate sepals (30-33 × 15-18 mm vs. 13-18 × 6-10 mm and floccose), and markedly darker, nearly black petals. These characters support its recognition as a distinct taxon within the group of Puya species with simple inflorescences. The species is currently known from a limited number of confirmed localities within a restricted elevational range. Based on its distribution and the observed threats to its habitat, a preliminary conservation assessment suggests that it should be classified as Endangered (EN) according to IUCN Red List criteria.
SN  - 1314-2011
SN  - 1314-2003
ER  -