Two new species of Monteverdia (Celastraceae) from Ecuador

This contribution describes two new species of Monteverdia restricted to western Ecuador. Monteverdia multicostata Cornejo & Biral, from wet forests of Esmeraldas and Manabi provinces, is easily distinguished from all other known Monteverdia species by having the largest fruits in the genus (to 3.5 cm long) and by its unusual multi-ridged seeds. Monteverdia zakii Biral & Cornejo, from the Montane Andean forests of Pichincha, is characterized by the unique combination of: lenticellate twigs, coriaceous leaves with inconspicuous secondary veins and a large fruit with a truncate base. This set of characters distinguishes it from the related M. macrocarpa (Ruiz & Pav.) Biral.