TWO NEW SPECIES AND TWO NEW VARIETIES OF COLUMNEA (GESNERIACEAE)

In this paper two new species of Gesneriaceae (genus Columnea) are described and illustrated. Columnea chocoensis is distributed in the Colombian departments of Choco and Valle del Cauca, while its variety, C. chocoensis var. altaquerensis is restricted to the Department of Narino, Colombia. Columnea stilesiana was found in La Serrania de Los Paraguas located in the Cordillera Occidental between the Choco and Valle del Cauca Departments in Colombia. Further, Columnea archidonae is here considered a variety of C. ericae; Columnea ericae var. archidonae is distributed in Colombia and Ecuador, in forests at elevations higher than those in which the typical variety is found.