A new species of Dieffenbachia (Araceae) from Limón Province, Costa Rica

Abstract

Dieffenbachia rodriguezii, is described as a species new to science. It is known only from Limón Province at 1400 m, in a Lower montane rain forest life zone. Based on inflorescence morphology and leaf-blade shape, the new species is most similar to Dieffenbachia oerstedii Schott, Dieffenbachia grayumiana Croat and Dieffenbachia killipii Croat. The affinities of this species are discussed and a key for Costa Rican Dieffenbachia is provided.

Keywords:

• Central America
• Fila Matama
• flora of Costa Rica
• taxonomy

Acknowledgements

We are very grateful to the curators of the following herbaria: PMA, MO, SCZ and UCH for allowing access to their collections, and to all volunteers of the Araceae Laboratory of the Missouri Botanical Garden. We would also like to thank the Dean of Science of the University of Panama, Professor Raúl Carranza; Professor Maria de Stapf (Director of the PMA Herbarium), botanists and herbarium workers Lucila Guillén and Vielka Murillo (PMA) for providing facilities and other support and Carla Kostelac of the Missouri Botanical Garden for providing excellent images of the holotype. The first author of this paper (O.O.O.) thanks Panama’s National Secretariat for Science and Technology (SENACYT) for funding the herbarium work. Lastly, we offer thanks to Jerry Harrison for his suggestions and comments.