Poteranthera inopinata (Melastomataceae), a new species from Noel Kempff Mercado National Park, Bolivia

Scientists have identified Poteranthera inopinata, a new species of flowering plant belonging to the Melastomataceae family, exclusively found in the humid or seasonally flooded savannas of Noel Kempff Mercado National Park in eastern Bolivia. This discovery was made through detailed morphological analysis, distinguishing it by unique traits such as annual habit, glandular-tipped serrated leaves (3–10 mm long), and distinctive androecium structures with prolonged pedoconnectives. The species is compared to its closest relative, P. warmingii, and an updated key for the six recognized Poteranthera species is provided. The study also recommends a conservation assessment for this newly described plant, highlighting its potential ecological significance within the UNESCO-listed park's biodiversity.

ALMEDA, F., & PACIFICO, R. (2023). Poteranthera inopinata (Melastomataceae), a new species from Noel Kempff Mercado National Park, Bolivia. Phytotaxa, 613(3), 271–279. https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.613.3.6