Gilliesia reflexa M. A. Gonz. & Nic. Garcia 2026, sp. nov.

Gilliesia reflexa M. A. Gonz. & Nic. García sp. nov. Figs 7, 8 Diagnosis. Gilliesia reflexa differs from Gilliesia atropurpurea (Phil.) M. F. Fay & Christenh. by its shorter tepals, 6–10 mm long (vs. (9 –) 12–25 mm long), and tepals usually strongly reflexed from the base (vs. usually straight or reflexed at tips, sometimes inner tepals reflexed from base). Type. Chile • Región del Libertador General Bernardo O’Higgins: Provincia de Cachapoal, Comuna de San Vicente de Tagua Tagua, cerro La Sepultura, Roblería de Rinconada, 1150 m a. s. l., 18 August 2023, N. García, C. B. Ulloa, M. M. Espinoza. M. A. González, J. A. Hernández & R. A. Alarcón 6800 (holotype: EIF 18605; isotypes: CONC, SGO). Description. Terrestrial herbs. Bulbs ovoid to narrowly ovoid, 21–35 × 7–15 mm, external cataphylls light brown, veins prominent. Leaves one, lorate, 32–55 × 0.6–1.0 (– 1.3) cm. Scapes one, cylindrical, hollow, 19–35 × 0.1–0.3 cm. Spathe 2 - valvate, herbaceous, green, veins inconspicuous, free, outer valve lanceolate, 21–32 × 4–7 mm, veins 11–15, inner valve linear, rarely shortly lanceolate, (7 –) 10–19 × 1–1.5 (– 2.5) mm, veins (1 –) 3–5. Inflorescence a pseudo-umbel with 6–11 slightly zygomorphic flowers; pedicels unequal, 1.8–4.2 cm long (with open flowers). Tepals six, free, membranous, vinaceous (purplish red), lanceolate, acute to acuminate, slightly to strongly reflexed from basal third, base papillose, outer 7–10 × 1.4–2.0 mm, three inconspicuous veins, inner 6.5–10 × 1.2–1.5 mm, one inconspicuous vein. Floral appendages vinaceous to burgundy, on two whorls, outer (tepaliferous) 2–6, awl-shaped, falcate or obovate with truncate to bifid apex, opposite to inner appendages, attached to the base of inner tepals, 0.1–0.5 mm long, inner (staminal) six, nearly orbicular, cordate to semi-circular, arranged in three pairs, each pair with adjacent sides imbricate, 0.4–0.7 mm long. Stamens three, filaments 1.0– 1.5 mm long, base triangular; staminal tube open, contiguous to filaments, vinaceous, papillose, 0.5–0.8 mm long on side with filaments, shorter (0.2–0.4 mm long) or null and exposing gynoecium on side lacking filaments, sometimes with a triangular appendage (staminode); anthers three, yellow, dorsifixed near base, bent> 90 ° with apertures pointing outwards (extrorse), 0.9–1.4 mm long. Ovary superior, spherical, 0.7–1.0 mm long, trilocular, 4–5 ovules per locule, biseriate; style straight to ascending, 1.1–1.4 mm long, reaching the anthers or exerted in mature flowers; stigma capitate, terminal. Capsules spherical, 3 - valved, dimensions unknown. Seeds not seen. Distribution and habitat. Gilliesia reflexa has been recorded only at the top of La Sepultura hill (Fig. 1 A), which is one of the tallest peaks in the coastal mountain range that lies between the Cachapoal and Tinguiririca rivers (~ 34.3°S). It has been observed in the understory of two small fragments of relictual forest dominated by Nothofagus obliqua, along with other tree species such as Nothofagus glauca (Phil.) Krasser (Nothofagaceae), Quillaja saponaria Molina (Quillajaceae), Azara petiolaris (D. Don) I. M. Johnst. (Salicaceae), and Aristotelia chilensis (Molina) Stuntz (Elaeocarpacaea). Both forest fragments are located on south- to southeast-facing slopes at 1050–1150 m a. s. l, with surfaces ranging between four and seven hectares each. Phenology. Gilliesia reflexa has been recorded in flowers from August to September. The fruiting period has been recorded during October. Etymology. The specific epithet refers to its characteristic reflexed tepals. Vernacular name. Although no popular common name is known for Gilliesia reflexa, we propose to name it “ cometa de La Sepultura, ” which means La Sepultura Comet, due to the resemblance of its flowers to a falling celestial object. Conservation status. Gilliesia reflexa can be considered Critically Endangered (CR) under criteria B 2 ab (iii), because its area of occupancy is