Glossoloma recaldeorum J. L. Clark 2026, sp. nov.

Glossoloma recaldeorum J. L. Clark sp. nov. Fig. 3 Diagnosis. Differs from all other congeners by the presence of a scandent subwoody habit (vs. terrestrial unbranched shrub), small ovate leaves (vs. oblong leaves in G. jostii and G. puroana), a corolla tube that is rounded at the throat (vs. laterally compressed corolla tubes in G. jostii and G. puroana), and single axillary flowers (vs. multiple flowers per leaf axil in G. jostii and G. puroana). Type. Ecuador • Tungurahua: Canton Baños, parroquia Río Verde, Bosque Protector Cerro Candelaria (Fundación EcoMinga), upper Pastaza watershed, high ridgeline above canyon, trail between Cerro Candelaria permanent plot # 1 (2200 m) and high camp (2600 m), 1°26'26.7"S, 78°18'11.4"W, 2200–2664 m, 9 March 2016, J. L. Clark, J. A. Mayr & D. A. Neill 14818 (holotype: QCA!; isotypes: CAS!, E!, ECUAMZ!, G!, MO!, NY! SEL!, US!). Description. Elongate scandent nomadic climbers. Stems elongate and terete in cross section, 2–4 mm in diameter, sparsely pilose. Leaves opposite, equal in a pair; petiole 4–10 mm long, red, terete in cross-section, sparsely pilose; blade ovate, 3–4 × 1.5–2.0 cm, coriaceous, adaxially dark green, abaxially light green, apex acute, base rounded, margin sparsely serrate, 3–5 pairs of secondary veins, abaxially and adaxially pilose. Inflorescences reduced to a single axillary flower. Flowers resupinate, with elongate pendent to horizontal 2.5–3.3 cm long pedicels. Calyx mostly light green with reddish base, sparsely pilose on the outside and glabrous on the inside, lobes 5, fused at the base for 2–4 mm, conduplicate with each lobe appressed to an adjacent lobe and folded lengthwise with the margin curved inward, clasping corolla tube, lower lobe relatively smaller and narrow, ca. 1.0 × 0.4 cm, the other four lobes broadly oblong, apex acute, margins serrate, ca. 1.3 × 0.8 cm. Corolla tube ampliate on upper surface and slightly constricted apically, appearing perpendicular relative to calyx, 2.5–3.2 cm long, gibbous at base, 2.5–4.0 mm wide, outside uniformly pilose, inside mostly glabrous with minute glandular trichomes apically, throat rounded in cross section, lobes 5, subequal, margins entire to serrulate, lobes reflexed, 8–11 × 9–12 mm, uniformly yellow. Androecium of 4 didynamous stamens, included, filaments broad and flat, ca. 3.1 cm long, adnate to the corolla tube base for 3 mm, white, glabrous; anthers oblong, coherent by the lateral walls, dehiscing longitudinally, 3.9–5.7 × 0.6–1.8 mm. Gynoecium with a single bilobed dorsal gland; ovary superior, 3.9–4.9 × 3.0–4.0 mm, cone-shaped, puberulent; style stout, included, 3.0 cm long; stigma stomatomorphic. Fruit not observed. Phenology. Collected with flowers in March. Etymology. The specific epithet honors the Recalde family of El Placer, the nearest community to the location of the species described here. Over the years, the brothers Luis, Fausto, Jesús, and Abdón Recalde, and later their children Darwin, Santiago, and Diana Recalde, have served as park guards protecting Cerro Candelaria Reserve, and have been instrumental in promoting a positive attitude in communities towards promoting forest conservation. Their keen passion for nature and their extraordinary observations have led to the discovery of many new species, especially frogs. Distribution. Glossoloma recaldeorum is currently only known from the Cerro Candelaria reserve near Río Verde in Bosque Protector Cerro Candelaria, a private reserve managed by Fundación EcoMinga on the eastern slopes of the Ecuadorian Andes. Comments. Glossoloma recaldeorum is distinguished by its small ovate leaves (Fig. 3 C), the smallest currently known in the genus. The petioles are typically red, in contrast to the green petioles of congeners. The corollas are yellow, as in G. puroana, but differ in being more rounded at the throat (Fig. 3 B) rather than laterally compressed (Fig. 2 C). In addition, the presence of solitary axillary flowers (Fig. 3 D) is unique within the genus, where most species bear multiple flowers per leaf axil (e. g., Fig. 2 D).