Aiphanes

Abstract: Four new species of palms from Colombia, Aiphanes graminifolia, Bactris rostrata, Geonoma santanderensis and Geonoma wilsoni, are described and illustrated. Three species, Attalea cohune, A. phalerata and A. plowmanii are recorded for the first time in Colombia; the name Attalea plowmanii is a new combination based on Scheelea plowmanii. Another species, Aiphanes simplex, is recorded from the Eastern Cordillera of Colombia.

Abstract: Aiphanes argos is a new species of palm segregated from Aiphanes parvifolia , which is now recognized to be a species complex. Aiphanes argos is one of the few rheophytic members of the palm family, and is endemic to a small area in the Samana Norte River canyon in Antioquia, Colombia, where it is critically endangered because its populations are threatened by the damming of the river for a hydroelectric plant. The epiteth argos is the name of the conglomerate that intends to build the dam, and is given to the palm as a plea for the conservation of the Samana Norte River canyon.

Abstract: Recent field work and the study of new collections have revealed that the Andean palm Aiphanes parvifolia, as interpreted in the most recent monograph of the genus, actually included five species. Three of them, Aiphanes decipiens, Aiphanes gloria and Aiphanes tatama, whose specimens were previously considered as A. parvifolia, are described here as new, and another one, also formerly treated as A. parvifolia, was recently described as Aiphanes argos. Two additional species, not collected before, belong also to this complex and are described here as new: Aiphanes bio and Aiphanes cogollo. The true Aiphanes parvifolia is recircumscribed, and the current neotype is superseded. A taxonomic treatment of all the species in the group is presented, including detailed descriptions and illustrations, and a key to identify them. Six of the species are categorized as Critically Endangered and one as Endangered, based on IUCN criteria.

Abstract: Two new species of Aiphanes from Colombia, Aiphanes buenaventurae and Aiphanes multiplex, are described and illustrated. Two other species, Aiphanes killipii and Aiphanes concinna, previously included in synonymy under Aiphanes horrida,and Aiphanes lindeniana, respectively, are restored. Aiphanes stergiosii described from Venezuela is included in synonymy under Aiphanes lindeniana. An epitype is designated for Aiphanes simplex.