Taxonomic notes , distribution , and conservation status of two species of Asteraceae firstly recorded for Colombia

As a result of herbarium studies and field work carried out by the signing authors, two Asteraceae species are recorded for the first time in Colombia, i.e., Floscaldasia azorelloides Sklenář & H.Rob. (tribe Astereae) and Senecio subinvolucratus Cuatrec. (tribe Senecioneae). Taxonomic notes, pictures, conservation status, and distribution maps are provided for both species. Resumen. Como resultado de la revisión de material de herbario y del trabajo de campo llevado a cabo por los autores, se citan por primera vez en Colombia dos especies de Asteraceae, i.e., Floscaldasia azorelloides Sklenář & H.Rob. (tribu Astereae) y Senecio subinvolucratus Cuatrec. (tribu Senecioneae). Se presentan además notas taxonómicas, imágenes, estatus de conservación y mapas de distribución de ambas. Buira A., Velasco C.A. & Calvo J. 2018. Taxonomic notes, distribution, and conservation status of two species of Asteraceae firstly r ecorded for Colombia. Anales del Jardín Botánico de Madrid 75 (2): e074. https://doi.org/10.3989/ajbm.2514. Title in Spanish: Notas taxonómicas, distribución y estatus de conservación de dos especies de Asteraceae citadas por primera vez en Colombia. Received: 4‒IX‒2018; accepted: 30‒X‒2018; published online: 28‒XI‒2018; Associate Editor: C. Aedo.


INTRODUCTION
The Asteraceae Bercht.& J.Presl is the second largest family of the Colombian flora, consisting of c. 1,303 species represented by 258 genera (Ávila & al. 2018).It is one of the most important plant groups in the páramo and the montane forest ecosystems, becoming the most diverse family along the altitudinal gradient of 3000-5000 m a.s.l.(Bernal 2016).
Herein, we record two new species of Asteraceae for the Colombian flora belonging to the tribes Astereae Cass.and Senecioneae Cass.: Floscaldasia azorelloides Sklenář & H.Rob. and Senecio subinvolucratus Cuatrec.respectively.Both were considered hitherto endemic to Ecuador.These new findings were possible due to collection trips carried out by the authors, which highlights the importance of the field work, and the revision of herbarium specimens.Taxonomic notes, pictures, conservation status, and distribution maps are provided for both species.

MATERIAL AND METHODS
This contribution is the result of an intensive review of the published bibliography, and the revision of specimens kept at CAUP, COL, QAP, QCA, and QCNE.Furthermore, photographs of specimens from other institutions were studied: F, MO, UDBC, and US; herbarium acronyms follow Thiers (2018).The conservation status of both species -considered endemic to Ecuador-was reassessed following the IUCN methodology, according to IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria, version 3.1 (IUCN 2001).Distribution maps were prepared using QGIS version 3.0.1 (QGIS Development Team 2018), and geographical coordinates were obtained from herbarium specimens.Sklenář & H.Rob., Novon 10 (2): 146 (2000).Type: Tiny rosettiform perennial herb with ramified creeping rhizomes.It is well characterized by its 3-lobed leaves, the solitary terminal capitula, which are subsessile in bloom and become long pedunculate as time passes, and the smooth bristles of the pappus (fig.1).
Conservation status.-It was catalogued as 'Vulnerable D2' (Barriga & al. 2011) due to its low number of known locations.This new Colombian locality, besides a recent collection in Central Ecuador -P.Sklenář 13145 leg., QCA-, has considerably increased the extent of occurrence and the number of known populations.While it is still a rare species, it does not meet the criteria to be considered as 'Vulnerable', since the number of known locations is over five.Consequently, Floscaldasia azorelloides is qualified as 'Near Threatened'.
Remarks.-The 3-lobed leaves are very useful to distinguish this species from the other members of the genus, i.e., Floscaldasia hypsophila Cuatrec.The genus Floscaldasia Cuatrec. is strictly endemic to the páramo and consists of only two species that thrive in Colombia and Ecuador.Scandent subshrub characterized by displaying discoid, homogamous, nodding capitula, supplementary bracts at the base of the involucre as a calyculus, and penicillate style branches.It has c. 13 involucral bracts and supplementary bracts usually not adpressed to the capitulum and very conspicuous (fig.3).

Additional
Distribution and habitat.-Seneciosubinvolucratus occurs from Cotopaxi -northern Ecuadorian Andes-to Puracé -southern Colombian Andes-, growing from the montane forest to the páramo -sensu Cleef 1978), between elevations of 3200-4550 m a.s.l.It has to be noted that the distribution map (fig.4) of Senecio subinvolucratus provided in this work is not exhaustive and further Colombian herbarium material should be revised in order to accurately delimit its distribution area -see Remarks section below.
Conservation status.-It was catalogued as 'Endangered B1ab(iii)' - Barriga (2011); sub Aetheolaena subinvolucrata-since only two collections were considered when it was evaluated.Both the current extent of occurrence and the number of known localities show that it is a widespread species and should be treated as 'Least Concern'.