A new species of Protium (Burseraceae) from northwestern Ecuador

Abstract

A new species of Pradosia (Sapotace- ae) is described and illustrated. The new species is characterized by its obovate leaves, with silvery malpighiaceous tri- chomes on the lower surface; corolla 5-lobed, tube 0.8–1 mm long, lobes 1.6– 1.9 mm long, oblong, recurved; five sta- mens fixed to the top of tube, filaments 3.4–3.6 mm long. The species grows in semideciduous forests, in a small area in the Andes of southern Loja, Ecuador, border with Perú. Locally it is known as luzumbe, and the gelatinous pulp of the fruits is edible.