Abstract

Aeschynanthus pentatrichomatus sp. nov. (Gesneriaceae), a new species from the tropical lower montane rain forests of the Banao Protected Landscape in Luzon Island in the Philippines is described and illustrated. Morphologically, it is most similar to A. batesii in having glabrous vegetative parts, polysepalous calyx, and distinctly mottled internal corolla throat and lobes. However, it differs from this species in its smaller lamina, longer peduncle, smaller calyx lobes, whitish pink external corolla tube, and presence of five tufts of trichomes near the basal portion of the internal surface of the corolla tube. Aeschynanthus pentatrichomatus differs from A. philippinensis by its externally whitish pink, internally white corolla tube with mottled maroon markings throughout the limb and lobes, smaller calyx lobes, and internal surface of corolla tube with five tufts of trichomes basally. Aeschynanthus pentatrichomatus sp. nov. is the 33rd species of lipstick vines to be described in the Philippines. The new species is provisionally assessed as Critically Endangered (CR) following the IUCN criteria.