Two new species of Columnea (Gesneriaceae) from the Colombian Andes

Two new species of Columnea are described based on recent field expeditions and herbarium research. These species are unusual within Columnea for exhibiting a dorsiventral epiphytic habit typical of many northern Andean species, but they lack conspicuous floral bracts. Columnea combeimae Lozano-Cif., J. E. Ríos & J. L. Clark, sp. nov. is distinguished by uniformly green leaves, prominent extrafloral nectary glands on the pedicels, and a hirsute indumentum of purple trichomes.

Columnea rubropilosa J. L. Clark & Clavijo, sp. nov. is characterized by a conic purple berry and a densely pilose indumentum of red trichomes on both vegetative and reproductive structures. Both species are endemic to the Colombian Andes.