Phaseolus albicarminus (Leguminosae, Phaseoleae), a new wild bean species from the subhumid forests of southern central Costa Rica

Researchers have identified Phaseolus albicarminus, a new wild bean species endemic to the subhumid forests of southern central Costa Rica. This discovery was made during a survey for populations of wild common beans on the slopes of Cerros Llano Bonito within the Talamanca Range-La Amistad Reserves / La Amistad National Park. The new species is distinguished by unique morphological features such as short pseudoracemes with four small deltoid primary bracts, white wings contrasting with carmine purple inner faces of the standard, and smoothly curved pods with prow-shaped beaks. It differs significantly from closely related species like P. hygrophilus and P. angucianae in traits such as bract shape, bracteole size, calyx lobe structure, and pod dorsal suture. With only three known populations confined to a small area, the conservation status of P. albicarminus warrants immediate monitoring. The species is tentatively assigned to the section Brevilegumeni, which appears to be well-represented in Costa Rica.

DEBOUCK, D. G., CHAVES-BARRANTES, N., & ARAYA-VILLALOBOS, R. (2020). Phaseolus albicarminus (Leguminosae, Phaseoleae), a new wild bean species from the subhumid forests of southern central Costa Rica. Phytotaxa, 449(1). https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.449.1.1