Lachemilla santurbanensis (Rosaceae), a new species from Colombia

Lachemilla santurbanensis, a new species from the Páramo de Santurbán, Santander, Colombia, is described and illustrated. A key for all Colombian species of Lachemilla is provided. Additionally, notes on its geographical distribution, ecology, and taxonomic affinities are documented. Lachemilla santurbanensis shows vegetative and floral similarities with other Andean species of the genus. Still, its unique indumentum, with a hirsute base to ± villous apex, basal leaves with longer petioles, a turbinate-urceolate, reddish hypanthium, and episepals and sepals of the same length, clearly differentiates it from these other species. Colombia, with at least 28 species of Lachemilla, is among the countries having the greatest species concentration in the genus, especially those of the “Verticillate” clade, which are typical of the northern Andes. Other taxonomic novelties in Lachemilla can be expected, but further botanical exploration is needed to better understand the diversity of this enigmatic, phenotypically variable genus, still little known in the region.