title: Distribution models and species discovery: the story of a new Solanum species from the Peruvian Andes.
abstract: A new species of Solanum sect. Solanum from Peru is described here. Solanum pseudoamericanum Särkinen, Gonzáles & S.Knapp sp. nov. is a member of the Morelloid clade of Solanum, and is characterized by the combination of mostly forked inflorescences, flowers with small stamens 2.5 mm long including the filament, and strongly exerted styles with capitate stigmas. The species was first thought to be restricted to the seasonally dry tropical forests of southern Peru along the dry valleys of Río Pampas and Río Apurímac. Results from species distribution modelling (SDM) analysis with climatic predictors identified further potential suitable habitat areas in northern and central Peru. These areas were visited during field work in 2013. A total of 17 new populations across the predicted distribution were discovered using the model-based sampling method, and five further collections were identified amongst herbarium loans. Although still endemic to Peru, Solanum pseudoamericanum is now known from across northern, central and southern Peru. Our study demonstrates the usefulness of SDM for predicting new occurrences of rare plants, especially in the Andes where collection densities are still low in many areas and where many new species remain to be discovered.
authors.affiliation: Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, 20A Inverleith Row, EH3 5LR Edinburgh, United Kingdom ; Plants Division, The Natural History Museum, Cromwell Rd, SW7 5BD London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Tiina
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Särkinen
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Florística, Departamento de Dicotiledóneas, Museo de Historia Natural - Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, Avenida Arenales 1256, Apartado Postal 14-0434, Lima, Peru.
authors.forename: Paúl
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gonzáles
authors.affiliation: Plants Division, The Natural History Museum, Cromwell Rd, SW7 5BD London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Knapp
keywords: Morelloid Clade; Peru; Solanaceae; Solanum section Solanum; Tropical Andes; endemism; rare species; species distribution modelling