After almost a century of taxonomic confusion, researchers at the Herbarium of the Yucatán Scientific Research Center (CICY) announced the discovery of a new plant species on the Peninsula called Justicia cardinalis.
This finding concludes a long and complex history of misidentification that began in the early 20th century.
The essay “Ninety-four years of confusion came to an end: Justicia cardinals (Acanthaceae), a new species for science”, published in the latest edition of the magazine Desde el Herbario CICY, reveals that the plant known as Justicia carthaginensis does not correspond to the species that flourishes in the north of Yucatán.
Although the name was used for almost 100 years, it was discovered that the plant from the Yucatecan region was a different species.
According to the publication, the research intensified after the impact of Tropical Storm Cristobal in 2020, which triggered the flowering of many species in the region.
It was during these observations that the researchers noticed significant differences between the local plant and Justicia carthaginensis.
The analysis of herbarium samples, the dissection of flowers, and the study of ecology led to the conclusion that the Yucatecan plant should be recognized as a new species: Justicia cardinalis.
The team of researchers, led by Germán Carnevali Fernández-Concha and Rodrigo Duno de Stefano and composed of experts from several institutions, including the CICY Herbarium and the Harvard Orchid Herbarium, has documented in detail the differences between J. cardinalis and the species with those that had been confused, such as J. carthaginensis and J. sphaerosperma.
Justicia cardinals are distinguished by their unique morphological characteristics, including a plant habit, leaf size, and corolla shape that separate it from its congeners.
The study concludes that, at the moment, Justicia cardinalis is not in danger of extinction and is classified as “Least Concern” according to IUCN criteria. This discovery not only enriches knowledge about Yucatecan flora but also highlights the importance of correct taxonomic identification in the preservation of biodiversity.
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