Species conservation profile and updated assessment of the genus Nototriche Turcz. (Malvaceae, Malvoideae) in the páramos of Ecuador

The high-Andean Malvaceae of Ecuador is represented by a single genus, Nototriche Turcz. Currently, the genus comprises five species distributed throughout the country, across the Andes mountain range, in ecosystems such as páramo and superpáramo. These high-Andean ecosystems have been the focus of conservation efforts because of their ecological fragility, high diversity and the large number of specialised plants adapted to them. Although two conservation assessments have been completed for Ecuadorian Nototriche , the most recent ones 21 and 14 years ago, these have not been processed through the official IUCN Red List. Consequently and considering the recent description of a new taxon for the genus, a full reassessment for the group in the country is therefore needed. We present a re-evaluation for two species and new conservation assessments for three species of the five accepted Nototriche representatives in Ecuador. Nototriche antisanensis E.J. Trujillo, Muriel, Espinel-Ortiz & Romol., Nototriche hartwegii A.W.Hill and Nototriche phyllanthos (Cav.) A.W.Hill are completely assessed officially for the first time and we also re-evaluate Nototriche ecuadoriensis Fryxell and Nototriche jamesonii A.W.Hill after 22 years due to changes in the real distribution of the species and populations fluctuations. This work illustrates the need for new research on páramo vegetation in the Ecuadorian Andes.