Tribe Vaccinieae Reichenbach with more than 800 species contains most of the neotropical taxa of Ericaceae Jussieu (Pedraza-Peñalosa 2015a: 35). Species of genus Vaccinium Linneaus (1753: 349) known as blueberries or mortiños in Spanish, are members of Vaccinieae well-known for their economic importance (Pedraza-Peñalosa 2015b: 100). The genus Ceratostema Jussieu (1789: 163) was created by Antoine Jussieu and Ceratostema peruvianum Gmelin (1791: 676) was designated as the type species (Luteyn 1986: 485). It was first treated by Smith in 1952, who published a brief description and an artificial key, recognizing 16 species at that time (Smith 1952). Luteyn (1986) reviewed the genus and provided an updated artificial key to 23 species, including three new ones. Subsequently, a new species from Peru was added and thirteen more from Ecuador were included in the genus (Luteyn 1992, 1996, 2005).

A species of Ceratostema new to science from southern Ecuador, is described and illustrated as part of ongoing research on biodiversity in the Cordillera Real de Los Andes. Ceratostema gualaquizensis is distinguished by the convex leaves with folded margins at the base, and the axillary, solitary, and tubular flowers with a slightly 5-ribbed corolla that is magenta with apically black lobes. Furthermore, we provide additional information on the newly described Ceratostema loucianae. The taxonomic similarities of these two species are discussed and information about their distribution, habitat, and conservation status are provided. Both species are being sold and cultivated with erroneous/fictitious names by nurseries and private collections, information of which is provided in this paper.

A new species of Ceratostema from the southern Ecuadorian province of Morona-Santiago is described and illustrated. The taxonomy and morphological similarities of C. agettiorum with its closely related species are discussed and information about its distribution, habitat, and conservation status is provided.

Five new species of Pleurothallis subsect. Macrophyllae-Fasciculatae from Ecuador are described and illustrated: P. kashi-menkakarai, P. lapoi, P. marioandresavilae, P. sabanillae and P. tinajillensis. The taxonomic similarities of the new entities are discussed and information about their distribution, habitat, and conservation status is provided. Additionally, the first known and confirmed locality for Pleurothallis saueri is provided, a previously described species without collection data, as well as a lectotype is designated for this name.

Vanilla andina, a new species belonging to subgen. Vanilla, is described and illustrated based on living material from Peru and Ecuador. The new species is similar to V. armoriquensis but can be easily distinguished by the prominent parallel callus, longitudinal narrow keels that extend above the middle of the lip and broadly obtuse to emarginate midlobe with crispate margins.