The high Andean forests harbor great and unique biodiversity. Here, we report a new species of Epidendrum from Peru. Epidendrum alejandrinae is described, illustrated and compared with the morphologically similar Epidendrum ochoae, Epidendrum pachydiscum and Epidendrum aida-alvareziae. We performed a systematic review of herbarium information on the species reported for the Region of Huancavelica and compared the morphological features of the closest species to rule out possible matches. The new species is characterized by a short, foliate aggregate stems, an apical pendulous inflorescence formed from the stem, green resupinate flowers opening in succession, the petals and sepals semi-extended, a 3-lobed lip, lateral lobes obliquely ovoid, median lobe broadly cuneate, bicallose, and four, obovoid, laterally compressed pollinia. The novelty represents an important record for the flora associated with the high Andean forest dominated by Polylepis and Gynoxys in central Peru.

Polylepis albicans Pilger (Rosaceae) is restricted to the Cordillera Blanca in Ancash and La Libertad, northwestern Peru. Here, we report the occurrence of a new population of the species in Huancavelica, central Peru. We analyzed its morphology and compared samples of the new record with samples collected from the Cordillera Blanca, where the main populations of the species are concentrated. We discuss the complex patterns of the geographic distribution P. albicans and the implications for its conservation.

We describe and illustrate a new species of Polylepis endemic to the departments of Huancavelica and Ayacucho, Peru. It is most similar to P. occidentalis, but differs in having the lower leaflet surface and rachis densely lanate (vs. densely tomentose); stipular sheaths apically truncate (vs. apically acute and spurred); inflorescences bearing 3–8 flowers (vs. 4–12); sepals 3–5 (vs. 4); stamens 30–40 per flower (vs. 9–15); and densely lanate fruits (vs. densely villous). The species appears to be rare and narrowly distributed, suggesting that it may be critically endangered and in urgent need of conservation attention.