Celebrating Leadership and Conservation: Four New Species of Air Plants from South America Named in Tribute to Visionary Individuals, Including Selby Gardens President & CEO Jennifer O. Rominiecki
SARASOTA, FL (May 14, 2025) — Marie Selby Botanical Gardens proudly announces the discovery and recent publication of four new plant species in the flowering plant family Gesneriaceae revealed through extensive field expeditions and herbarium research in the biodiverse Andean rainforests of Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru.
These remarkable new species are distinguished by an unusual combination of traits: they grow as climbing airplants with flowers emerging from leafless lower stems near the forest floor, while their leafy shoots ascend into the subcanopy. This distinctive growth habit—paired with slanted, tubular flowers borne on clustered, elongated stalks—is rare not only within their plant family but across rainforest ecosystems, where it’s uncommon to see flowering stems without accompanying leaves.
Dr. John L. Clark, a research botanist with Selby Gardens, described all four species as part of his ongoing scientific efforts to document and better understand biodiversity in tropical regions, contributing to Selby Gardens’ broader mission of conserving and researching plant biodiversity.
“This discovery highlights Selby Gardens’ ongoing commitment to plant research and conservation in some of the world’s most biologically rich yet threatened habitats. It not only deepens our understanding of plant diversity in the Andes, but also honors individuals whose dedication to protecting our natural world inspires us all,” said Dr. John L. Clark.
Named in honor of visionary and inspirational leaders dedicated to advancing conservation, science, and education, the new species are Drymonia clavijoae J.L.Clark, sp. nov., D. katzensteiniae J.L.Clark, sp. nov., D. rominieckiae J.L.Clark, sp. nov., and D. silvanae J.L.Clark, sp. nov.
Drymonia rominieckiae was named in honor of Jennifer O. Rominiecki, President & CEO of Selby Gardens, recognizing her visionary leadership and commitment to conservation and scientific advancement.
Rominiecki previously held prominent positions in New York City at The Metropolitan Opera, the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, and the New York Botanical Garden. Since assuming leadership of Selby Gardens in 2015, she has guided the institution through a period of remarkable growth, including the implementation of a three-phase Master Plan for rebuilding, which features the recently established Steinwachs Family Plant Research Center. At a time when many herbaria and collections-based research institutions across the USA and abroad have suffered setbacks, Selby Gardens has flourished under Rominiecki’s leadership, highlighted by the recent inauguration of a new herbarium that plays a vital role in advancing its mission.
Jennifer Rominiecki remarked, “To have a newly discovered species bear my name is a profound honor. It is a testament not only to the beauty and resilience of the natural world, but to the tireless dedication of those who work to study and protect it. I share this recognition with every member of our Botanical Garden family who strives daily to ensure that nature’s wonders endure for generations to come.”
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