Name: Columnea tenensis (Wiehler) B.D. Morley
Etymology:
The specific epithet tenensis refers to Tena in Ecuador’s Napo Province. The type material comes from the rainforest north of Tena.
Synonyms:
Trichantha tenensis Wiehler (1975)
First description:
Hans Wiehler first described the species in 1975 as Trichantha tenensis. That same year, B.D. Morley transferred it to the genus Columnea.
Origin / Distribution:
The species is native to Colombia and Ecuador. The original type material was collected in the humid rainforest of Napo Province near Tena, at an elevation of about 700 m.
Location / Habitat:
Columnea tenensis grows predominantly epiphytically in humid tropical forests. It prefers warm, humid locations with bright, filtered light and good air circulation.
Temperature:
Temperatures of about 18–29 °C are ideal. Temperatures below about 15 °C should be avoided where possible. It does not tolerate cold, drafts, or significant temperature fluctuations well.
Description & Notes:
Columnea tenensis is a perennial gesneriad with long, flexible stems that grow in a hanging to trailing form. Its fleshy leaves grow closely spaced along the stems. It is characterized by its tubular flowers, which appear singly or in small groups along the stems. The species is particularly well suited to hanging baskets and other growing arrangements that showcase its trailing stems. Its taxonomy is now disputed: a 2025 revision treats Columnea tenensis as a heterotypic synonym of Columnea illepida.