Vivaria: Ecuador’s Andean Aroid

Vivaria is a recently described, monotypic genus in the Araceae family, represented by Vivaria calvasensis endemic to the semi-arid inter-Andean mountains of southern Ecuador. Molecular analysis of the matK gene and distinctive morphological traits place it within the Spathicarpeae tribe, setting it apart from related genera such as Incarum and Croatellia.