Lankesteriana

Gastrochilus pechei (Orchidaceae), a new addition to the flora of India

Abstract Gastrochilus pechei was recently documented in Vijoynagar, Changlang district, Arunachal Pradesh, India. Identification was based on the spathulate sepals and petals; the acute, sub-triangular, slightly irregularly erose margin of the epichile with a central cushion, and the subglobose hypochile. The species belongs to the section Brachycaules. This report represents a new distribution record for India. An updated description and detailed photographs based on Indian material are provided.

Darwin’s prescient letter regarding orchid mycorrhiza

Abstract On March 26, 1863, Charles Darwin wrote a letter to Joseph Dalton Hooker, describing his attempts to germinate orchid seeds. In this letter, he mentioned his hope to observe orchid seedlings and expressed a “notion that (the seeds). . . are parasites in early youth on cryptogams!!”. This statement appears to predict Noël Bernard’s 1899 discovery that orchid seeds require fungal colonization for successful germination. However, there is some uncertainty regarding Darwin’s exact meaning. The term “cryptogams” in his time commonly included fungi but also encompassed bryophytes, pteridophytes, and other non-vascular plants. Since Darwin mentioned sphagnum in his experiments, it is possible to suggest that he may have considered mosses as potential hosts rather than fungi. But, since this was a personal letter to Joseph D. Hooker rather than a formal publication, Darwin may have been less precise in his terminology. Nevertheless, considering Darwin’s broader interest in plant-fungal interactions, it is very plausible that he regarded fungi as possible symbiotic partners in orchid germination. The extent of Darwin’s prescience on the orchid-fungal relationship may be debatable terminologically (did he mean fungi by using “cryptogams”?). However, his speculation was remarkably intuitive, questioning whether orchids required an external biological partner for germination. Darwin’s letter demonstrates his foresight, but it does not diminish Noël Bernard’s monumental achievement. Bernard made his discovery independently, without knowledge of Darwin’s observations, relying solely on his extraordinary scientific talent. His work remains a cornerstone of orchid science. Unfortunately, Darwin’s prescient letter seems not to have been noticed, appreciated, or cited often enough in the orchid literature during its 162 years of existence.

Resumen El 26 de marzo de 1863, Charles Darwin escribió una carta a Joseph Dalton Hooker, describiendo sus intentos de germinar semillas de orquídeas. En esta carta, mencionaba su esperanza de observar plántulas de orquídeas y expresaba una “noción de que (las semillas)... ¡en su juventud temprana son parásitas de criptógamas!”. Si bien esta afirmación parece predecir el descubrimiento de Noël Bernard en 1899 de que las semillas de orquídea requieren colonización fúngica para germinar con éxito, existe cierta incertidumbre sobre el significado exacto de Darwin. En su época, el término “criptógamas” incluía comúnmente a los hongos, pero también abarcaba briofitas, pteridofitas y otras plantas no vasculares. Dado que Darwin mencionó Sphagnum en sus experimentos, es posible sugerir que estuviera considerando los musgos como hospederos potenciales en lugar de los hongos específicamente. Además, al tratarse de una carta personal a Joseph D. Hooker y no de una publicación formal, es probable que Darwin no fuera del todo preciso en su terminología. No obstante, considerando el interés más amplio de Darwin en las interacciones planta-hongo, es plausible que al menos haya considerado a los hongos como posibles socios simbióticos en la germinación de las orquídeas. Aunque el grado de su predicción sobre la relación orquídea-hongo puede ser debatible en cuanto a la terminología (¿se refería a los hongos al usar “criptógamas”?), su especulación fue notablemente intuitiva, cuestionando si las orquídeas necesitaban un socio biológico externo para la germinación de las semillas de orquídeas. La carta de Darwin demuestra su capacidad de visionaria, pero no resta mérito al logro monumental de Noël Bernard. Bernard hizo su descubrimiento de manera independiente, sin conocimiento de las observaciones de Darwin, basándose únicamente en su extraordinario talento científico. Su trabajo sigue siendo un pilar fundamental en la ciencia de las orquídeas. Lamentablemente, la carta premonitoria de Darwin parece no haber sido notada, apreciada o citada con la frecuencia que merece en la literatura sobre orquídeas hasta ahora, 162 años después de haber sido escrita.

A new species of Chloraea (Chloraeinae)

Abstract. In Peru, Chloraea previously included five species. However, recent field explorations and herbarium specimen revisions have led to the discovery of a new species from northern Peru. Here, we describe and illustrate Chloraea aequatorialis, the species with the most northern distribution recorded for the genus, ranging from 5º50’ to 7º56’ S. The new species closely resembles C. septentrionalis, with which it grows partly in sympatry in the departments of Cajamarca and La Libertad, but it can be easily distinguished by its larger sepals and petals, a lip disc covered by thin, narrow, and long appendages, a longer lip claw, column, and anther, and a shorter stigma. We provide information on the habitat, distribution, and conservation status of the new species, along with an updated description of C. septentrionalis and a key to the Peruvian species of Chloraea.

Resumen. En Perú, Chloraea estaba conformado por cinco especies. Sin embargo, recientes exploraciones de campo y la revisión de ejemplares de herbario han permitido descubrir una nueva especie del norte del Perú. Aquí describimos e ilustramos a Chloraea aequatorialis, la especie con la distribución más al norte registrada para el género, entre los 5º50’ y 7º56’ S. La nueva especie es más similar a C. septentrionalis, con la que crece parcialmente en simpatría en los departamentos de Cajamarca y La Libertad, pero se diferencia fácilmente de esta por tener sépalos y pétalos más grandes, disco del labelo cubierto por apéndices largos, delgados y angostos, la uña del labelo, columna y antera más largas, y el estigma más corto. Proporcionamos información sobre el hábitat, distribución y estado de conservación de la nueva especie, una descripción actualizada de C. septentrionalis y una clave para las especies peruanas de Chloraea.

A tale of two women: the Caribbean orchid portraits of Louise Auguste von Panhuys (1763-1844) and Nancy Anne Kingsbury Wollstonecraft (1791-1828)

Abstract Louise von Panhuys (1763-1844) and Nancy Anne Kingsbury Wollstonecraft (1791-1828) stand out historically as the first female illustrators of neotropical orchids. Louise von Panhuys epitomized an era when high social status was equated with a refined education; as the writers of her time described, a classic “lady of leisure.” In contrast, Nancy K. Wollstonecraft, was the daughter of a clergyman from New England, born into the broad American middle class, which shaped the early decades of the United States’ independent life. Both shared a common passion for: the exuberant forests of the Caribbean European colonies: von Panhuys in the Dutch territory of Suriname and Wollstonecraft on the Spanish island of Cuba. The artistic result of these two women is astounding and took different directions: while von Panhuys painted to entertain herself and with a mostly descriptive purpose, Wollstonecraft combined her artistic talent and botanical knowledge into a three-volume manuscript, Specimens of the Fruits and Plants of the Island of Cuba (unfortunately never published), with accurate and detailed descriptions and beautiful illustrations. Biographies of these two extraordinary women are accompanied by complete sets of their orchid paintings, eight by Panhuys (along with several of her landscapes and scenes from Suriname) and nine by Wollstonecraft. A clarifying note: Wollstonecraft’s name is indistinctly given as ‘Nancy Anne’, ‘Anne’, or ‘Nancy’. The author has used the name as it appears in various bibliographical sources.

First naturalization of the orchid Cymbidium aloifolium, a population found in southern Florida

Abstract The first naturalization of the orchid Cymbidium aloifolium in the world is reported in a residential neighborhood in southern Florida near Miami. A survey for naturalized plants of this epiphytic orchid, which is native to South and Southeast Asia, found 101 plants growing on 38 different trees belonging to 13 different species. Of these 101 plants, 53 were mature, capable of reproduction, 37 were juveniles, and 11 were seedlings. Seven plants bore a total of 86 fruit. The tree hosts with the most plants were the palms Phoenix roebelenii and Thrinax radiata, and a mahogany (Swietenia macrophylla). A small remnant of the Pine Rockland within this residential area had three native tree species with four plants of this orchid, indicating the potential of the orchid to invade this unique, rare plant community. Cymbidium aloifolium’s occurrence at higher latitudes and elevations in its native Asia than where it has naturalized in Florida suggests that it should be able to live farther north in Florida.