Lankesteriana

Three new lepanthes (orchidaceae: pleurothallidinae) from the alto de ventanas ecoregion in antioquia, colombia

Abstract Three new species of the genus Lepanthes from the Alto de Ventanas ecoregion in the central Andes of Antioquia, Colombia, are described and illustrated. Lepanthes sabinadaleyana is similar to L. lycocephala but it is distinguished by the narrowly ovate leaves and the lip with oblong-obovate blades with an ovoid, obtuse appendix. Lepanthes cissyana is similar to L. ballatrix, but it differs by its purple lip with elliptical blades and a semicircular, concave body with two long, pubescent appendices in the sinus. Lepanthes dougdarlingii is similar to L. hortensis but can be distinguished by the prolific habit and the appendix of the lip lingulate to oblong, pubescent, with a concave depression in the middle, an apical gland-like structure and a tuft of hairs on the abaxial surface near the apex.

Hidden in plain sight: a new species of pleurothallis (orchidaceae: pleurothallidinae) from colombia previously misidentified as pleurothallis luctuosa

Abstract Pleurothallis tenuisepala, a new species in subsection Acroniae, is described and compared to Pleurothallis luctuosa with which it has previously been confused. While the two species are superficially similar, they can be very easily distinguished by the size of the flowers, which are approximately 60 mm long in P. tenuisepala versus approximately 29 mm long in P. luctuosa, or the length of the sepals, which are approximately four-times the length of the petals in P. tenuisepala versus less than twice the length of the petals in P. luctuosa. The two species can also be discriminated by their nuclear internal transcribed spacer (nrITS) sequences. Pleurothallis tenuisepala occurs on Isla Gorgona off the Pacific coast of Colombia and on the western slopes of the Cordillera Occidental of the Colombian Andes, while P. luctuosa is restricted to the Cordillera de Tilarán of Costa Rica. Labellar micromorphology of both species is discussed in relation to possible pollination mechanisms.

Resumen Se describe Pleurothallis tenuisepala, una nueva especie en la subseccción Acroniae, y se compara con Pleurothallis luctuosa, con la cual ha sido previamente confundida. Aunque las dos especies sean superficialmente similares, pueden ser fácilmente reconocidas por el tamaño de las flores, que miden aproximadamente 60 mm de longitud en P. tenuisepala versus cerca de 29 mm en P. luctuosa, así como por la longitud de los sépalos, que son aproximadamente cuatro veces más largos de los pétalos en P. tenuisepala, mientras que en P. luctuosa miden menos que el doble de los pétalos. Las dos especies pueden discriminarse también por las secuencias de su región espaciadora interna nuclear (nrITS). Pleurothallis tenuisepala se encuentra en la Isla Gorgona, frente a la costa pacífica de Colombia y en la vertiente occidental de la Cordillera Occidental de los Andes colombianos, mientras que P. luctuosa está restringida a la Cordillera de Tilarán de Costa Rica. Se discute la micromorfología del labelo de ambas especies en relación a posibles mecanismos de polinización.

Habenaria agasthyamalaiana (orchidaceae), a new terrestrial orchid from the southern western ghats, India

Abstract Habenaria agasthyamalaiana, a new species of terrestrial orchid is described from Shendurney Wildlife Sanctuary of Agasthyamalai biosphere reserve, a part of the South-western Ghats. This species is morphologically similar to Habenaria crinifera. Detailed description and photographs are provided for identification of this new taxon.

A new and showy species of lepanthes (orchidaceae: pleurothallidinae) from north-western Ecuador

Abstract A new species of Lepanthes from north-western Ecuador is presented here. Lepanthes mashpica is similar to L. satyrica, with a long, descending, triangular process of the body of the lip but different in the simple and acute appendix versus the vertically bilobed appendix of L. satyrica. The species was found growing in several locations of Mashpi Reserve, a low-land cloud forest close to Quito.

Resumen Se presenta aquí una nueva especie de Lepanthes del noroeste de Ecuador. Lepanthes mashpica es similar a L. satyrica, con el cuerpo del labelo largo, descendente y triangular pero se diferencian en el apéndice simple y agudo del labelo en L. mashpica comparado con el apéndice verticalmente bilobado en L. satyrica. La especie se encontró creciendo en varias localidades dentro de la Reserva Mashpi, un bosque nublado de tierras bajas cercano a Quito.

Orchid diversity in anthropogenic-induced degraded tropical rainforest, an extrapolation towards conservation

Abstract The uncontrolled logging in Peninsular Malaysia and the resulting mudslides in the lowland areas have been perilous, not to just humans, but also to another biodiversity, including the wild orchids. Their survival in these highly depleted areas is being overlooked due to the inaccessible and harsh environment. This paper reports on the rescue of orchids at risk from the disturbed forests for ex-situ conservation, the identification of the diversity of orchids and the evaluation of the influence of micro-climatic changes induced by clear-cut logging towards the resilience of orchids in the flood-disturbed secondary forests and logged forests in Terengganu and Kelantan, located at the central region of Peninsular Malaysia, where the forest destruction by logging activities has been extensive. 109 orchid species belonging to 40 genera were collected from the disturbed areas. The diversity and data analyses show that the disturbed secondary forests had a higher orchid density (0.0133 plants/m2) than the logged sites (0.0040 plants/m2) as the habitat conditions were more dependable. Nevertheless, the logged forests harboured a higher diversity of orchids (H=4.50 and D=0.99) of which 97.9% were epiphytes. Eleven rare species were found along with six species endemic to Peninsular Malaysia, with two species new to science. The results highlighted the factors that allow the orchids to flourish or suffer in the disturbed forests. The logged forests had a higher ambient temperature and lower moisture level than the mud flood-disturbed and canopy-covered secondary forests. Apart from the extensive ground vegetation due to logs dragging extraction, low soil moisture and absence of leaf litter were believed to be the major attributes causing the low abundance of terrestrial orchids. The high abundance and diversity of epiphytic orchids and the large difference of their densities between the logged sites were influenced by the densities of fallen trees hosting orchid(s), disturbance induced dryness stresses, durations of exposure to the anthropogenic-induced disturbance, and less favourable soil conditions for the terrestrial orchids.

Rudolf schlechter’s south-american orchids i. historical and bibliographical background

Abstract This study represents the first part of a series dedicated to the work of Rudolf Schlechter on the orchid flora of South America. The historical background of Schlechter’s botanical activity is outlined, and salient aspects of his biography, as well as his main scientific relationships, in particular with Oakes Ames, and the origins of his interest in tropical America are discussed. We also present a complete bibliography relative to Schlechter’s production on the orchid floras of South American countries, with his network of orchid collectors, growers and other purveyors, and checklists of all the new taxa that he described from each individual country.