Lankesteriana

A new species of Pleurothallidinae (Orchidaceae) from the South-east of Ecuador

Abstract. Porroglossum marcojimeneziorum, a new species of subtribe Pleurothallidinae, was discovered in Zamora Chinchipe province (south-east Ecuador) and is described here, including information about its phenology and ecology. Porroglossum marcojimeneziorum is compared with its most similar species, P. hirtzii, from which it differs by producing smaller flowers; the shortly-pubescent, triangular-ovate, obtuse lateral sepals and the blade of the lip obovate transversely expanded.

Resumen. Porroglosum marcojimeneziorum, una nueva especie de la subtribu Pleurothallidinae, fue descubierta en la provincia de Zamora Chinchipe (sur-este de Ecuador) y se describe aquí incluyendo información sobre la fenología y ecología de la especie. Porroglossum marcojimeneziorum es comparada con la especie P. hirtzii, de la que se diferencia por la flor más pequeña con sépalos laterales de pubescencia corta, de forma ovada- triangular y ápice obtuso, ampliamente abiertos y la lámina transversalmente obovada del labelo.

Dracula irmelinae, a new species in the subtribe Pleurothallidinae (Orchidaceae) from the Western Andes of Colombia

Abstract. A new species of Dracula (Pleurothallidinae: Orchidaceae) from Colombia is described, honoring Irmelin Indenbirken, mother of the actor and philanthropist Leonardo DiCaprio. Dracula irmelinae is phenotypically most similar to D. verticulosa, but differs in having larger and wider sepals that form a smoothly curved semicircular mentum behind the lip, an indumentum with dark red internal and external maculae and dense long pubescence on the internal sepal surfaces and bases of the tails. The geographic distributions of the two species also differ, with the new species being restricted to a small area in the western Cordillera of Colombia. The conservation status of the new taxon is assessed as Endangered (EN) according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) criteria.

Resumen. Una nueva especie de Dracula (Pleurothallidinae: Orchidaceae) en honor a Irmelin Indenbirken, madre del actor y filántropo Leonardo DiCaprio, es descrita a continuación. Dracula irmelinae es fenotípicamente más similar a D. verticulosa, pero se diferencia por tener sépalos más largos y anchos que forman un mentum semicurcular, suavemente curvado detrás del labelo, un indumento con máculas rojas oscuras en las caras internas y externas de los sépalos, y una pubescencia densa y larga en la cara interna de los sépalos y la base de las caudas. La distribución geográfica de las dos especies también difiere dado que la nueva especie está restringida a un área pequeña de la cordillera occidental de Colombia. El estado de conservación del nuevo taxón es evaluado y se reporta como En Peligro (EN, por sus siglas en inglés) usando los criterios de la Unión Internacional para la Conservación de la Naturaleza (UICN).

A new Stelis (Orchidaceae: Pleurothallidinae) from the Western Andes of Colombia

Abstract. Stelis excentrica, a new species endemic to the Cauca slope of the western Andes, municipality of Cali, Valle del Cauca, Colombia, is described and illustrated. It was found in the northern part of the Farallones de Cali National Park, in the vicinity of the protected area “El Danubio” administered by the Cali mayoralty. Stelis excentrica is similar to Stelis gigantissima from Ecuador but differs in the ocher-green flowers (vs. dark purple), the reniform petals (vs. flabellate petals), subquadrate lip with a minute apicule (vs. subcuneate without apicule). Reaching up to 30.6 mm from the apex of the dorsal sepal to the apex of the lateral sepal, Stelis excentrica probably has the largest flowers reported in any member of Stelis subgen. Stelis. Its 60 cm long inflorescence is only rivaled by that of Stelis gigantissima. Ecological notes, in situ photographs, typus illustration, maps, and a composite plate are provided.

A new small-flowered Cyrtochilum species (Orchidaceae: Oncidiinae) from the Condor mountains in Ecuador

Abstract. A new small-flowered species of Cyrtochilum from the isolated range of the Condor mountains in Ecuador is described and illustrated with a line drawing and a photograph of the holotype. It shares morphological features with several different-looking groups of Cyrtochilum, such as the two generitypes of the genus: C. undulatum and C. flexuosum, as well as with plants in the C. myanthum complex. These groups are treated as three separate genera by some (Cyrtochilum, Trigonochilum and Dasyglossum, respectively), but the combination of morphological features seen in our new species brings the groups together into one polymorphic but genetically monophyletic genus.

Rudolf Schlechter’s South-American orchids III. Schlechter’s “network”: North and Northeast Brazil, The Guianas

Abstract. The third chapter of the series about Rudolf Schlechter’s South-American orchids presents concise biographical information about those botanists and orchid collectors who were related to Schlechter and worked in north and northeastern Brazil, as well as in the three Guianas. As an introduction, a brief geographical outline is presented, dividing the northern territories in four zones: the Amazon basin, the Araguaia-Tocantins river basin, the Northeast region and the Guianas. It is followed by a short mention of the historical milestones in the history of orchids in these regions during the preceding centuries.

Cymbidium sigmoideum (Orchidaceae), a new addition to the flora of the Philippines

Abstract Cymbidium sigmoideum (Orchidaceae: Epidendroideae) is reported here as a new record for the Philippines based on the collection from Antique Province on the island of Panay. A detailed description and photographs are provided for easy identification of the species. With this discovery, the Philippines now holds a total of 13 species and three subspecies of Cymbidium.

Notes on Australasian Orchids 6: a new species of Rhizanthella (Diurideae, subtribe Prasophyllinae) from Eastern Australia

Abstract Rhizanthella speciosa, a new species of the remarkable Australian underground orchids, is described as new from New South Wales. The new species, which is morphologically distinct and apparently also genetically distinct from its congeners and strikingly beautiful with its sea-anemone-like flowerheads and prominent attenuate sepals, grows in a different habitat than its geographically closest relative.

Discoveries in indigenous territories: two new species of Lepanthes (Orchidaceae: Pleurothallidinae) in Southwestern Colombia

Abstract. Two new species of Lepanthes from the Central Cordillera of the Colombian Andes are described and illustrated. Both were found during a botanical expedition to Puracé National Natural Park, within the high Andean forests ecosystem of the municipality of Puracé, in the department of Cauca.

Resumen. Dos nuevas especies de Lepanthes de la Cordillera Central de los Andes Colombianos se describen e ilustran. Ambas fueron encontradas en una expedición botánica al Parque Nacional Natural Puracé, en Bosques Altoandinos en el municipio de Puracé en el departamento del Cauca.

A new yellow-flowered Chiloschista (Orchidaceae: Aeridinae) from Thailand

Abstract A new species of Chiloschista Lindl. from western Thailand is described and illustrated with a line drawing and photographs. It is compared with the sympatric C. parishii Seidenf., from which it differs in having larger flowers, which are 11-12 mm across versus 8-10 mm across for C. parishii. The new species also distinctly differs in having widely spreading rostellum lobes and a viscidium that is as broad as the length of the stipe, as opposed to downward directed rostellum lobes and a viscidium that is distinctly narrower than the length of the stipe for C. parishii. The same distinguishing features separate the new species from the similarly colored C. trudelii Seidenf., which has inward-directed rostellum lobes and a viscidium that is distinctly narrower than the length of the stipe.

A new unusual-looking Cyrtochilum (Orchidaceae) from Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta in Colombia

Abstract A new and unusual-looking Cyrtochilum species is described, compared with the possibly closely related Cyrtochilum leucopterum and illustrated by drawings and a photograph of the holotype. It is distinguished from Cyrtochilum leucopterum by having an elongate basal portion of the lip with erect lateral lobes, and a trilobed front lamina with a glabrous, blunt and thickened bilobed lip callus, versus what appears to be more horizontally spreading lateral lip lobes, and a densely micro-pubescent apically multifid lip callus for the latter species. The new species also has some purported silica bodies of unknown significance visible in plant and flower parts, which are not present in C. leucopterum.

A new gold-colored Lepanthes (Pleurothallidinae: Orchidaceae) from southeast Ecuador

Abstract. Lepanthes vere-aurum, a new species of the orchid subtribe Pleurothallidinae, discovered in Zamora Chinchipe province, southeast Ecuador, is described here. We compare L. vere-aurum to L. brenneri, the only similar species, from which it differs in having larger leaves and longer inflorescences. Also, L. vere-aurum has an obovate, concave, long-acuminate dorsal sepal and a concave appendix with a pubescent crest underneath and with a long, pubescent apex,versus a flat, triangular-ovate, acuminate dorsal sepal and a smaller appendix with a ciliate apex in L. brenneri. Some information about its phenology and ecology is additionally provided.

Resumen. Lepanthes vere-aurum, una nueva especie de orquídea de la subtribu Pleurothallidinae, fue descubierta en la provincia de Zamora Chinchipe, sureste de Ecuador, y es descrita aquí. Lepanthes vere- aurum es comparada con L. brenneri, la única especie similar, de la que se diferencia por plantas con hojas más grandes e inflorescencias más largas. Además, L. vere-aurum posee un sépalo dorsal obovado, cóncavo y largamente acuminado y un apéndice cóncavo con una cresta pubescente por debajo y el ápice largo y pubescente, versus el sépalo dorsal plano triangular-ovado y acuminado y, un apéndice más pequeño y ciliado en L. brenneri. Se presenta información sobre la fenología y ecología de la especie.