Lankesteriana

Phalaenopsis arunachalensis sp. nov. (Orchidaceae: Epidendroideae: Aeridinae) - A new epiphytic orchid from Arunachal Pradesh, Northeast India

Abstract A new epiphytic Phalaenopsis is described from tropical evergreen forests of Ziro Valley in Arunachal Pradesh, India, and illustrated with colored photos. It is allied to the similarly colored P. taenialis (Lindl.) Christenson & Pradhan in having non-deciduous leaves, larger perianth segments, the shorter and convex (not flat) lip mid-lobe, and the yellowish-green (not purplish) spur. The new species is morphologically most similar to P. honghenensis from China, but differs most easily by the light pinkish flowers versus bronzy green to brownish flowers of the latter species. A detailed description with corresponding color photos and information on the habitat is provided. The voucher specimens have been deposited at the Herbarium of the Orchid Research Centre Tippi, Arunachal Pradesh, and the Herbarium of The Orchid Society of Eastern Himalaya (TOSEHIM), Regional Orchid Germplasm Conservation and Propagation Centre (Assam Circle), Assam.

Two new spotted Chiloschista species (Orchidaceae: Aeridinae) From Bhutan

Abstract Two new spotted species of Chiloschista from Bhutan are described, illustrated, and compared with similar species. The second of the new species has been misidentified in previous publications as C. lunifera and C. parishii, and a comparison between the three is provided. It is also compared with C. glandulosa, which is a distinctly smaller-flowered species from the coastal area of southwestern India, and with C. javanica from Indonesia. The latter species and C. parishii are easily distinguished from both new species by having hairs on the backside and along the margins of the sepals and petals, as opposed to having virtually glabrous to indistinctly micro-pubescent sepals and petals for the new species. Although many spotted Chiloschista species are superficially similar, the differences can be better observed when studying the internal morphology of particularly the glandular callosity in the saccate lip. The morphological differences are often minute and difficult to describe in words, but are more easily recognized when compared with illustrations and photographs.

Sixteen new species of Bulbophyllum section Polymeres (Orchidaceae) from New Guinea

Abstract Sixteen new species of Bulbophyllum section Polymeres (Orchidaceae) from New Guinea (Papua New Guinea and Papua Province of Indonesia) are described. Four informal series in this speciose section are distinguished as an aid to identification and a key for these is provided. The sixteen species belong to two series, sharing one character: new shoots arise from a node along the rhizome or from the basal node of the pseudobulb, without being fused to it any further than the node from which they arise. The first group (with ten new species: Bulbophyllum cerastes, B. dologlossum, B. ischyron, B. nannae, B. orthoraphe, B. schistopogon, B. stagmatoglossum, B. subium, B. teinodragma, B. trivenosum) comprises plants with creeping rhizomes, the second (with six new species: Bulbophyllum farciminiferum, B. gymnothema, B. lipochilum, B. nudicaule, B. radula, B. squamiplectum) comprises plants with patent rhizomes.

A new tall and exceptional species of Lepanthes from North-West Ecuador (Orchidaceae: Pleurothallidinae)

Abstract A new and spectacular species of Lepanthes from north-west Ecuador is presented here. Lepanthes tulcanensis belongs to the Marsipanthes subgenus and is similar to L. niesseniae in the same subgenus, with an inflorescence that does not reach the tip of the leaves, and flowers with shallower synsepal compared to the rest of the species in the subgenus. Nevertheless, the plants of L. tulcanensis are, by far, the largest among the species of the subgenus and among the largest in the genus.

Resumen Se presenta una nueva y espectacular especie de Lepanthes del noroeste de Ecuador. Lepanthes tulcanensis pertenece al subgénero Marsipanthes y es similar a L. niesseniae perteneciente al mismo subgénero, con inflorescencias que no llegan al borde de la hoja, así como un sinsépalo no tan profundo, comparados con el resto de especies del subgénero. Sin embargo, las plantas de L. tulcanensis son las más grandes del subgénero y una de las más grandes del género.

A new species and first record of the genus Solenocentrum (Orchidaceae: Cranichidinae) from Peru

Abstract Solenocentrum oblongum from southern Peru is described and illustrated, representing the first record of this genus for the country. It is similar to Bolivian S. lueri, but can be distinguished by its oblong, sub-pandurate labellum (vs. triangular to sagittate) with rounded base (vs. sagittate), glabrous margins (vs. densely ciliate) and slender oblong calli (vs. broadly ovate). Line drawings of labellum outlines and an identification key to the four accepted species of Solenocentrum are provided.

Resumen Se describe e ilustra Solenocentrum oblongum del sur peruano, representando el primer registro de este género para el país. Es similar a la especie boliviana S. lueri, pero se distingue por su labelo oblongo, subpandurado (vs. triangular a sagitado) con base redondeada (vs. sagitada), márgenes glabros (vs. densamente ciliados) y callos oblongos, delgados (vs. ampliamente ovados). Se proporcionan dibujos en línea del labelo, y una clave de identificación de las cuatro especies aceptadas de Solenocentrum.

Octomeria candidae (Orchidaceae: Pleurothallidinae), a new species from the Cordillera del Cóndor, Ecuador

Abstract A new species of Octomeria from southern Ecuador was found during an investigation on the orchids of the Cordillera del Cóndor. Octomeria candidae is described and illustrated; likewise, information on its distribution, habitat and conservation status is provided. The new proposed taxon is morphologically similar to O. estrellensis, from which it differs by its creeping habit, the narrowly ovate, long-acuminate sepals and petals, and the yellow lip with an acute apex.

Resumen. Una nueva especie de Octomeria del sur de Ecuador fue encontrada durante una investigación sobre las orquídeas de la Cordillera del Cóndor. Se describe e ilustra a Octomeria candidae; así mismo, información sobre su distribución, hábitat y estado de conservación es brindada. El nuevo taxón propuesto es morfológicamente similar a O. estrellensis, del cual se diferencia por su hábito rastrero, los sépalos y pétalos estrechamente ovados, largamente acuminados y el labelo amarillo con el ápice agudo.

Comparettia bennettii (Orchidaceae: Oncidiinae), a new record for Ecuador

Abstract Comparettia bennettii, a previously known species from Peru and Bolivia, was recently recorded in the premontane forests of southeastern Ecuador. We provide a Lankester Composite Digital Plate (LCDP), photos, taxonomic comments, and an updated description of the species.

Resumen Comparettia bennettii, previamente conocida de varias colecciones de Perú y Bolivia, se encontró recientemente en los bosques premontanos al sureste del Ecuador. Se proporciona una lámina digital compuesta estilo Lankester (LCDP), fotografías, comentarios y una descripción actualizada de la especie.

Lista comentada de Orchidaceae en Uruguay y su distribución en ambientes y eco-Regiones

Abstract From an economic and taxonomic point of view, Orchidaceae is one of the most studied botanical families. In Uruguay it is poorly represented and known, and descriptive data are fragmented and scattered. In the present work the information on the species of this family is updated based on herbaria records, previous publications and field trips made in the country during 2018-2019. A list of Orchidaceae from Uruguay is presented with 59 species belonging to18 genera. Four species were found endemic to the country, while 22 species are endemic to the Southern Cone region. The Gondwanic Sedimentary Basin was the ecoregion with the highest species diversity (51%) and the richest departments were Cerro Largo (25 spp.) and Maldonado (25 spp.). The Highland Forest and Riparian Forest environments presented highest diversity. The most representative genera were Habenaria (12 spp.), Cyclopogon (8 spp.), and Brachystele (6 spp.). The species with the widest distribution were Habenaria gourlieana, H. parviflora, and Cyclopogon elatus, which were found in all ecoregions and in 15 out of 19 departments of the country.

Resumen Orchidaceae es una de las familias botánicas más estudiadas desde el punto de vista taxonómico y económico en el mundo. En Uruguay es poco conocida y los datos descriptivos que existen se encuentran fragmentados y dispersos. En este trabajo se presenta un inventario de la familia así como su distribución en ambientes, eco-regiones y departamentos del país basados en los registros de herbarios, publicaciones existentes y expediciones de campo realizadas durante el 2018-2019. Se presenta una lista con 59 especies en 18 géneros. Se encontraron cuatro especies endémicas de Uruguay, mientras que 22 spp. son endémicas del Cono Sur. La Cuenca Sedimentaria Gondwánica fue la eco-región en presentar mayor diversidad de especies (51%) y los departamentos con mayor riqueza fueron Cerro Largo (25 spp.) y Maldonado (25 spp.). Mientras que el Bosques Serranos y Bosque Ribereño fueron los más ricos en especies de orquídeas. Los géneros más representativos fueron Habenaria (12 spp.), Cyclopogon (8 spp.) y Brachystele (6 spp.) y las especies que presentaron distribución amplia fueron Habenaria gourlieana, H. parviflora, y Cyclopogon elatus, las cuales se encontraron en todas las eco-regiones y en 15 de los 19 departamentos del país.

A reappraisal of neotropical Vanilla. With a note on taxonomic inflation and the importance of alpha taxonomy in biological studies

Abstract. Despite the long-standing cultural importance and botanical interest in Vanilla, many taxa belonging to the genus remain poorly understood. Vanilla species generally have broad geographical and ecological distributions. Most species are found in multiple countries, while local endemics are rare. Many names proposed in the eighteen and nineteenth centuries remain cryptic and unused despite having priority over more recently proposed names. Relatively few Vanilla species have been well-documented, both locally and across their entire distribution range, while a significant portion of novelties have been proposed on the basis of very few specimens that are compared only with local floras. After careful inspection of the type materials, living plants, botanical illustrations, photographs and hundreds of additional herbarium specimens of Vanilla we tentatively recognize 62 species for the Neotropics. The taxonomy of Vanilla columbiana, V. hartii, V. inodora, V. karen-christianae, V. marowynensis, V. mexicana, V. odorata, V. phaeantha, V. planifolia, and V. pompona is revised. An updated typification, description, photographs, illustrations, list of studied specimens, distribution map, extent of occurrence and discussion is provided for each of the ten species. Taxonomic proposals include 28 new synonyms, 14 lectotypifications, and one neotypification. We stress on the importance of alpha-taxonomy for biological studies, emphasizing on the detrimental effects of taxonomic inflation and incorrect species determination on the inference of speciation rates, the understanding of biogeographical patterns, the correct estimation of ecological niches, seed dispersal studies, phylogenetic and genomic studies, and the assessments of conservation priorities, among others. Finally, the recently proposed genus Miguelia is placed under the synonymy of Vanilla.