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Introduction
The Mato Grosso is the third largest state in Brazil, known for its floristic diversity. The diversity is largely due to its inclusion of the Amazon, Cerrado, and Pantanal domains, as well as their ecotonal areas. This reflects a significant richness of phytophysiognomies and species, with 6247 species of Angiosperms recorded today (BFG, 2015; 20 18; 2022; Flora e Funga do Brasil, 2024; IBGE, 2012).
Among the Angiosperms, the Orchidaceae are represented in the state by 83 genera and 326 species (Flora e Funga do Brasil, 2024). Knowledge of this family in Mato Grosso has progressively expanded through the publication of new records, new species, and floristic studies (i.e., Benelli, 2012; Benelli & Pessoa, 2019; Benelli et al., 2015; Carpanedo et al., 2021; Engels & Ferneda Rocha, 2016; 2017a,b,c; Engels & Smidt, 2021; Engels et al., 2017; 2019; Koch & Silva, 2012; Koch et al., 2016; Pessoa et al., 2015), including representatives of Catasetinae such as Catasetum Rich. ex Kunth (i.e., Benelli & Grade, 2008; Benelli & Izzo, 2017; Benelli & Soares-Lopes, 2015; 20 17; Engels et al. 2016;) and Mormodes Lindl. (Campacci & Carr 2015; Engels et al. 2020). However, much remains to be investigated, especially in regions with limited sampling (i.e., Zappi et al., 2011; 2016; Zocal et al., 2023).
Mormodes comprises 87 species distributed from Mexico to Brazil (Cantuária et al., 2019; Chase et al., 2015; Malaspina et al., 2023; POWO, 2024; Salazar et al., 2016). They can be recognized from other genera of Catasetinae by their asymmetrical flowers with a twisted column and perianth (Salazar et al., 2016). In Brazil, 30 species are recorded, with seven occurring in Mato Grosso (Cantuária et al., 2019; Malaspina et al., 2023; Meneguzzo, 2024).
The taxonomy of Mormodes is complex due to the few diagnostic characters and frequent overlapping of features among the species. Additionally, the rarity in nature results in limited representation in botanical collections and scant information on the morphological variation and autecology of most species (see Engels et al., 2020; Salazar et al., 2016).
During the study of Orchidaceae specimens from the UFMT and TANG herbaria (acronyms according to Thiers, 2024; cont. updated), an undescribed species of Mormodes was identified, increasing the number of species for Mato Grosso to eight. In the present study, we propose to describe this new species, providing a comprehensive morphological description, information on the distribution, taxonomy, ecology, and conservation, in addition to images of the new species.
Material and methods
Materials from UFMT and TANG were examined under a stereoscopic microscope, and dried flowers were rehydrated with warm water with the permission from the herbaria curators. Additionally, flowers preserved in spirit at UPCB were examined. Colour data were collected from the labels of specimens and photos of live material. Morphological terminology follows Gonçalves & Lorenzi (2011). Literature on Mormodes was consulted for taxonomic comparison (i.e. Castro Neto, 2006; Miranda & Lacerda, 1992; Pabst, 1978).
Taxonomic treatment
Mormodes benelliana Engels & A.K.Koch, sp. nov. (Fig. 1 - 3)
A. Habit.
B. Flower in lateral view.
C-L. Perianth flattened.
C and D. Dorsal sepal.
D. Detail of apex.
E and F. Petal.
F. Detail of apex.
G-J. Lateral sepal.
H. Detail of apex in adaxial view.
I. Detail od apex in abaxial view.
J. Detail os apex in lateral view.
K-M. Lip.
L. Detail of flatteded apex.
M. Detaisl of apex in natural position.
N. Column, twisted.
O. Anther.
P. Polinarium.
C-G, K-L. Adaxial view.
Drawn by M.E. Engels, based on the type material (A, O-P. J.Q. Moraes 57 (paratype - TANG 1075). B-N. C.B. Freitas nº APB952 (holotype - UFMT 41.445)).
Figure 1 Mormodes benelliana.
A. Habit.
B. Inflorescences.
C. Detail of flowers.
D. Detail of lip adaxial surface at pickled material.
Photos by Celice A. Silva (A-C) and Mathias Engels (D).
A-C of J.Q. Moraes 57 (TANG (dried + spirit)), D of C.B. Freitas nº APB952 (UPCB (spirit)).
Figure 2 Mormodes benelliana.
TYPE: BRAZIL. Mato Grosso: Reserva do Cabaçal, 16 June 2014 (fl.), C.B. Freitas APB952 (holotype UFMT 41.445!, isotype UPCB! (spirit)).
Diagnosis: Similar to Mormodes hoehnei F.E.L.Miranda & K.G.Lacerda, but it differs with smaller pseudobulbs, inflorescences longer than the pseudobulbs, conspicuous peduncle, yellowish-brown and brown-vinous striped flowers, lip large-elliptic to ovate, glabrous.
Epiphytic herb, caespitose, ca. 13-14 cm tall. Roots 2-3 mm diam., terete, white. Pseudobulbs ca. 7.5 × 2.2 cm, heteroblastic, lanceoloid to ovoid, covered by persistent leaf sheaths. Leaves 5-8 per pseudobulb, petiolated, caducous during flowering; leaf sheaths tan; blades 19.0-24.8 × 1.0-2.2 cm, narrowly elliptical, base acute, margin entire and sinuate, apex acute, green, concolourous, glabrous. Inflorescence 10.4-17.6 cm long, raceme simple, axillary, 9-24-flowered, ascending, produced in the nodes above the base up to the middle of the mature pseudobulb; peduncle 5.3-9.6 × 0.2-0.35 - (0.6) cm, terete, green; peduncle bracts 6-7 × 8-10 mm, ovate, amplectives, apex obtuse, brown-greenish; rachis 4.0-10.5 × 0.1-0.2 - (0.6) cm, terete, green; floral bracts 3-5 × 1-2 mm, elliptic to elliptic-lanceolate, apex obtuse, brown-greenish. Flowers resupinate, glabrous; ovary and pedicel 1.4-2.1 × 0.1-0.2 cm, subterete, sulcate in the carpel welding, brown greenish; perianth brown yellowish with brown-vinous stripes. Dorsal sepal 1.7-2.0 × 0.4-0.6 cm, elliptic-lanceolate to lanceolate, base acute, margin entire, apex obtuse to rounded; lateral sepals 1.7-2.0 × 0.5-0.8 cm, elliptic-lanceolate to lanceolate, base rounded, margin entire, apex obtuse to sub-rounded with dorsal acute carinae. Petals 1.7-2.0 × 0.5-0.8 cm, lanceolate, base acute, margins entire, apex obtuse and apiculate. Lip 1.7-2.1 × 0.9-1.4 cm, unguiculate, fleshy, rigid, brown greenish with brownvinous stripes; claw 4-6 × 2 mm; blade large-elliptic to ovate, entire, base slightly decurrent, margin entire, deflexed in natural position, apex rounded and apiculate, apicule ca. 1.0 mm length, acute, deflexed. Column 1.0-1.2 × 0.2-0.4 cm, twisted, brown whitish; stigmatic cavity 1.5-3 × 1.5-2.5 mm, elliptical to sub-quadrate. Anther cap 4 × 5 mm, transversely elliptic, apiculate, apex acute. Pollinaria with viscidium ca. 1.5 × 1.7 mm, sub-rounded; stipe ca. 5 × 3 mm, oblanceolate, obtuse; pollinia 2, ca. 2.0 × 1.25 mm, ellipsoid, cucculate, yellow. Fruits and seeds not seen.
Additional materials: BRAZIL. Mato Grosso: Tangará da Serra, 20 May 2011 (fl.), J.Q. Moraes 57 (paratypes TANG 1075! (dried + spirit), UPCB! (spirit)); Reserva do Cabaçal, 16 June 2014 (fl.), C.B. Freitas nº APB953 (paratype UFMT 41.444!).
Distribution and habitat: Known from the southwest region of Mato Grosso, in the Reserva do Cabaçal and Tangará da Serra municipalities. It occurs as an epiphyte in the ecotone region between the Amazon and Cerrado domains (Fig. 4).
Etymology: The specific epithet honours Dra. Adarilda Petini Benelli, an orchidologist who has made significant contributions to the knowledge of the genus Catasetum (Catasetinae) in the state of Mato Grosso and Brazil (e.g., Benelli, 2024).
Conservation status: According to IUCN, M. benelliana falls into the Data Deficient (DD) category. The new species is known from three collections in two municipalities, the exact locations being unknown. With two municipal centroids, calculated at GeoCAT (Bachman et al., 2011), its extent of occurrence (EOO) is 0 km2 (not calculable with two points) and area of occupancy (AOO) is 8 km2, being considered as Critically Endangered (CR). However, a more extensive sampling and specific studies on the genus may provide distribution, ecology and abundance data for a better understanding of the species and its threats, providing subsidies for an adequate framework for its conservation.
Morphological affinities: Mormodes benelliana belongs to Mormodes sect. Mormodes due to flowering occur after the complete development of the pseudobulbs, after the beginning or complete abscission of the leaves (see Salazar et al., 2016). It is morphologically similar to Mormodes hoehnei due to the dimensions of the floral whorls (i.e., ca. 2 cm long), the striped flowers and the shape of the lip blade (i.e., entire). However, it is easily differentiated by its entirely glabrous lip (vs. densely pilose on the adaxial surface (as hirsutissimo or very hirsute)). Additionally, M. benelliana has smaller pseudobulbs (ca. 7.5 × 2.2 cm, lanceoloid to ovoid vs. 28 × 5 cm, eliptic-lanceoloid to fusiform); inflorescence longer than the pseudobulbs (10.4-17.6 cm long, ca. 1.5 times longer vs. ca. 12 cm long, half the length); conspicuous peduncle, 5.3-9.6 cm long vs. peduncle inconspicuous with flowers densely condensed from the base of inflorescence); +fewer flowers (9-24 vs. 35+); lip shape (large-elliptic to ovate vs. orbicular to transversally sub-elliptic); perianth flowers brown-yellowish with brown-vinous stripes (vs. pink to red-vinous flowers with dark red-vinous stripes). Additional characters are presented in Table 1. A detailed description, illustrations and images of M. hoehnei are provided in Miranda & Lacerda (1992) and Castro Neto (2006).
Table 1 Morphological comparison between Mormodes benelliana and Mormodes hoehnei.
| Characters | Mormodes benelliana | Mormodes hoehnei |
|---|---|---|
| Habit | epiphyte | epiphyte and rupiculous (dendricolous) |
| Pseudobulbs | ||
| Size | ca. 7.5 × 2.2 cm | 28 × 5 cm |
| Shape | lanceoloid to ovoid | eliptic-lanceoloid to fusiform |
| Leaves | ||
| Number | 5-8 per pseudobulb | 12-15 per pseudobulb |
| Size | 19.0-24.8 × 1.0-2.2 cm | ca. 25.0 × 5.5 cm |
| Shape | narrowly elliptical | oblong-lanceolate |
| Inflorescence | ||
| Size | longer than the pseudobulb (ca. 1.5 times longer) | smaller than the pseudobulb (ca. half lenght) |
| Flowers number | 9-24 | more than 35 |
| Lenght | 10.4-17.6 cm | ca. 12 cm |
| Peduncle | conspicuous (5.3-9.6 cm long) | incospicuous (very short) |
| Flowers | ||
| Position | Resupinate, laxa to agruped | Resupinate, densaly agrupeded |
| Color | brown-yellowish with brown-vinous stripes | pink to red-vinous flowers with dark red-vinous stripes |
| Ovary + pedicel | ||
| Size | 1.4-2.1 × 0.1-0.2 cm | 2.1 × 0.15 cm |
| Shape | sub-terete | terete |
| Indument | glabrous | glabrous |
| Dorsal sepal | ||
| Size | 1.7-2.0 × 0.4-0.6 cm | 2.2 × 0.4 cm |
| Shape | elliptic-lanceolate to lanceolate | lanceolate |
| Indument | glabrous | glabrous |
| Lateral sepals | ||
| Size | 1.7-2.0 × 0.5-0.8 cm | 2.0 × 0.7 cm |
| Shape | elliptic-lanceolate to lanceolate | lanceolate |
| Indument | glabrous | glabrous |
| Lip | ||
| Size | 1.7-2.1 × 0.9-1.4 cm | 2.2 × 1.4 cm |
| Blade size | 1.3-1.6 × 0.9-1.4 cm | 1.8 × 1.4 cm |
| Blade shape | large-elliptic to ovate | orbicular to transversally sub-elliptic |
| Apex | apicule ca 1.0 mm long | apicule ca. 3.0 mm long |
| Indument | glabrous | very hirsute |
| Column size | 1.0-1.2 × 0.2-0.4 cm | 1.5 × 0.15 cm |
| Anther cap | ||
| Size | 4 mm long | 8 mm long |
| Shape | transversely elliptic, apiculate | subtriangular and long apiculate |
