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| Liparis altomayoënsis Salazar & Edquén, in Edquén, Arista, Damián et Salazar, 2023. |
Abstract
Liparis altomayoënsis sp. nov. is described, illustrated, and tentatively assigned to the Neotropical section Decumbentes on the basis of its branching, prostrate rhizomes and upright stems bearing several leaves. Vegetatively, the new species is distinguished by its short, upward stems bearing 3–6 leaves, these with undulate, translucent margins and reticulate, prominent veining on the upper surface. Florally, it is distinctive in the labellum with fleshy basal one-half provided with a central, rounded cavity limited on each side by a prominent, bilobulate ridge and apically by a lunate ridge, and membranaceous, trilobulate apical one-half deflexed ca. 90°. In contrast with other species of section Decumbentes, in which fruit formation is infrequent, in L. altomayoënsis a high proportion (⁓50–100%) of flowers develop into a fruit; in some flowers the pollinaria rotate and contact the stigma, apparently resulting in at least facultative self-pollination. The main differences among the six species of L. section Decumbentes hitherto known are contrasted in a dichotomous key. The new species is known only from three populations located in the Bosque de Protección Alto Mayo, on the Amazonian slope of the Andes in northeastern Peru but appears to be under no foreseeable threats.
Keywords: Andean cloud forest, high fruit set, labellum, self-pollination
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| Liparis altomayoënsis (from Edquén 6111) A habit B flowering stem C leaves D infructescence E floral bract F flower from front G flower from side H perianth dissection I column, dorsal view J column, lateral view K column, ventral view L anther M developing capsule. |
Liparis altomayoënsis Salazar & Edquén, sp. nov.
Diagnosis: Liparis altomayoënsis is characterized by the short prostrate rhizomes and upright stems (to 5 and 8 cm long, respectively); 3–6 spirally arranged leaves per stem; leaves petiolate, the blades with strongly undulate, translucent margins and reticulate veining prominent on the upper surface and sunken on the underside. The labellum is slightly wider than long, its base provided at each side with a fleshy, rounded, channeled, erect lobule forming a tunnel with the lower half of the column; basal one-half of labellum provided with a central, rounded cavity limited on each side by a prominent, bilobulate ridge and apically by a lunate ridge; apical one-half of labellum membranaceous, trilobulate, deflexed ca. 90°. (Figs 1F–H, 2C–E).
Etymology: The specific epithet refers to the Bosque de Protección Alto Mayo, the protected natural area in northeastern Peru where this species was discovered.
José D. Edquén, Jessy P. Arista, Alexander Damián and Gerardo A. Salazar. 2023. A New Species of Liparis (Orchidaceae, Epidendroideae, Malaxidinae) from the Bosque de Protección Alto Mayo, San Martín, Peru. PhytoKeys. 224: 89-99. DOI: 10.3897/phytokeys.224.98654
Resumen: Liparis altomayoënsis sp. nov. es descrita, ilustrada y asignada tentativamente a la sección neotropical Decumbentes con base en sus rizomas postrados, ramificados y tallos ascendentes portando varias hojas. Vegetativamente, la nueva especie se distingue por sus tallos ascendentes cortos con 3–6 hojas, éstas con márgenes undulados, translúcidos y venación reticulada prominente en la superficie superior. Floralmente, es distintivo su labelo con la mitad basal carnosa, provista de una cavidad central redondeada que está limitada a cada lado por una cresta bilobulada prominente y apicalmente por una cresta lunada, y la mitad apical del labelo membranácea, trilobulada y deflexa ca. 90°. En contraste con otras especies de la sección Decumbentes, en las que la producción de frutos es infrecuente, en L. altomayoënsis una alta proporción (⁓50–100%) de las flores produce fruto; en algunas flores los polinarios rotan y contactan el estigma, aparentemente resultando en autopolinización al menos facultativa. Las diferencias principales entre las seis especies de L. sección Decumbentes conocidas hasta ahora se contrastan en una clave dicotómica. La nueva especie se conoce solamente de tres poblaciones localizadas en el Bosque de Protección Alto Mayo, en la vertiente amazónica de los Andes en el noreste de Perú, pero no parece estar sujeta a amenazas previsibles.
Palabras clave: Alta producción de frutos, autopolinización, bosque nublado andino, labelo
