Sunday, March 4, 2018

[Botany • 2018] Telipogon jucusbambae • the Rediscovery of A Marvelous Telipogon (Orchidaceae) from Peru


Telipogon jucusbambae Dodson & R.Escobar

in Martel & Salas, 2018. 
  DOI: 10.15560/14.1.189 

Abstract
Telipogon jucusbambae, a Peruvian endemic species, is rediscovered and its distributional range greatly extended. The species was known from a single collection made more than 50 years ago. A description, images of living specimens, a distribution map, and taxonomic comments on related species are provided. Furthermore, we propose the T. falcatus species complex for a group of species closely related to T. jucusbambae.

Keywords: Type collection; endemic species; distributional range extension; Telipogon falcatus species complex

 Telipogon jucusbambae. A. A tree full with plants in bloom; note the flowers are non-resupinate independent of the orientation of the inflorescence, from the Cordillera Yasgolga, Department of Amazonas. B. Details of the flower showing the black callus-like structure.



 Telipogon jucusbambae. A. Habit. B. Flower, frontal view. C. Dissected perianth, frontal view. D. lip, frontal and side view. E. Column, frontal and side view. F. Anther cap. G. Pollinarium, frontal and side view.  

Telipogon jucusbambae Dodson & R.Escobar, Orquideología 21: 65. 1998.

Local Names. The species is known in Cajamarca as ushun (Santa Cruz 2011).

Distribution, habitat and ecology. Telipogon jucusbambae is endemic to Peru, growing in the Andean cloud forest of northern and central Peru from 2800 to 3300 m. The species was formerly known from the surroundings of Jucusbamba town, Department of San Martín. Herbarium and photographic material of plants coming from the Departments of Amazonas, Cajamarca, Huánuco and Pasco were recently identified as T. jucusbambae (Fig. 3). These records widely expand the known distribution range of the species. The present reports extend its distribution by nearly 200 and 300 linear km northward and southward, respectively, from Amazonas to Pasco Departments. Telipogon jucusbambae blooms during the dry season (May to October, includes austral autumn and winter). Pollination would be also carried out by tachinid male flies as already shown for other Telipogon species (Martel et al. 2016). The species seems to have a high reproductive success, as seed pods were frequently observed in the natural populations.


 Carlos Martel and Marcos Salas. 2018. Telipogon jucusbambae (Orchidaceae), the Rediscovery of A Marvelous Telipogon from Peru.  Check List. 14(1): 189-193.  DOI: 10.15560/14.1.189