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| Epidendrum alejandrinae Hágsater & H.R.Quispe, in Quispe-Melgar, Llacua-Tineo, Ames-Martínez, .. et Hágsater, 2022. |
Abstract
The high Andean forests harbor great and unique biodiversity. Here, we report a new species of Epidendrum from Peru. Epidendrum alejandrinae is described, illustrated and compared with the morphologically similar Epidendrum ochoae, Epidendrum pachydiscum and Epidendrum aida-alvareziae. We performed a systematic review of herbarium information on the species reported for the Region of Huancavelica and compared the morphological features of the closest species to rule out possible matches. The new species is characterized by a short, foliate aggregate stems, an apical pendulous inflorescence formed from the stem, green resupinate flowers opening in succession, the petals and sepals semi-extended, a 3-lobed lip, lateral lobes obliquely ovoid, median lobe broadly cuneate, bicallose, and four, obovoid, laterally compressed pollinia. The novelty represents an important record for the flora associated with the high Andean forest dominated by Polylepis and Gynoxys in central Peru.
Keywords: Andean orchids, central Peru, Gynoxys, Huancavelica, Polylepis, Monocots
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| LCDP of Epidendrum alejandrinae. A. Habit, inflorescence and fruit. B. Dissected perianth. C. Flower, front view. D. Column, lateral view. E. Column, ventral view. F. Column and ovary, dissected view. G. Anther, front and back view, and Pollinarium. H. Inflorescence. Photographs by Harold Rusbelth Quispe-Melgar from the type, H.R.Quispe 125. |
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| Epidendrum alejandrinae. A, B. Habit and complete plant. C. Flowers. D, E. Habitat. Photographs by Katherine Lucero Lagones Poma (A and D) and Harold Rusbelth Quispe-Melgar (B, C and E). |
Epidendrum alejandrinae Hágsater & H.R.Quispe, sp. nov.
Similar to Epidendrum ochoae but the flowers green, concolor (vs. flowers yellow-green, irregularly tinged withpurple dots), sepals 8.7–9.0 mm long (vs. 6.5 mm long), and the lip with elongate calli, thick (vs. ellipsoid, laterallycompressed), parallel (somewhat divergent), relatively small, 1.7 × 0.7 mm (vs. calli prominent).
Distribution and ecology: Known presently only from the Region of Huancavelica, in central Peru. The plant that served as type was collected inthe upper part of the locality of Sune, near the Judas lagoon, in the middle Mantaro river basin, approximately 20 kmfrom the Amaru-Huachocolpa-Chihuana Cloud Forest RCA. It was found growing in a semi-humid forest dominated by Polylepis albicans Pilger (1906:535) (Boza et al. 2019), epiphytic on a specimen of Gynoxys, an environment thatis typical of the high Andean ecosystem surrounded by a matrix of grassland, with the presence of other genera such as Escallonia and Lupinus Linnaeus (1753:721), at 3900 m in elevation. Flowering was recorded in August (Fig. 3).
Etymology: Honoring the memory of Mrs. Alejandrina Melgar Sotomayor (1957-2020), mother of the first author, who was bornin the Region of Huancavelica in life had a great passion for plants and their flowers, always inspiring a deep respectfor nature.
Harold Rusbelth Quispe-Melgar, Yashira Stefani Llacua-Tineo, Fressia Nathalie Ames-Martínez, David Huayta, Katherine Lucero Lagones Poma and Eric Hágsater. 2022. Epidendrum alejandrinae (Orchidaceae: Laeliinae), A New Species from the high Andean Forests of central Peru. Phytotaxa. 541(3); 217-224. DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.541.3.1 [2022-03-29]
