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| Lepanthes sylvilagus E.Restrepo & S.Vieira-Uribe, in Restrepo, Vieira-Uribe, Moreno & Baquero, 2022. Photographs by S. Vieira-Uribe from the holotype. |
Abstract
A new species of Lepanthes from the department of Antioquia apparently restricted to the north-central Andes of Colombia is described and illustrated. The new species is similar to L. alcicornis; however, it can be easily distinguished by the transversally lobulate petals that resemble the ears of a rabbit, the reniform lip with suboblong basal lobes surrounding the column, and the absence of an appendix on the lip.
Keywords: Endemism, Lepanthes alcicornis, orchid new species, San José de la Montaña
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| Drawing of Lepanthes sylvilagus E.Restrepo & S.Vieira-Uribe. A. Habit. B. Flower. C. Dissected perianth. D. Expanded lip; Ovary, column and lip, side view (pollinia and anther cap absent). E. Anther cap and pollinia. Drawn by S. Vieira-Uribe from the plant that served as the holotype. |
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| Photographs of Lepanthes sylvilagus E.Restrepo & S.Vieira-Uribe. A. Flower. B. Flower, side view. C. Plants insitu. D. View of the leaf and flower. Photographs by S. Vieira-Uribe from the plant that served as the holotype. |
Lepanthes sylvilagus E.Restrepo & S.Vieira-Uribe, sp. nov.
Diagnosis: Lepanthes sylvilagus is most similar to L. alcicornis in the plant habit and general flower morphology, but easily distinguished by the transversely bilobed petals, with the upper lobe oblong to narrowly triangular and twice the length of the ovate, narrowly triangular lower lobe (vs. transversely bilobed petals with both lobes similar in length the lower lobe variably bifurcate, with narrowly linear-triangular lobes).
Etymology: In allusion to the shape of the petals that resemble the ears of cottontail rabbits, Sylvilagus spp.
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Species comparison. A-B. Lepanthes sylvilagus.C. Lepanthes alcicornis Luer & R.Escobar. D. Lepanthes culex Luer & R.Escobar. E. Lepanthes georgii Luer & R.Escobar. F. Lepanthes insolita Luer & R.Escobar. Photographs by S. Vieira-Uribe (A-E) and Sociedad Colombiana de Orquideología (F). Figure preparation by E. Restrepo. |
Eugenio Restrepo, Sebastián Vieira-Uribe, Juan Sebastián Moreno and Luis E. Baquero. 2022. A New Species of Lepanthes (Orchidaceae: Pleurothallidinae) with Rabbit Ear-like Petals endemic to Colombia. Lankesteriana: International Journal on Orchidology. 22(1); 1–8. DOI: 10.15517/lank.v22i1.50373
Resumen: Se describe e ilustra una nueva especie de Lepanthes del departamento de Antioquia aparentemente restringida al centro-norte de los Andes centrales de Colombia. La nueva especie es similar a L. alcicornis, sin embargo, puede diferenciarse fácilmente por los pétalos transversalmente lobulados que recuerdan las orejas de un conejo, el labelo reniforme con lóbulos basales sub-oblongos que rodean la columna y la ausencia de apéndice en el labelo.
Palabras clave: endemismo, Lepanthes alcicornis, nueva especie de orquídea, San José de la Montaña
