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(B) Lepanthes attenboroughii Baquero & Yeager, (A) Lepanthes caprimulgus Luer, in Yeager, Iturralde, ... et Baquero, 2022. |
Abstract
Here we describe a charismatic miniature orchid species, Lepanthes attenboroughii which for many years has been commonly found in private and public collections, misidentified as its related species, L. caprimulgus. The new proposed species, L. attenboroughii has inflated flowers with stripes similar to L. caprimulgus. Nevertheless, L. attenboroughii shows rounder flowers when compared to the longer, tubular flowers with a narrowing of the sepaline cup towards the middle of L. caprimulgus with flowers reminiscent of a peanut. Also, the hidden petals and lip are consistently different when the two species are compared in detail. Most remarkable in this new species are the inflated flowers with the free reflexed portion of the synsepal extending significally farther than the middle of the total length of the sepaline cup.
Keywords: Ecuador, subgenus Marsipanthes, new miniature orchid species, Peru
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| Comparison of inflorescences and flowers between Lepanthes caprimulgus Luer (A) and Lepanthes attenboroughii Baquero & Yeager (B). Photos by Ron Parsons. |
Lepanthes attenboroughii Baquero & Yeager, sp. nov.
Etymology:— Lepanthes attenboroughii is named in honor of Sir David Attenborough whose life has been dedicated to educating and inspiring generations of naturalists and conservationists, and most recently been a vocal advocate with his fervent call to action in response to global climate change.
Justin Yeager, Gabriel A. Iturralde, Luis Ocupa Horna, Abel Huayta Baltazar and Luis E. Baquero R. 2022. A Remarkable New Lepanthes (Orchidaceae: Pleurothallidinae) hidden in Plain Sight. Phytotaxa. 560(3); 285-294. DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.560.3.3
Resumen: Se describe una especie de orquídea miniatura y carismática, Lepanthes attenboroughii, que por muchos años ha sido común en colecciones privadas y públicas, pero erróneamente identificada como su especie hermana L. caprimulgus. Lepanthes attenboroughii tiene flores en forma de bolsa con rayas, similares a L. caprimulgus. Sin embargo, L. attenboroughii tiene flores más infladas y redondeadas que las flores tubulares que se angostan hacia la mitad de la copa sepalina de L. caprimulgus con flores que recuerdan a las de un manì. Adicionalmente, los pétalos y labelo escondidos a simple vista son consistentemente diferentes cuando las dos especies son comparadas. Lo más notable de esta nueva especie es la parte libre y reflexa del synsépalo que se extiende considerablemente más allá de la mitad de la longitud total de la copa sepalina.
