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[A, C] Phloeophila condorana M.M. Jiménez & Vélez-Abarca [B, D] P. nummularia (Rchb.f.) Garay in Jiménez, Vélez-Abarca, Baquero et Naranjo, 2021. |
ABSTRACT
The orchid genus Phloeophila is distributed from southern Mexico to Brazil and Bolivia, as well as Cuba. A taxonomic revision including the three Phloeophila species present in Ecuador is presented. Morphological characteristics, an identification key, maps of known localities and illustrations of the species are also included. In Ecuador, species of Phloeophila are only known from the Amazonian rainforests, growing from 890 to 1600 meters of altitude. Phloeophila condorana is described as a new species based on specimens collected in the Ecuadorian province of Zamora-Chinchipe and compared to Phloeophila nummularia. Phloeophila nummularia is reported for the first time in Peru. A lectotype for Pleurothallis echinantha is selected.
KEYWORDS: Amazon, new species, orchid, rainforests, taxonomy
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| Leaves and flowers of Phloeophila species from Ecuador. A, C – P. condorana; B, D – P. nummularia. [A, C: Jiménez 991; B, D: Jiménez 998]. Scales: A–C = 2 mm; D = 5 mm. Photos: M. Jiménez. |
Phloeophila condorana M.M. Jiménez & Vélez-Abarca sp. nov.
Diagnosis: This species is similar to P. nummularia from which it differs by its 1 mm long peduncle (vs 8 mm), the sepals yellow and red colored with cinnamon brown stripes (vs whitish gray and yellow sepals with reddish purple stripes), slightly spiculate on the outside (vs sparsely pubescent), the synsepal slightly concave below the middle (vs connate into a broad tube), the inner integument glandular (vs finely pubescent), the petals triangular-ovate with yellow veins (vs oblong with brown stripes), the lip verrucose-glandular adaxially (vs pubescent-verrucose adaxially) and the column yellow, lobed and dentate at the apex (vs yellowish brown with stripes, erose and cucullate at the apex).
Etymology. The specific name refers to the Cordillera del Cóndor, an important mountain range in southern Ecuador renowned for its high biological diversity.
Marco Marcelo Jiménez, Leisberth Alexis Vélez-Abarca, Luis Enrique Baquero and Carlos James Naranjo. 2021. A Taxonomic Revision of Genus Phloeophila (Orchidaceae, Pleurothallidinae) in Ecuador. Plant and Fungal Systematics. 66(1): 37-45. DOI: 10.35535/pfsyst-2021-0002
