Thursday, November 7, 2024

[Botany • 2024] Telipogon minutus (Orchidaceae: Cymbidieae: Oncidiinae) • A New Species from Bolivia

 

Telipogon minutus  M.Zárate & C.Martel,

in Zárate et Martel, 2024.   

Abstract
Telipogon minutus, from the Carrasco National Park in the Bolivian Yungas, is proposed as a new species. Plants of T. minutus, which reach up to 4 cm in height, are the smallest known Bolivian Telipogon. The new species is characterized by its oblong to ovate labellum, which is weakly sub-auriculate and retuse at the base, with a semi-circular stigma, a column with two lateral lobes and a mammillary protuberance at the apex, and two tufts of setae with trifurcate apices. A description, figures, and a distributional map of the new taxon are provided, along with a discussion of the differences between the new species and morphologically similar Telipogon species.

Keywords: Andes, Bolivian Yungas, miniature Telipogon, Orchidaceae, taxonomy

Telipogon minutus.
A. Epiphytic habit on a small tree branch, side view. B. Flowers, frontal view. Note the maroon coloration at the labellum base and the two tufts of setae on the column. C. Detail of flower. D. Flower, side view. E. Column, close-up view from above.
Photographs by M. Zárate.

Telipogon minutus M.Zárate & C.Martel, sp. nov.  

Diagnosis: Similar to Telipogon huancavelicanus Collantes & C.Martel, but differing by its obovate petals (vs. oblanceolate petals), the oblong-ovate labellum (vs. sub-pandurate), the base of the labellum sub-auriculate and retuse (vs. base with two well defined, diver-gent auricles), the semicircular stigma (vs. rectangular) the anterior border of the stigma swollen into a mammillary dome (vs. without a mammillary dome), only two tufts of setae emerging from lateral lobes of the column (vs. three tufts of setae), and the setae trifurcate at the apex (vs. irregularly branched at the apex).

Etymology: From the Latin minutus, meaning “very small,” referring to the small size of the plants. Telipogon minutus is the smallest species among the Bolivian Telipogon.


Modesto Zárate and Carlos Martel. 2024. A New Species Telipogon (Oncidiinae) from Bolivia. LANKESTERIANA. 24(3); 233–237. DOI: doi.org/10.15517/lank.v24i3.62111