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| Prosthechea sanchezii Salazar, R.Jiménez & T.L.Vieira, in Salazar, Jiménez-Machorro, Vieira, Velasco-Gutiérrez, Maldonado, Salinas, Santiago et Hágsater, 2025. |
Abstract
Background: Epidendrum guttatum A.Rich. & Galeotti, based on specimens collected by Galeotti in Mexico in 1840, was predated by E. guttatum L. and replaced by Encyclia guttata Schltr. and subsequently by superfluous Epidendrum maculosum Ames, F.T.Hubb. & C.Schweinf.
Questions: The study aimed to show that the concept of Prosthechea guttata of recent authors was based on a misinterpretation of its type material, resulting in the application of the name to a different, undescribed species.
Studied species: Prosthechea guttata (Schltr.) Christenson and P. sanchezii Salazar, R.Jiménez & T.L.Vieira.
Study site and dates: Southern Mexico and Guatemala, 2004-2024.
Methods: Study of type material and its comparison with recent collections; field work; documental and herbarium research.
Results: The identity of Epidendrum guttatum A.Rich. & Galeotti (now Prosthechea guttata) is clarified, showing that recent authors have misinterpreted that morphologically distinctive species restricted to the Sierra Madre del Sur, Oaxaca, Mexico, confusing it with an undescribed species distributed east of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec in Oaxaca and Chiapas, Mexico and in Guatemala. The latter is proposed here as a new species, Prosthechea sanchezii, distinguished from genuine P. guttata, and all other Prosthechea species, mainly by the echinate-warty crests on the outer surface of the sepals.
Conclusions: Prosthechea guttata and P. sanchezii are two distinct species historically confused but easily distinguished by morphological attributes, each distributed on opposite sides of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec.
Keywords: Epidendrum guttatum, Oaxaca, Prosthechea maculosa, Prosthechea sanchezii, Sierra Madre de Chiapas, Sierra Madre del Sur
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| A. Isolectotype of Epidendrum guttatum A.Rich. & Galeotti (W-R catalogue No. 117, reproduced by courtesy of the Herbarium of the Naturhis-torisches Museum Wien, Vienna, Austria). B. Close-up of the inflorescence of the specimen in A. C. Prosthechea guttata in situ on a lichen-covered rock (from Velasco et al. 3038). D. Inflorescence of another plant of P. guttata (from Velasco et al. 2355). E. Inflorescence of Prosthechea ochracea (from Pérez García s.n.). F. Inflorescence of Prosthechea panthera (from Hágsater 12607). Photographs by Tiago L. Vieira (A-B), Kenia Velasco (C-D), and Gerardo A. Salazar (E-F). |
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| Prosthechea sanchezii. A. Flowering plant. B. Inflorescence. C. Close-up of flowers at the apex of the inflorescence. D. Flower, front view. E. Flower, back view. F. Floral dissection. G. Column, dorsal, side, and ventral views (left to right). H. Column, ventral view, after removal of anther and pollinarium. I. Anther, top and bottom views, the latter showing the four pollinia and caudicles. Photographs by Gerardo A. Salazar (A-D, from Salazar et al. 5761) and Rolando Jiménez-Machorro (E-I, from Leleu sub Jiménez 860). |
Prosthechea sanchezii Salazar, R.Jiménez & T.L.Vieira, sp. nov.
Diagnosis. Similar to Prosthechea ochracea (Lindl.) W.E.Higgins, differing in the sepals with echinate-warty crests on the outer surface, the warts irregularly conical to uncinate, and the orangish ochre to greenish-orange flowers turning deep orange as the flower ages, the sepals and petals with sparse, irregular wine-red spots on their inner surface.
Etymology. The specific epithet honors our late friend and colleague Luis Martín Sánchez Saldaña (1966-2017), who for over 20 years was curator and researcher of Herbarium AMO, Mexico City, with a special interest in the systematics of the Epidendrum difforme Jacq. group.
Gerardo A. Salazar, Rolando Jiménez-Machorro, Tiago L. Vieira, Kenia Velasco-Gutiérrez, Mayra L. Maldonado, Julian Duarte Salinas, Elizabeth Santiago and Eric Hágsater. 2025. Clarification of Prosthechea guttata (Orchidaceae) and Description of An “old” New Prosthechea Species from southern Mexico and Guatemala. Botanical Sciences. 103(1); 295-310. DOI: doi.org/10.17129/botsci.3599
