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| Scaphosepalum lesterlapoi N. Lapo-Gonzalez & M.M.Jiménez, in Lapo-Gonzalez, Iturralde, Uyaguari, Medina, Kuethe, Garzón-Suárez, Baquero et Jiménez, 2026. |
Abstract
Background: The genus Scaphosepalum comprises a group of epiphytic orchids, distinguished by their non-resupinate flowers and prominent osmophores located on the distal portion of the synsepal. With over 60 recognised species, Scaphosepalum is distributed throughout the tropical Americas, with its highest diversity in Colombia and Ecuador. Recent explorations in the Eastern Andes and the Cordillera del Cóndor in south-eastern Ecuador led to the discovery of several new orchid species, including an endemic Scaphosepalum taxon. Many regions remain underexplored, leaving the orchid flora to continually reveal previously undocumented diversity.
New information: Herein, we describe and illustrate Scaphosepalum lesterlapoi, as new species discovered in the Andean-Amazonian piedmont of eastern Ecuador. This taxon was initially misidentified as S. medinae based on photographic records. It is compared with S. pleurothallodes and S. medinae, from which it is distinguished by its maroon to yellow-maroon flowers and the rhombic-spathulate shape of the petals. This denotes a marked difference to the yellow flowers spotted with red and the obovate petals of S. pleurothallodes or the lavender with white cells and light brown flowers and the narrowly obtuse petals of S. medinae. The new species is currently known from three localities in the Quimi and Talag River basins. Due to its restricted distribution, small population size and threats from cattle grazing and mining activities, we propose its classification as Critically Endangered under the B criterion of the IUCN.
Keywords: Cordillera del Cóndor, rainforest, Scaphosepalum lesterlapoi, Scaphosepalum pleurothallodes, south-eastern Ecuador
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| Scaphosepalum lesterlapoi N. Lapo-Gonzalez & M.M.Jiménez. A Habit; A1 Close-up of the junction between the ramicaul and the inflorescence; B Flower; B1 Close-up of the tails of the synsepal; B2 Close-up of the osmophore; C Dissected perianth; C1 Close-up of the basal margin of the synsepal; C2 Close-up the petal apex; D Column, ovary and lip, lateral view; D1 Close-up of the lip adaxial surface; E Lip, adaxial view; E1 Close-up of the margin the lip; F Anther and pollinia. Plate by N. Lapo-Gonzalez, based on photographs of the holotype taken by M.M. Jiménez. |
Scaphosepalum lesterlapoi N. Lapo-Gonzalez & M.M.Jiménez, sp. nov.
Diagnosis: This species is similar to Scaphosepalum pleurothallodes Luer & Hirtz, but it differs by having a sub-horizontal inflorescence (vs. erect), maroon to red flowers with yellow or red osmophores that are longer and narrower, 3.8 × 1.3 mm (vs. yellow flowers with red spots, with shorter and thicker osmophores, 3.0 × 1.5 mm), petals rhombic-spathulate, apex broadly obtuse and shortly apiculate (vs. obovate petals with acute and 3-toothed in the apex) and a lip with a clawed, obovate-sagittate, rounded, covered by papillose trichomes increasing in length from the middle towards the margin (vs. truncate at the base, obovate-pandurate and pubescent throughout).
Etymology: The specific epithet honours Lester Lapo, an outstanding orchid grower from El Pangui, Zamora-Chinchipe Province, southern Ecuador and who first discovered this species.
Nadia Lapo-Gonzalez, Gabriel A. Iturralde, Johny J. Mendoza Uyaguari, Jefferson Medina, J. R. Kuethe, Henry X. Garzón-Suárez, Luis E. Baquero and Marco M. Jiménez. 2026. A New Species of Scaphosepalum (Orchidaceae, Pleurothallidinae) from eastern Ecuador. Biodiversity Data Journal. 14: e176579. DOI: doi.org/10.3897/BDJ.14.e176579 [17 Mar. 2026]
