Description of a new species and notes on Crossoglossa (Orchidaceae: Epidendroideae: Malaxideae) from the eastern Andes in Colombia and Venezuela ELIANA J. NOGUERA-SAVELLI1, GERMÁN CARNEVALI F.-C.2, 3 AND GUSTAVO A. ROMERO-GONZÁLEZ Fundación Instituto Botánico de Venezuela “Dr. Tobías Lasser”, Av. Salvador Allende, Jardín Botánico de Caracas, Apartado 2156, Caracas 1010-A, Venezuela; e-mail:
[email protected] 2 Herbarium CICY, Centro de Investigación Científica de Yucatán, A.C., Calle 43 # 130, Colonia Chuburná de Hidalgo, Mérida 97200, Yucatán, México; e-mail:
[email protected] 3 Orchid Herbarium of Oakes Ames, Harvard University Herbaria, 22 Divinity Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA; e-mail:
[email protected] 1
Abstract. A new species of Crossoglossa (Orchidaceae: Epidendroideae: Malaxideae), Crossoglossa acuminatissima, from Santander del Sur Department in Colombia, is described and illustrated, and its affinities are discussed. Malaxis tipuloides var. exigua is raised to the rank of species as Crossoglossa exigua, and its report from Venezuela constitutes the first record of the genus Crossoglossa in that country. Key Words: Crossoglossa acuminatissima, Crossoglossa tipuloides, Colombia, Venezuela. Resumen. Se describe Crossoglossa acuminatissima de Santander del Sur en Colombia y se provee una ilustración y una discusión de sus afinidades. Malaxis tipuloides var. exigua se eleva al rango de especie como Crossoglossa exigua, y su reporte para Venezuela constituye el primer registro del género en ese país.
The genus Crossoglossa was proposed by Dressler and Dodson (1993) to accommodate a number of species formerly referred to the genus Malaxis Solander ex Swartz. These species do not fit in Malaxis because their stems are not thickened into pseudobulbs but rather are elongated, bearing several to numerous thin-textured distichous leaves; the inflorescences are elongated racemes with winged rachises and the flowers feature short columns clasped by basal lobes or auricles of the labellum and two pollinia on a common viscidium (Dressler, 1993, 2005; Cribb, 2005a). Based on vegetative and floral morphology, ecology, and phytogeography, this genus, as currently circumscribed, is a fairly homogeneous entity and is most likely monophyletic. However, at this time, there is no phylogenetic evidence to support this assessment.
Cameron’s (2005) examination of phylogenetic relationships within tribe Malaxideae did not include species referable to Crossoglossa. Cribb (2005a, b) recognized Crossoglossa as a genus distinct from Malaxis but stated that evidence supported by nrDNA ITS sequence studies by G. Salazar (unpublished) indicated that Crossoglossa was apparently the sister group of a complex of species within Liparis. These species, including L. vexillifera Cogn., have pseudobulbs with one to two leaves, a long column, and pollinia on separate viscidia Cribb (2005a, b). Thus, future generic realignments within the Malaxideae, following a more thorough sampling of the tribe, may change the circumscriptions of its genera and may result in Crossoglossa being included in a more broadly defined genus, most likely in Liparis. Garay and RomeroGonzález (1999) did refer Crossoglossa to
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Liparis sect. Tipuloidea (Ridl.) Garay & G. A. Romero. Crossoglossa consists of 23–28 species (Szlachetko & Margonska, 2001; Dressler, 2005) distributed from Nicaragua southward into Colombia and Bolivia along the Andes. Species of Crossoglossa always grow in extremely humid forests, at elevations of (500–)1500–2500(–2850) m where they can be epiphytic or terrestrial. In South America, the majority of the species occurs in Colombia and Ecuador (e.g., Dressler & Dodson, 1993; Dodson, 1993). Fewer species occur in Peru and Bolivia, and hitherto, none was known from Venezuela. During the course of a study of the South American species of Malaxideae (Noguera-Savelli et al., in prep.), we came across a previously undescribed species of Crossoglossa from the Eastern Cordillera of the Andes in Colombia. Also, the status of Malaxis tipuloides (Lindl.) Kuntze var. exigua Garay was re-assessed. In addition, we herein document for the first time the occurrence of Crossoglossa in Venezuela. Crossoglossa acuminatissima Noguera-Savelli & Carnevali, sp. nov. Type: Colombia Santander del Sur: E of Bucaramanga toward Berlín, 2550 m, 7 May 1984, C. Luer, J. Luer, E. Valencia, E. Valencia & R. Escobar 10196 (MO). (Fig. 1) Crossoglossae neirynckianae Szlatch. & Marg. simili sed differt foliis longioribus proportione angustioribus, sepalis latioribus, atque labello acuminatissimo ad marginem fimbriato; Crossoglossae hirtzii Dodson similis sed planta majore, foliis longioribus, labello angustiore acuminatissimo differt.
Terrestrial herbs, 45–65 cm tall including the inflorescences, drying pale yellowish-tan, glabrous, apparently procumbent with an erect, apical, leaf-bearing portion. Roots pubescent, white, 1–3 mm thick. Stems terete, 3–5 mm thick, 8–10 cm long, the erect leafy section 5– 7 cm long, laxly enveloped by the leaf-sheaths. Leaves distichous, the sheaths 1–2 cm long, tubular and clasping the stem, the blades 13– 21×1.5–2.4 cm, oblong-lanceolate, with 5–7primary veins and conspicuous reticulate secondary venation, the apex acuminate, the margins undulate or sinuate, the base gradually attenuated above the sheath into a pseudope-
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tiole 1–3 cm long. Inflorescence terminal, to 62 cm long, erect, bearing up to 70 spirally arranged flowers opening ± simultaneously, the peduncle 10–12 cm long, the rachis 30–40 cm long, winged; floral bracts larger toward the base of the rachis, 9–16×1–3 mm, narrowly lanceolate, sharply acuminate, 1-nerved, the margins undulate, shorter than or equal to the ovary and pedicel. Flowers resupinate with perianth segments spreading widely, light green (fide collector), to 2 cm long and 2.1 cm across the spread apices of the petals; pedicels ca. 10 mm long, winged; ovary ca. 2 mm long; sepals similar but the lateral somewhat oblique, 10.5–11.5×1.8–2.2 mm, narrowly lanceolate, long acuminate, 1-nerved, the margins papillose; petals 9.5–10.5×0.9–1.1 mm, linearlanceolate, the distal portion linear, attenuate, acute, apparently incurved in natural position, the margins smooth, glabrous; labellum 10– 12 × 4–5 mm, convex in natural position, narrowly ovate, the apex long acuminate and variously curved, 5-nerved, the margins conspicuously and irregularly papillose-ciliate, basally subcordate with two short retrorse, coarsely ciliate, thickened auricles that clasp the column, the base above column with two min, suborbicular calli at each side of midnerve, each with an elongated, linear, falcate projection; column short, thick, 1.5 mm long; pollinia 2; fruit obconic, 8 mm long, 4 mm thick, 5-costate. Etymology.—The specific epithet is based on the superlative of the Latin adjective acuminatus, meaning pointed or sharpened, in reference to the shape of the labellum. Crossoglossa acuminatissima is related to the Ecuadorian C. hirtzii Dodson, from the eastern slopes of the Andes. The two species have similar flowers with an ovate labellum, the margins of which are denticulate or ciliate. However, C. acuminatissima is vegetatively larger with proportionally narrower leaves and a much longer inflorescence. The labellum of C. acuminatissima is also proportionally narrower and longer, and the callus is different: in C. hirtzii, the callus is composed of two square, fleshy protuberances at each side of the midnerve, whereas in C. acuminatissima the callus is made up of two minute, suborbicular structures each with an elongated, linear, falcate projection.
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FIG. 1. Crossoglossa acuminatissima. A. Plant habit. B. Flower, oblique view. C. Flowers dissection. D. Base of labellum. E. Detail of the leaf, showing venation. (Based on the holotype.)
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TABLE I COMPARATIVE
MORPHOLOGY OF
Character
Leaf length Leaf width Leaf shape Peduncle length Rachis length Dorsal sepal length Dorsal sepal width Labellum length Labellum width
CROSSOGLOSSA
ACUMINATISSIMA AND TWO SIMILAR SPECIES,
C
HIRTZII AND
C.
NEIRYNCKIANA.
C. hirtzii
C. neirynckiana
C. acuminatissima
15 cm 2.5 cm Narrowly elliptic 9 cm 25 cm 12 mm 3 mm 10 mm 5–6 mm
11–15 cm 2.4–3.4 cm Lanceolate to broadly lanceolate 10–12 cm 20–30 cm 11–12 mm 1.2–1.5 mm 10.2–11.5 mm 4.3 mm
13–21 cm 1.5–2.4 cm Oblong lanceolate 10–12 cm 35–40 cm 11 mm 2 mm 10–12 mm 4–5 mm
The leaves of C. acuminatissima have conspicuous cross-veins joining the primary veins of the leaf resulting in a reticulate venation pattern in the leaves. Cross veins, though present in C. hirtzii, are much less conspicuous. Crossoglossa acuminatissima is also similar to another species from eastern Ecuador, C. neirynckiana Szlatch. & Marg., with which it shares the overall shape of the flower and inflorescence, the elongate floral bracts, and an acuminate labellum. Crossoglossa neirynckiana is, however, easily distinguishable by its smaller vegetative size with proportionally broader lanceolate to broadly lanceolate leaves. Furthermore, the labellum in C. neirynckiana is constricted just above the base (versus tapering evenly from base to apex in C. acuminatissima), and the margins of the labellum are entire (versus ciliate in C. acuminatissima). Table I summarizes some of the differences between C. acuminatissima, C. hirtzii, and C. neirynckiana.
Crossoglossa exigua (Garay) Noguera Savelli & G. A. Romero, stat. nov. Basionym: Malaxis tipuloides Kuntze var. exigua Garay, Bot. Mus. Leafl. 18: 201. 1958. Type: Colombia. Cundinamarca: Hato Grande, E side of Rio Muchindote, 13 km E of Gachetá, 2600 m, 14 Jun 1944, M. L. Grant 9456 (holotype: AMES; isotype: US, photo). Malaxis tipuloides (Lindl.) Kuntze var. exigua Garay was recognized as a variety based on its flowers being much smaller than those of the type variety, as suggested by the varietal epithet (from the Latin exiguus, small, short, poor, scanty; Brown, 1953, p. 311). The plant and inflorescence of the type material of M. tipuloides var. exigua are of about the same dimensions as that of the type of Microstylis tipuloides Lindl. [Colombia. Popayán on Pacific slope, K. T. Hartweg s.n., holotype K-Lindley, photo = Crossoglossa tipuloides (Lindl.) Dodson] and of other material referable to the species, but a close examination
TABLE II DIFFERENCES Character
Leaf shape Leaf proportions Petal and sepal length
BETWEEN
CROSSOGLOSSA
TIPULOIDES AND
MALAXIS
TIPULOIDES VAR. EXIGUA.
C. tipuloides
M. tipuloides var. exigua
Elliptical 3–5 longer than wide 9–11 mm long
Narrowly elliptical or lanceolate 7–10 times longer than wide 4–6 mm long
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reveals important differences in the size of the flowers and shape of the leaves (summarized in Table II). Furthermore, C. tipuloides is a species from the western slope of the Andes ranging from Costa Rica southward to Ecuador while the var. exigua is an entity from the Eastern Cordillera of the Andes. Thus, we propose to treat the var. exigua as a distinct species. CROSSOGLOSSA
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A revision of Malaxideae material at the National Herbarium of Venezuela (VEN) revealed the presence of a specimen of the genus Crossoglossa from the Venezuelan Andes. The genus was previously unknown from the country. The following specimen was examined: Venezuela. Táchira. Distrito Junín. Southern slopes of Cerro San Isidro directly N of El Reposa, above Hacienda Bella Vista, Quebrada Agua Caliente and tributaries, 72° 25′ W, 7°34′ N, 2300–2650 m, G. Davidse & A. C. González 22183 (VEN). This specimen has an old inflorescence with a fruit bearing a perianth (remnants of the sepals and petals; the labellum is missing). Thus, we cannot be completely certain at this time what species it should be referred to. However, C. exigua is known from the Cordillera Oriental of the Andes, and the Venezuelan plant is strikingly similar vegetatively to that species. The sepal remnants are a good match to the sepals of C. exigua, both in shape (narrowly lanceolate) and size (6 mm long). Based on the persistent perianth, we hypothesize that the Venezuelan material is referable to C. exigua.
Acknowledgment The authors are grateful to FONACIT of Venezuela for a scholarship that allowed the
junior author to spend a research period at CICY. We also thank the curators of MO and VEN for the loan of specimens, Mario Blanco and an anonymous reviewer for helpful comments on the manuscript, Bruno Manara for the illustration, Ivón M. Ramírez (CICY) for help with the search of bibliographic references, and José Luis Tapia at CICY for help with data and specimen handling.
Literature Cited Brown, R. W. 1953. Composition of scientific words. Published by the author, Baltimore, MD, USA. Cameron, K. 2005. Leave it to the leaves: A molecular phylogenetic study of Malaxideae (Epidendroideae, Orchidaceae). American Journal of Botany 92: 1025–1032. Cribb, P. J. 2005a. Crossoglossa. pp. 460–461. In: A. M. Pridgeon, P. J. Cribb, M. W. Chase & F. N. Rasmussen, (eds.) Genera Orchidacearum, Volume 4 Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK. ———. 2005b. Malaxis. Pp 471–475. In: A. M. Pridgeon, P. J. Cribb, M. W. Chase & F. N. Rasmussen, (eds.) Genera Orchidacearum, Volume 4. Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK. Dodson, C. H. 1993. Nuevas especies y combinaciones de orquídeas ecuatorianas. Orquideología 19(1): 77– 109. Dressler, R. 1993. Phylogeny and classification of the orchid family. Dioscorides, Portland, OR, USA. ———. 2005. Crossoglossa. Pp. 162–163. In: F. Pupulin (ed.), Vanishing Beauty: Native Costa Rican Orchids, Volume 1. Acianthera-Kegeliella. Editorial de la Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica. ——— & C. Dodson. 1993. Crossoglossa, Pp: 148– 151. In: Dodson (ed.), Native Ecuadorian Orchids, Volume 1: Aa-Dracula. Dodson Trust, Sarasota, FL, USA. Garay, L. & G. A. Romero-González. 1999. Schedulae Orchidum II. Harvard Papers of Botany 4: 475–488. Szlatchetko, D. L. & H. B. Margonska. 2001. Crossoglossa neirynckiana (Orchidaceae: Malaxidinae), a new species from Ecuador. Annals Botanici Fennici 38: 91–93.
