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Phytotaxa 246 (4): 287–292
http://www.mapress.com/j/pt/
Copyright © 2016 Magnolia Press Article PHYTOTAXA
ISSN 1179-3155 (print edition)
ISSN 1179-3163 (online edition)
Accepted by Cássio van den Berg: 7 Feb. 2016; published: 16 Feb. 2016
http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.246.4.4
287
EPIDENDRUM YANATILENSE (ORCHIDACEAE: LAELIINAE), A NEW
SPECIES, FROM CUSCO, PERU
ALEXANDER DAMIÁN1 & ERIC HÁGSATER2
1Facultad de Ciencias Ambientales. Universidad Cientifica del Sur. Panamericana Sur Km. 19, Lima, Peru.
e-mail: adamian.pz@gmail.com
2Herbario AMO, Montañas Calizas 490, Lomas Barrilaco, México, Distrito Federal, 11.000, México
Abstract
A new species of Epidendrum from southern Peru is described and illustrated. Epidendrum yanatilense is similar to Ecua-
dorian E. pucunoënse, but differs in the small habit; non-resupinate flowers; small flowers; sepals oblong-lanceolate; petals
apex rounded; 3-lobed lip and; two calli, large, laminar, rhomboid, leaning inwards, without mid-rib in the middle. Informa-
tion on its distribution, habitat, phenology, conservation status, as well as traits that distinguish it from similar species are
provided.
Resumen
Una nueva especie de Epidendrum del sur del Perú se describe e ilustra. Epidendrum yanatilense es similar a la ecuatoriana
E. pucunoënse, pero difiere en el hábito pequeño; flores no resupinadas; flores pequeñas; sépalos oblongo-lanceoladas; ápice
de los pétalos redondo; labelo 3-lobado; dos callos, largos, laminares, romboides, inclinándose hacia el interior, sin nervio
central en el medio. Se proporciona información sobre su distribución, hábitat, fenología, estado de conservación, así como
los rasgos que la distinguen de otras especies similares.
Key words: Epidendrum alticolum group, Andes, Calca Province
Introduction
Epidendrum Linnaeus (1763: 952), with more than 1,500 species [2,400 by the most recent count (Hágsater, unpbl. Data)]
(Hágsater & Soto Arenas 2005; Chase et al. 2015), is one of the most diverse genera of orchid family, and its comparable
in species richness to genera such as Stelis Swartz (1799: 239) and Lepanthes Swartz (1799: 85). Representatives of
this genus are distributed from Argentina to North Carolina, United States (Hágsater & Soto Arenas, 2005). According
to Hágsater & Soto Arenas (2005) Epidendrum is composed of epiphytic, lithophytic or rarely terrestrial species,
caespitose, sympodial or rarely monopodial plants, stem usually cane-like, simple or branching, sometimes thickened
or rarely with pseudobulbs, leaves one to numerous per stem, flat or rarely semiterete, inflorescence apical, lateral or
rarely basal, single-flowered, subcorymbose, racemose or paniculate, sometimes producing new racemes from the old
inflorescence, flowers resupinate or not, membranaceous to fleshy, minute to large, perianth usually spreading, petals
usually narrower than the sepals, labellum mostly united to the column, occasionally partially to totally free, forming
a nectar tube the usually penetrates the ovary, blade usually ornate with two calli, or a complex tuberculate callus,
occasionally lacking any callus, simple to deeply 3- or 4- lobed. Column semiterete, sometimes apically winged, the
wings sometimes involute, rarely forming a column foot to form a basal sac with the labellum, rarely with a narrow
cavity along the lower half of its ventral surface, clinandrium hood reduced or a funnel-shaped structure that may be
tubular and much longer than the body of the column, apical margin entire to fimbriate, pollinia mostly for, rarely 2 or
8, sub-equal to unequal, anther 2- or 4-celled.
In Peru, Epidendrum represents one of the 5 richest genera of the vascular flora, and the most diverse orchid genus
of the country. Since Schweinfurth (1958–1961), who reported 179 species [including Diothonea (Lindley 1834: 12),
DAMIÁN & HÁGSATER
288 • Phytotaxa 246 (4) © 2016 Magnolia Press
Amblostoma (Scheidweiler 1838: 383) and Lanium (Lindl. ex Bentham in Bentham 1881: 24), excluding those now
accepted in Encyclia (Hooker 1828: 55), Dimerandra (Schlechter 1922: 43) or Prosthechea Knowles & Westcott 1838:
111)], Epidendrum has increased remarkably, to at least 300 reported species till now (Brako & Zaruchi 1993, Ulloa
Ulloa et al. 2004, Zelenko & Bermudez 2009, WCSP 2015). For instance, last year 12 new species of Epidendrum have
been described (Hágsater & Sanchez 2015).
During a field trip in the eastern slope of the Peruvian Andes (Cusco), a distinctive orchid belonging to Epidendrum
was found. It is described and illustrated here.
Taxonomy
Epidendrum yanatilense Damian & Hágsater, sp. nov. (Fig 1)
Similar to Epidendrum pucunoënse (Hágsater & Dodson 2001: t. 476) from which it differs by its small habit (5 cm vs. larger plants 17-
32 cm), sepals oblong-obovate (vs. oblong-lanceolate), petals apex rounded (vs. acute), calli rhomboid (vs. rounded), inwards (vs.
erect), without mid-rib in the middle (vs. short keel in the middle) and distribution, Peru (vs. Ecuador).
Type:—PERU. Cusco: Provincia de Calca. Distrito de Yanatile 4 km from Santiago valley, 12°34’31.74”S, 72°25’24.05”W, 2,450 m elev.,
27 May 2015, A.Damián & U. Huaycho 0300 (Holotype MOL!).
Herb to ca. 5 cm tall, epiphytic, erect, sympodial, caespitose. Roots basal, fleshy, thin. Stems 2.5 cm long, simple, cane
like, ancipitose. Leaves 5, equally distributed throughout the stem, distichous, alternate, articulate, generally erect-
spreading, embracing; sheaths tubular infundibuliform, laterally compressed; blade 7–9 × 1 mm, ovate to oblong-
ovate, obtuse, acuminate, coriaceous, margin entire. Spathe 1, ca. 11 × 1 mm, nearly parallel-sided, acute, covering half
the peduncle, margin papillose. Inflorescence 1.8 cm long, apical, racemose, sub-erect, lax-flowered, with 2 flowers;
peduncle 1.2 cm long, rachis 0.6 cm long. Floral bracts 3 × 1 mm, shorter than the ovary, acuminate. Ovary 6 mm
long (in fruiting stage), terete. Flowers simultaneous, non-resupinate, color greenish brown, fragrance not registered.
Sepals partly spreading, ovate, acute to acuminate, thickened towards the apex, 3-veined, the mid-vein prominent;
dorsal sepal 4 × 1.5 mm, oblong-obovate, obtuse, with a mucro at the apex; lateral sepals 3.5 × 1.4 mm, oblong-elliptic,
oblique, aristate, with a prominent dorsal keel. Petals 3.5 × 0.3 mm, reflexed, linear, apex rounded, 1-veined. Lip 2.0
× 2.5 mm, united to the column, 3-lobed, spreading, forward; bicallose, calli prominent, laterally compressed, laminar,
rhomboid, leaning inwards and nearly touching each other; lateral lobes 0.8 × 1.0 mm, prominent, semi-orbicular-
quadrate, projecting at a 45° angle, margin entire; mid-lobe 1.4 × 1.0 mm, triangular, acute. Column 2.5 mm long,
short, thick, straight. Clinandrium reduced, margin entire. Nectary narrow, without penetrating the ovary. Anther not
seen. Pollinia not seen. Capsule not seen.
Distribution and habitat:—Know only from the type collection in the province of Calca, Cusco department,
southern Peru at 2,400 m (Fig. 2). Epiphyte on a Weinmannia Linnaeus (1759: 997) tree, growing together with
Trichosalpinx teaguei Luer (1997: 82), Trichosalpinx cedralensis (Ames 1923: 18) Luer (1983: 394), and Barbosella
cucullata (Lindley 1845: 108) Schlechter (1918: 261), in a cloud forest dominated by Cyathea Smith (1793: 416),
Elleanthus Presl. (1827: 97) and Lycopodium Linnaeus (1753: 1100) species, and codominated by Ericaceae shurbs.
Canopy is up to 15 m high, represented by Podocarpus L’Hér. ex Pers. in Persoon (1807: 580) trees.
Phenology:—Know to flower in May.
Conservation:—The species is threatened by its restricted distribution (know from only one locality). Moreover,
its habitat is severely affected by the establishment of a coffee plantation. According to the IUCN Red List Categories
and Criteria (2010) E. yanatilense would qualify as Critically Endangered CR (criteria B1a, B1b(i)). However, further
field studies are required to attain an objective assessment of its conservation status.
Etymology:—In reference to the district where the type was collected, Yanatile, Calca province, Cusco
department.
Discussion:—Epidendrum yanatilense is similar to E. pucunoënse, within the alpicolumn group, which is
characterized by the simple, cane-like stems, long, narrow 1–2 spathaceous bracts, fox-tail-like inflorescence and
numerous flowers with fleshy lip, triangular mid-lobe and roundish lateral lobes. The new species is recognized by
the very small plant, to ca. 5 cm tall, flowers are non-resupinate, small, dorsal sepal 4 mm long, and the lip is 3-lobed,
with rounded lateral lobes and a triangular mid-lobe; calli two, large, laminar, rhomboid, leaning inwards so as to
form a cuniculus in front of the entrance to the nectary. Epidendrum pucunoënse has larger plants, 17–32 cm tall, and
EPIDENDRUM YANATILENSE (ORCHIDACEAE) Phytotaxa 246 (4) © 2016 Magnolia Press • 289
FIGURE 1. Epidendrum yanatilense Damian & Hágsater. A. Habit. B. Flower. C. Dissected perianth. D. Column and lip, lateral view. E.
Column, ventral view. (from A. Damian 0300, MOL).
DAMIÁN & HÁGSATER
290 • Phytotaxa 246 (4) © 2016 Magnolia Press
numerous flowers on a raceme, the flowers are yellow-brown, the lip yellow, the calli are laminar, rounded, erect, with
a short, thickened mid-rib in the middle; clinandrium is prominent, funnel-shaped, emarginate. Moreover, the calli of
the new species are leaning inwards, laminar and it does not appear to have a thickened short mid-rib in between the
calli, as is usual in all species of the E. alpicolum (Reichenbach 1854: 2) group, including E. pucunoënse.
Among Peruvian species of Epidendrum, E. yanatilense is distantly similar to E. imanoenum (Kränzlin 1906: 37)
(Santiago & Hágsater 2009). However, the latter resembles a different group (Scabrum group), which is characterized by
a branching stem with infundibuliform, rugose, leaf sheaths and carrying acute, aristate, lanceolate leaves blooming on
a short, thin, capitate inflorescence and flowers with a bicallose lip. Although the calli of the new species is reminiscent
of E. inamoenum, with two laminar calli so as to form a canal in front of the entrance to the nectary; it has a monopodial
plant habit, branching above, lacks any spathe, and is in every way much larger, stems to 50 cm tall. Moreover, small
Epidendrums, such as E. yanatilense (<10 cm tall) are not uncommon within the genus. For example, E. miserrimum
(Reichenbach 1855: 15) or E. crassum (Schweinfurth 1952: 141) are quite frequent and have a wide distribution range.
In addition, among the 12 Epidendrum species for Calca-Cusco (Tropicos, 2016), from where E. yanatilense is here
reported, E. physopus (Kränzlin 1905: 87) and E. repens (Cogniaux 1909: 137) have reported small sizes (12 cm long).
Nonetheless, none of them shares the distinct set attributes of E. yanatilense, i.e. small plant (5 cm tall); 3-lobed lip;
and two, laminar, rhomboid, leaning inwards calli.
Approximately 115 Epidendrum species have been previously recorded from Cusco (TROPICOS, 2016), most of
them reported at the northern provinces of La Convención, Urubamba and Calca, where mountain rainforest is one of
the dominant habitats. However, the province of Calca, represents only 11% of the total richness of the genus in the
region. This scenario might be favored by any of the following reasons (1) the area surface of the province, being 4,000
km2 (vs. 30,000 km2 of La Convención); (2) lack of specialized botanical exploration in the zone; and (3) the severe
consequences of deforestation. A good example of these factors and its local impact on reporting biodiversity is E.
yanatilense. We believe that the dearth of specialized orchid exploration; like what occurs intensely on nearby sites like
Macchu Picchu with 325 km2 (Urubamba), and where so far 372 orchid species has been registered (Collantes et al.
2007); may have lead to an underestimation of biodiversity in the area and eventually the existence of overlooked groups
of plants, especially those inconspicuous such as E. yanatilense. Furthermore, Calca, according to local information,
represents one of the most deforestated provinces of Cusco (unpbl. data). Forest degradation for the establishment
of agricultural fields such coffee or coca plantations are well spread over the Yanatile’s mountains (Figure 2A), and
play a critical role in loss of local biodiversity on similar ecosystems (Young & Leon 1999). In fact, we failed to find
any additional populations of E. yanatilense. Instead, we found a recently degraded area just half an hour from the
type collection of the new species (Figure 2B). Therefore, it is highly probable that our specimen represents the last
individual on that particular location.
FIGURE 2. Habitat of Epidendrum yanatilense. A. Yanatile, deforestation is leaving the upper hills near town denuded due to coffe and
coca plantations. B. Degraded area close to where the type specimen was collected. Arrows show the exact locality where E. yanatilense
is here reported. Photographs by A. Damian.
EPIDENDRUM YANATILENSE (ORCHIDACEAE) Phytotaxa 246 (4) © 2016 Magnolia Press • 291
Acknowledgments
We would like to express our gratitude to Uriel Huaycho and his family (Quellouno-Cusco) for field work support and
their hospitality, and to the reviewers for their valuable recommendations on the manuscript, specially to Cássio van
den Berg who provided critical additional comments and corrections.
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