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Systematic Botany (2016), 41(4): pp. 919–923
© Copyright 2016 by the American Society of Plant Taxonomists
DOI 10.1600/036364416X694017
Date of publication December 15, 2016
ANewBrachionidium (Orchidaceae: Pleurothallidinae) from the First Botanical
Expedition to the Volcán Cacho Negro, Costa Rica
Diego Bogarín
1,2,4
and Adam P. Karremans
1,3
1
Jardín Botánico Lankester, Universidad de Costa Rica, P. O. Box 302-7050, Cartago, Costa Rica.
2
Herbario UCH, Universidad Autónoma de Chiriquí, P. O. Box 0427, Chiriquí, Panama.
3
Naturalis Biodiversity Center –Leiden University, The Netherlands.
4
Author for correspondence (diego.bogarin@ucr.ac.cr)
Communicating Editor: Timothy M. Evans
Abstract—A new species of Brachionidium from Costa Rica is described and illustrated. Brachionidium cornu-nigricum, from the Volcán
Cacho Negro, a remote, previously unexplored location in Costa Rica, is most similar to B. filamentosum. It differs in the white sepals,
short-acuminate sepals and petals up to 1 cm long, the triangular, unlobed lip, the oblong glabrous callus provided with two small basal
lobes, and the eight pollinia.
Keywords—Brachionidium cornu-nigricum, Braulio Carrillo National Park, new species, taxonomy.
Brachionidium Lindl. (Orchidaceae: Pleurothallidinae)
includes 80 species ranging from Guatemala to Bolivia
and Brazil, throughout Central America, and the Antilles.
The highest diversity is found in the highlands of Colombia
(12 species), Ecuador (34 species), and Peru (15 species).
Species richness decreases towards the Amazon lowlands, the
Antilles, and northern Central America, with a single species
known from Guatemala. In Central America, however, the
genus is well represented in Costa Rica (10 species) and
Panama (12 species). The flora of both countries is quite
similar and species believed to be endemic to one of the two
countries have frequently been reported from the other
(Bogarín et al. 2008; Pupulin et al. 2009; Karremans et al. 2012;
Fernández et al. 2014). At least 15 species are endemic to the
two countries together (Luer 2003).
Brachionidium species share the apical anther and stigma
with several other genera in Pleurothallidinae, including
Platystele Schltr., Pleurothallis R.Br., and Stelis Sw. Those
genera have been shown to be not closely related to
Brachionidium, and that particular morphological feature
has been shown to be homoplasic (Pridgeon 2005). Neverthe-
less, the genus forms a monophyletic and easily recognized
group within the Pleurothallidinae, and has not experienced
nomenclatural changes, as has been the case in other genera
of the subtribe (Pridgeon 2005). Luer (1995) published a
monograph recognizing a total of 64 species, half of which
were then described as new. Since his review, about 15 addi-
tional taxa have been described mostly from South America
(Becerra 2005; Luer 2010; Luer and Thoerle 2012).
Plants of Brachionidium can be characterized by the erect
or suberect shrub-like habit, or creeping with elongated rhi-
zomes. The erect shrubby plants can be either terrestrial or
epiphytic and are found in cold areas in premontane forest
and lower montane rain forest above 2,000 m in elevation.
The scandent species are epiphytes, usually found at the
base of main trunks of old trees covered with mosses and
liverworts. They are found at lower elevations with respect
to the shrubby species, mainly between 800 and 1,800 m
in elevation.
Most of the species of Brachionidium are restricted in dis-
tribution, being endemic to specific mountain ranges or
slopes (Dressler 1982). In the hills of the Cordillera Volcánica
Central in the provinces of Alajuela and Heredia, Costa Rica,
an impressive number of species have been found. At least
eight of the 10 species registered for Costa Rica are known
from that mountain range. Among the species recorded are:
B. pusillum Ames & C. Schweinf. and B. valerioi Ames &
C. Schweinf., both described from the hills of Zurquí and
Caricias (Ames and Schweinfurth 1930); B. cruzae L. O.
Williams, B. dressleri Luer, B. haberi Luer, B. polypodium
Luer (Luer 1995), and the recently described B. kirbyi
Bogarín, Karremans & M. Muñoz (Bogarín et al. 2015). The
area comprises 12 main hills that are separated from Volcán
Poás (2,708 m) at the northwest by the pass of Desengaño,
and towards the southeast from Volcán Irazú (3,354 m) by
the pass of La Palma. The highest point is Volcán Barva
(2,781 m), surrounded by Cerro Guararí (2,599 m) and
Gongolona (2,730 m). To the southeast of Volcán Barva there
is a small depression (El Gallito), which is interrupted by
another mountain chain composed of Chompipe (2,259 m),
Delicias (2,290 m), Achiotillal (1,882 m), Tibás (2,179 m),
Turú (2,139 m), Caricias-Zurquí (2,010 m), and Hondura
(2,047 m) peaks.
Volcán Cacho Negro (2,150 m) lies in a more septentrio-
nal position with respect to the highlands of Volcán Barva.
Geologically, it is an extinct volcano with steep topogra-
phy. There are many cliffs and canyons formed by the pas-
sage of the rivers Sardinal and Molejón (that flow into Río
Puerto Viejo), and the Río San José. Although it is possible
to observe the volcano from various points such as Volcán
Barva, Braulio Carrillo Highway (Route 32), and the road
to Puerto Viejo de Sarapiquí, it is inaccessible by land and
therefore has been poorly explored botanically. Its topo-
graphical characteristics and the dense primary tropical
forest covering it make the area difficult to access. In a
straight line, Cacho Negro is just about eight km distant
from Volcán Barva and 12 km from Cerros Chompipe,
Achiotillal, and Zurquí, its closest neighbors. Towards the
north, there are no connections with other highlands. The
Caribbean plains keep it isolated. Its flora and geology had
not been studied until the first scientific expedition orga-
nized between 8 and 12 April 2008 by Carlos Ossenbach.
The base camp was settled on the banks of rivers Sardinal
and Molejón beside the waterfall named “10 de Abril”of
Río Molejón. Here, a survey of the orchid flora was made.
This article describes and illustrates a new species of
919
Fig. 1. Brachionidium cornu-nigricum. Based on D. Bogarín et al. 4464 (JBL). A. Habit. B. Flower in natural position. C. Dissected perianth. D. Column
and lip, lateral view. E. Lip spread, adaxial and abaxial views. F. Pollinarium and anther cap.
920 SYSTEMATIC BOTANY [Volume 41
Brachionidium of creeping habit known only from Volcán
Cacho Negro.
Materials and Methods
This study started in the field in 2008 at the Volcán Cacho Negro in
Braulio Carrillo National Park (9°17′29.1”N 83°10′11.2″W) and continued
during 2008 and 2009 at Lankester Botanical Garden (JBL) in Costa Rica.
Phenological data were recorded in the field and from cultivated speci-
mens. Georeferences for specimens were obtained using a Garmin eTrex
Vista GPS, Google Earth Pro 6.1.0©, and field observations. Specimens of
plants and flowers were preserved in formaldehyde: acetic acid: ethanol
[FAA (53% ethanol, 37% water, 5% formaldehyde, and 5% glycerol)] and
deposited in the liquid collectionatJBL.Sketchesandimageswere
prepared from living specimens with a Leica® MZ9.5 stereomicroscope
with drawing tube. Composite plates were diagrammed in Adobe
Photoshop®. Descriptions were prepared from living specimens and
data taken in the field.
Taxonomic Treatment
Brachionidium cornu-nigricum Bogarín & Karremans, sp. nov.—
TYPE: COSTA RICA. Heredia-Sarapiquí: Vara Blanca-
Horquetas, camino al cráter del Volcán Cacho Negro,
entre las riveras del Río Molejón y Río Cacho Negro, cerca
de la “Catarata 10 de Abril”, 10°12′22.7″N 84°03′43.7″W,
1150 m, bosque pluvial montano bajo, epífita en bosque
primario, 10 April 2008, D. Bogarín 4464, M. Ballestero,
E. Duarte, S. Gamboa, A.P. Karremans, H. Neukirch, M. Odio,
C. Ossenbach & L. Sáenz (holotype: JBL).
Species haec Brachionidio filamentoso Luer & Hirtz similis,
sed flore albo, sepalis petalisque breviter acuminatis, labello
triangulari non lobato, callo labelli oblongo basaliter bilobato
glabro et octo polliniis differt.
Fig. 2. Location of the botanical expedition to the Volcán Cacho Negro. A. Location of Volcán Cacho Negro in Costa Rica. B. Location of base camp
and “Waterfall 10 de Abril.”C. Satellite image of the study site. D. Section of the topographic map (Poás 3346I) showing the study site. Taken from the
Instituto Geográfico Nacional of Costa Rica. 1:50,000.
2016] BOGARÍN AND KARREMANS: A NEW BRACHIONIDIUM 921
Epiphytic, repent, herbs, with branching rhizome, 0.6–
1.0 cm long between ramicauls, 0.8–1.0 mm in diameter, to
20 cm long or more; roots produced on each internode
along the rhizome, flexuous, ca. 1 mm diameter; ramicauls
creeping, 1.0 cm long and 0.1 cm in diameter, enclosed by
3–7 tubular, mucronate, non-scurfy sheaths, green when
young, becoming brownish and papery with age, to 1 mm
long; leaf erect, suberect or prostrate, subcoriaceous, ovate to
elliptic, slightly conduplicate, subacute or obtuse, emarginate
with a short apicule, 1.0–0.8 × 0.3–0.4 cm, narrowed at the
base into a conduplicate petiole to 1.5 mm long; inflores-
cence a single-flowered, erect raceme to 1.5 cm long; the
peduncle terete, slender, glabrous, provided with one tubu-
lar, brownish bract to 1 mm long; floral bract ovate, acumi-
nate, infundibuliform, conduplicate, partially concealing the
ovary and filament from pedicel, 1.5 × 2.0 mm; pedicel terete,
persistent, to 3 mm long; ovary glabrous, terete, ridged, to
1.5 mm long; flowers resupinate, spreading, sepals white;
dorsal sepal concave, ovate to narrowly triangular, acumi-
nate, minutely ciliate, 3-nerved 11.0 × 1.8 mm, free from the
lateral sepals; lateral sepals fused into a synsepal, flat, ovate
to narrowly triangular, acuminate, minutely ciliate, 11.0 ×
2.4 mm; petals ovate to narrowly triangular, acuminate,
minutely ciliate, 3-nerved, 9.2 × 1.3 mm; lip triangular, lateral
angles rounded and perpendicular to the disc in natural posi-
tion, acute, provided with a short apicule, glabrous, entire,
with a basal, raised, oblong callus, with two small basal lobes,
to 0.6 mm long, the base hinged to the column foot; column
terete, 1 mm long, with two apical arms; anther and stigma
apical, anther cap cucullate, flat; pollinia 8. Figure 1.
Etymology—Named after Volcán Cacho Negro (Black Horn
Volcano), an extinct volcano located in the Braulio Carrillo
Fig. 3. The team of the first scientific expedition to the Volcán Cacho Negro. From left to right: (rear) A member of the sports committee of
Horquetas de Sarapiquí, Bernabé Arias, Heinrich Neukirch, Ana Ossenbach, Pilar Casasa, Carlos Ossenbach; (front) Eliécer Duarte, Luis Sáenz, Diego
Bogarín, Say Gamboa, and Adam Karremans.
Fig. 4. Habitat of Brachionidium cornuni-gricum on Volcán Cacho
Negro in Central Costa Rica.
922 SYSTEMATIC BOTANY [Volume 41
National Park in central Costa Rica where this species was
found. The place is inaccessible by land and the plant was
gathered between April 10–13, 2008, during the first expedi-
tion to the area by helicopter (Figs. 2, 3).
Distribution—Known only from Costa Rica.
Habitat and Ecology—Epiphytic in lower montane rain
forest in primary vegetation. It was found growing on old
trunks in shady conditions (Fig. 4).
Conservation Status—This species is only known from a
single plant in a remote area in central Costa Rica. It is not
possible to assess the status of the whole population at this
time and therefore it must be considered as data deficient.
Neverthless, the Cacho Negro volcano is not only difficult to
access but also part of a state protected area and the species
is thus likely to be well protected.
Phenology—It flowered in cultivation from October
to December.
Diagnostic Features—Brachionidium cornu-nigricum is most
similar to B. filamentosum Luer & Hirtz, a species known from
eastern Panama, Colombia, and Ecuador. Plants can be dis-
tinguished by the white sepals (rather than suffused with
brown), the short-acuminate sepals and petals up to 1 cm
(rather than long-acuminate, caudate up to 1.7 cm long), the
triangular, unlobed lip (vs. ovate, slightly three-lobed), the
glabrous, oblong callus with two small basal lobes (rather
than ovate, pubescent), and the eight pollinia (rather than
six). In Costa Rica, Brachionidium cornu-nigricum can be dis-
tinguished from the other four species with prostrate, creep-
ing habit by the triangular lip with the lateral angles
rounded (rather than transversely trapeziform, with uncinate
lateral angles in B. minusculum, narrowly acute in B. pusillum,
and subacute in B. polypodium) and the entire lip (rather than
fimbriate in B. valerioi). A comparison of the most important
characters to separate the species from Costa Rica is provided
for a future taxonomic revision of the genus (Table 1).
Acknowledgments. We are thankful to the Ministerio del Ambiente
y Energía de Costa Rica (MINAE) and its Sistema Nacional de Áreas de
Conservación (SINAC) for issuing the scientific permits under which wild
specimens were collected. We dedicate this paper to Carlos Ossenbach,
who organized the first scientific expedition to Volcán Cacho Negro
between April 8–12, 2008. His interest in the flora of Cacho Negro made
the discovery of the species here described possible. The expedition was
also made possible by the cooperation of Miguel Ballestero, Pilar Casasa,
Eliécer Duarte, Say Gamboa, Heinrich Neukirch, Mauricio Odio, Ana
Ossenbach, Luis Sáenz, and Daniel Sandoval. Robert L. Dressler helped
with species documentation. Thanks to Franco Pupulin and Jorge Warner
for their support in all our research activities. Two anonymous reviewers
made useful comments that improved a previous version of this manuscript.
This study is part of the Project 814-BO-052 and “Flora Costaricensis:
Taxonomía y Filogenia de la subtribu Pleurothallidinae (Orchidaceae) en
Costa Rica sponsored by the Vice-Presidency of Research, University of
Costa Rica.
Literature Cited
Ames, O. and C. Schweinfurth. 1930. New or noteworthy orchids.
Schedulae Orchidianae 10: 1–112.
Becerra, E. 2005. El género Brachionidium (Orchidaceae) en el Perú. Tres
especies nuevas para la selva central peruana. Arnoldoa 12: 54–61.
Bogarín, D., A. P. Karremans, and M. Muñoz García. 2015. Brachionidium
kirbyi, eine neue Art zu Ehren des Gründers des Orchideenprojektes
“Bosque de Paz”in Costa Rica. Die Orchidee 66: 404–409.
Bogarín, D., A. P. Karremans, and F. Pupulin. 2008. New records and
species of Orchidaceae from Costa Rica. Lankesteriana 8: 53–74.
Dressler, R. L. 1982. Dos Brachionidium nuevas de Panamá/Two new
Brachionidium from Panamá. Orquideología 15: 152–164.
Fernández, M., D. Bogarín, A. P. Karremans, and D. Jiménez. 2014. New
species and records of Orchidaceae from Costa Rica III. Lankesteriana
13: 259–282.
Karremans, A. P., D. Bogarín, M. Fernández, C. M. Smith, and M. A.
Blanco. 2012. New species and records of Orchidaceae from Costa
Rica II. Lankesteriana 12: 19–51.
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Brachionidium. Addenda to Dresslerella, Platystele,andPorroglossum
(Orchidaceae). A reevaluation of the Pleurothallid subgenera Satyria
and Silenia (Orchidaceae). Monographs in Systematic Botany from the
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Table 1. Morphological differences among the epiphytic, creeping-repent species of Brachionidium from Costa Rica.
B. cornu-nigricum B. minusculum B. polypodium B. pusillum B. valerioi
Rhizome, diameter (mm) Stout, 0.8–1 mm Filiform, 0.3–0.5 mm Stout, > 1 mm Filiform, 0.3–0.5 mm Stout, > 1 mm
Leaf size (mm) 8–10 × 3–4 4.0–5.0 × 2.5–3.0 7.0–13 × 1.0–2.0 7.0 × 3.2 10–20 × 3.5–8
Sepal color White Translucent purple
with pink stripes
Translucent maroon Dull pale yellow Pale yellow-green
Dorsal sepal Ciliolate Denticulate Denticulate Shortly ciliate Ciliolate
Sepal tails As long as the blade As long as the blade As long as the blade As long as the blade Longer than the blade
Petals Denticulate Entire Denticulate Denticulate Denticulate
Lip Entire Entire Entire Entire Denticulate-fimbriate
2016] BOGARÍN AND KARREMANS: A NEW BRACHIONIDIUM 923
