Vanilla sprucei Rolfe (1896: 461)

Damián-Parizaca, Alexander & Mitidieri-Rivera, Nicole, 2023, Vanilla cameroniana (Orchidaceae, Vanilloideae), a new species from French Guiana and new records from the Guiana Shield, Phytotaxa 609 (3), pp. 222-232 : 228-229

1. Vanilla sprucei Rolfe (1896: 461) ( Figures 3D–E , 5 A–F )

Type:— COLOMBIA. In shady woods near the Uaupes River , on the Upper Amazon, Spruce 2727 (holotype: K001382262 !) .

Distribution:— Colombia, Guyana, Venezuela ( Figure 4 ).

Taxonomic Discussion:—The distinguishing features of this species are its slender leaves, which dry black and have prominent secondary veins. The inflorescences are usually paniculate, with whitish flowers that have linear petals and a cushion-like apex lip. This report is the first to identify the species in the Guiana Shield regions of Guyana, and Venezuela. Vegetatively, the plant shares some similarities with V. trigonocarpa , but it is easily distinguishable by the branching (vs. ramose) inflorescences. The flowers of V. trigonocarpa are twice as large as those of V. sprucei , with the sepals of the former measuring 10.5–11.5 × 1.6–2 cm (vs. 4.9–5.0 × 0.5 cm). Furthermore, V. trigonocarpa has an emarginate lip apex, while V. sprucei exhibits a sub-acute shape.

Szlachetko (2016) assigned one of the specimens cited below (Redden 2518) to V. guianensis , which can be easily distinguished from V. sprucei by its elliptic (vs. obovate) leaves and distinct floral morphology, including a hexagonal lip and the absence of a penicillate callus.

Specimens examined:— GUYANA. Pkaraima: Mts, Mazaruni River ., 6 2’ 26.6”N 60 39’ 9.6”, 11 February 2004, K.M. Redden, C. Perry, R. Williams, C. Paul, M. Lyle 1843 [flower] ( US01073614 ) ; Cuyuni-Mazaruni Region , NW of Chi-Chi Falls, 5 35’48.6”, 60 12’48.8”, 762 m, 1 February 2004, K. Redden , M . Lyle , R . Williams , C . Perry , C . Paul 2518 [buds] ( US 04170470, NY04170470 ) . VENEZUELA. Amazonas: Casiquiare, R . Casiquiare, 162 kms de la boca del Casiquiare , 3 February 1991, M . Colella , J . Velazco , E . Guayamare , S . Camico 1766 [fruit] ( NY01075152 ) . COLOMBIA. Amazonas-Vaupes: Rio Apaporis , 10 June 1951, R . Schultes & I . Cabrera 12497 [buds] ( AMES111703 , AMES112493 ); ibid. 4 February 1953, A . Fernandez 2146 [fruit] ( US 0110316) .

Figures

FIGURE 3. Labellum comparison of morphological similar species. A. to V. cameroniana. B. V. hartii. C. V. appendiculata. D–E. V. sprucei. Based on (A) Sabatier D. & Prevost M.-F 4912 (French Guiana, SEL), (B) Stevens 20021 (Nicaragua, SEL), (C) J. Pizango JPF003 (Perú, USM), (D) Redden 1843 (Guyana, US), (E) Redden 2518 (Guyana, US). Photographs by A. Damián (A, B, D, E) and N. Mitidieri (C).

FIGURE 4. Geographic distribution of the species discussed in this study, including the limits of the Guiana Shield. The black-colored datapoints on the map represent occurrences documented in the GBIF database, while the blue-colored datapoints indicate new records reported in this study. Additionally, red datapoints represent the newly described species. The asterisk (*) is used to indicate type material.

FIGURE 5. New Vanilla records from the Guiana Shield based on herbarium material. A–F Vanilla sprucei, A–B. perianth dissection, C–D. labellum apex, E–F. column apex and anther. G–H. Vanilla dressleri, I. Vanilla corinnae. Based on Redden 2518, US (A,C,E); Redden 1843, US (B,D,F); Cremers 13016, NY (G); Wurdack 43074, US (H); and Wurdack 43170, US (I). Photographs by A. Damián.