Habenaria proiteana J.A.N. Bat., A.A.Vale & Bianch., 2023

Batista, João A. N., Cruz-Lustre, Gabriela, do Vale, Aline A. & Bianchetti, Luciano B., 2023, Checklist and molecular phylogenetics reveal three taxonomic novelties in Habenaria (Orchidaceae, Orchidoideae) from Chapada dos Veadeiros, Goiás, Brazil, European Journal of Taxonomy 891, pp. 51-86 : 65-68

Habenaria proiteana J.A.N. Bat., A.A.Vale & Bianch. sp. nov.

urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:77325125-1

Figs 5A–F , 6

Diagnosis

Similar to H.rodriguesii Cogn. in general morphology, but distinguished by the dorsal sepal 6–9 mm long (vs 10–14 mm long), petal anterior segment 11–16 mm long (vs 20–33 mm long), spur 13–17 mm long, genuflexus (vs 16–21 mm long, straight or only slightly curved), and anther canals curved upwards (vs straight, perpendicular to the anther loculi). Also similar to H.sobraliana J.A.N.Bat., Vale & Menini in general morphology, but distinct by the petal anterior segment 11–16 mm long, inserted a few millimetres above the posterior segment’s base (vs 5–8 mm long, inserted at the base of the posterior segment).

Etymology

We named this species after Karina Proite for her support, companionship, help in the field and contribution to numerous collections, and for finding the population used to characterise, describe, and typify the newly proposed species.

Material examined

Type

BRAZIL – Goiás • Alto Paraíso de Goiás, Parque Nacional da Chapada dos Veadeiros , próximo as corredeiras do Rio Preto ; 3 Jan. 2008; fl.; J.A.N. Batista, K. Proite & P. Proite 2376; GenBank nrITS: OP584473 and OP584474 ; nrETS: OP589157 and OP589158 ; matK gene and trnK intron: OP589169 and OP589170 ; rps16-trnK intergenic spacer: OP590000 ; holotype: BHCB [120057]; isotypes: CEN, RB, SP .

Paratypes

BRAZIL – Goiás • Alto Paraíso de Goiás , rodovia para Colinas, Rio das Cobras; 2 Dec. 1992; fl.; G. Hatschbach et al. 58383; MBM [158574] • Alto Paraíso de Goiás , Chapada dos Veadeiros, GO-239, entre Alto Paraíso e São Jorge, cerca de 3, 1 km após a entrada para a fazenda São Bento; 30 Dec. 2010; fl.; J. A. N. Batista & L. B. Bianchetii 3101; BHCB [151374] • Alto Paraíso de Goiás , Parque Nacional Chapada dos Veadeiros, Corredeiras; 19 Dec. 2012; A. A. Vale & J. A. Vale 180; BHCB [174606] .

Description

Geophytic herb, caulescent, sympodial. Roots 1–1.6 mm wide, few, sparsely hairy. Tuberoid not examined. Stem 31–64 cm long including the inflorescence, 1.7–2.5 mm wide, erect, straight. Leaves 4–7, linear, narrow, the largest in the middle of the stem, 2.5–12 × 0.2–0.7 cm, reducing towards the apex of the stem, base sheathing, sheath closed, blade for the most part appressed to the stem, apex acuminate. Inflorescence 9–23 cm long, spiral, few flowered, lax; floral bracts 15–32 × 3.7–8 mm, ovate, lance-ovate, broadly elliptical or orbicular, apex acuminate, shorter than the pedicellate ovary, decreasing in size towards the inflorescence apex, green. Flowers 3–8, resupinate, green, glabrous; pedicellate ovary 19–21(–30) mm long, strongly arched; ovary 12–16 mm long, pedicel 5–15 mm long. Sepals green, apex apiculate; dorsal sepal 6–9 × 4.5–6.5 mm, concave, broadly elliptical when flattened; lateral sepals 8.5–12 × 3–4 mm, obliquely lance-ovate, deflexed. Petals bipartite; posterior segment 6–9 × 1.5–2.1 mm, falcate, apex acute-acuminate, connivent with the dorsal sepal; anterior segment 11–16 mm long, 1.6–2.2 times longer than the posterior segment, linear-filiform, inserted above the base of the posterior segment, directed backwards, bent upwards. Lip tripartite; undivided basal part 1–1.6 × 1.7–2.6 mm; lateral segments 13–18 mm long, 1.4–1.9 times longer than the median segment, linear-filiform, reflexed or bent upward; median segment 8–12 × 1–1.5 mm, linear, reflexed or slightly deflexed, more or less parallel to the distal part of the ovary; spur 13–17 mm long, shorter than the pedicellate ovary, clavate, base 1–1.3 mm wide, apex 1.6–2 mm wide, free or with the apex embraced by the bracts, more or less genuflexus, green. Gynostemium 4–6 mm high; connective 0.5 mm wide, green, apex retuse; lateral appendages (auricles) 0.5–1 × 1–1.6 mm, fleshy, verrucose, apex truncate, green. Anther 1.5–2 mm high, bilocular, loculi parallel, translucent; canals 1.8–2.3 mm long, parallels, curved upwards; pollinaria 2, 2.2–3.8 mm long each, separate; caudicles 3–4 mm long, filiform; pollinia 1.4–2 × 1–1.5 mm, yellow; viscidia ca 0.24 × 0.27 mm. Stigmatophores (stigma lobes) 2, 2–3 mm long, closely parallel, green, receptive surface 1.3–1.7 mm long, slightly convex, turned frontwards, inner margins around the spur entrance thickened, apex 1.6–2.3 mm wide, truncate or rounded. Rostellum 4–6 mm long, green; mid lobe 1–1.4 mm long, 1.8–2.3 mm high, triangular, fleshy, apex narrowly acute, held between the anther loculi; side-lobes 2.5–3.7 mm long, base ca 1 mm wide, apex ca 0.5 mm wide, curved, apex facing upwards, parallels. Fruit not seen.

Distribution, Habitat and Phenology

It is restricted to Chapada dos Veadeiros in the State of Goiás, occurring in campos rupestres, amid rocky outcrops in sandy, dry soil or seasonally humid campo limpo, in dark, sandy-clay soils. It flowers during the peak of the rainy season, in December and January.

Conservation Assessment

Habenaria proiteana sp. nov. is currently known from only three populations, all from Chapada dos Veadeiros, and shows a small EOO estimated at 37 km 2 and a small AOO of 12 km 2. Based on the IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria and its guidelines ( IUCN 2012, 2016), the species can be tentatively classified as Critically Endangered CR B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii); C2a(i).

Taxonomic notes

Habenaria proiteana sp. nov., H.australis J.A.N.Bat., Vale & Menini , and H.rodriguesii present the anterior segment of the petal inserted a few millimetres above the posterior segment’s base, not at the base as in the great majority of Neotropical Habenaria . However, H. proiteana sp. nov. differs from these species in the following characters: the petal anterior segment is proportionally longer (2.2–2.8 times longer than the posterior segment vs 1.2–1.8 times longer in H.australis ), and the spur genuflexus ( Figs. 5C , 6J–L ) (vs straight or only slightly curved in H.australis and H.rodriguesii ). In addition to these three species, only two other Neotropical species also have this distinctive character: H. secundiflora and H.meeana Toscano. Nonetheless , H. secundiflora has smaller flowers (dorsal sepal 4–6 × 3–4.5 mm), the lateral segments of the lip deflexed, and pollinaria joined by the viscidia, while H. meeana also has smaller flowers (dorsal sepal 5–6 × 3–4 mm), the anterior segment of the petal inserted only about 2 mm above the base of the posterior segment, and lateral sepals and lip segments strongly reflexed, embracing the ovary.

Habenaria proiteana sp. nov. is also similar to H.sobraliana in general morphology, but distinct by the petal anterior segment 11–16 mm long, inserted a few millimetres above the posterior segment’s base (vs 5–8 mm long, inserted at the base of the posterior segment in H.sobraliana ) and distribution restricted to the Chapada dos Veadeiros (vs restricted to the State of Rio Grande do Sul).

Figures

Fig. 5. Habenaria proiteana J.A.N. Bat., A.A.Vale & Bianch. sp. nov. A. Inflorescence. B. Flower, front view. C. Flower, side view. D–E. Flower, ¾ lateral view. F. Gynostemium, front view. Habenaria cultellifolia. G. Habitat (Chapadas dos Veadeiros, Goiás). H. Vegetative part. I. Flower, front view. A–D, F from Batista et al. 2376 (BHCB); E from Batista & Bianchetii 3101 (BHCB); G–I from Batista et al. 2959 (BHCB). Abbreviations: ac = anther canals; an = anther; au = auricles; co = connective; rm = rostellum mid lobe; rs = rostellum side-lobes; st = stigmatophores; vi = viscidium. All photographs by J.A.N. Batista.

Fig. 6. Habenaria proiteana J.A.N. Bat., A.A.Vale & Bianch. sp. nov. A–B. Habit. C–E. Leaves. F. Flowers. G–I. Dissected perianth. J–L. Bract, pedicellate ovary, gynostemium and spur, lateral view. M. Gynostemium, side view. N. Gynostemium, front view. O. Gynostemium, back view. P. flattened connective, anther and lateral appendages (auricles). Q. Rostellum, upper view. R. Rostellum, lateral view. A–H, J–K and M–R from Batista et al. 2376 (BHCB); I and L from Hatschbach et al. 58383 (MBM). Abbreviations: ac = anther canal; an = anther; au = auricles; ca = caudicle; co = connective; rs = rostellum side-lobes; st = stigmatophores; vi = viscidium.