Pygmaeorchis brasiliensis Brade (1939: 43)

Miranda, Marcelo Rodrigues, Furtado, Samyra Gomes & Neto, Luiz Menini, 2021, A long-hidden pigmy shows itself again after almost a century: the rediscovery and lectotypification of Pygmaeorchis brasiliensis (Laeliinae, Orchidaceae), Phytotaxa 496 (3), pp. 297-300 : 298-300

Pygmaeorchis brasiliensis Brade (1939: 43) . Figs. 2 , 3

Type: — BRAZIL. Estado de Minas Gerais, Visc. Mauá Itatiaia, 1937, Lanstyak 160 (holotype RB, not found). Lectotype (designated here): — BRAZIL. Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Serra dos Órgãos, Pedra do Frade , 1500m, 26 September 1929, Brade 9854 ( RB! image available at http://www.herbariovirtualreflora.jbrj.gov.br/).

Epiphytic herb up to 3 cm tall; pseudobulbs globose or sub-globose, bifoliate; leaves ligulate to ligulate-ovate, 9–16 × 2.5–4.0 mm, coriaceous, apex apiculate; inflorescence terminal, 1-flowered, shorter than the leaves, peduncle ca. 2 mm long; flower pedicellate, pedicel 3–4 mm long, sepals and petals whitish, sometimes tinted with rose, dorsally greenish at the apex, lip white; dorsal sepal ovate, apex acute, ca. 4.5 × 2.8 mm; lateral sepals ovate, slightly oblique, ca. 4.5 × 2.5 mm, apex acute; petals linear to oblong, ca. 4.0 × 1.2 mm, apex obtuse; lip entire, ligulate, ca. 4 × 2 mm, basal third connate to the column, disc with 2 calli sparsely pilose, apex obtuse, reflex; column subclaviform; pollinia 8, arranged in two groups, with a caudicle; ovary densely papillate; immature fruit green, papillate, with the persistent greenish perianth.

Distribution and habitat: — Pygmaeorchis brasiliensis was previously known only from the high elevation mountain areas around Rio de Janeiro (mislabeled Minas Gerais on the specimen type). There, it was reported to grow as an epiphyte in the rainforest at ~ 1500 m in elevation ( van den Berg 2006). The new record confirms the presence of this rare species in the state of Minas Gerais ( Fig. 1 ). Pygmaeorchis brasiliensis was found growing epiphytically on candeia ( Eremanthus Lessing (1829: 317) , Asteraceae ) in a cloud forest at an elevation of 1560 m. It co-occurs with Octomeria leptophylla Barbosa Rodrigues (1881: 112) , which is also a rare species ( Menini Neto & Docha Neto 2009).

Phenology: — Flowering was recorded in September and November.

Conservation status: — Pygmaeorchis brasiliensis was considered as Data Deficient (DD) according to the criteria of IUCN (2017) in The Red Book on the Flora Endemic to the State of Rio de Janeiro ( Menini Neto et al. 2018). Only three records are currently known (including this one), representing an Extension of Occurrence (EOO) of approximately 7,226 km ² and an Area of Occupation (AOO) of 12 km ². Based on the current information and considering the criteria of IUCN (2019) we classify it as Endangered: EN, B2a,b(ii,iii,iv,v). However, this is a tiny epiphytic species that is likely to pass unnoticed, further searching efforts may reveal its presence in neighboring areas with similar vegetation.

Material examined: — BRAZIL. Minas Gerais: Carrancas , 1560 m, 02 November 2020, Miranda & Hatakeyama 263 ( RB) . Rio de Janeiro: Serra dos Órgãos, Pedra do Frade , 29 September 1929, Brade 9584 ( RB) .

Figures

FIGURE 1. Distribution of the species of Pygmaeorchis.

FIGURE 2. Illustration of Pygmaeorchis brasiliensis. A. General view of the plant. B. Detail of the flower. By S. G. Furtado based on Miranda & Hatakeyama 263.

FIGURE 3. Photographs of Pygmaeorchis brasiliensis. A. Plant in its habitat. B. Detail of the flower. C. Detail of the fruit. By R. F. Hatakeyama and R. H. de Abreu based on Miranda & Hatakeyama 263.