Andinia barbata J. Ponert, M. Portilla, Chumová & P. Trávníček, 2020

Ponert, Jan, Andrade, Mario Portilla, Chumová, Zuzana & Trávníček, Pavel, 2020, A new species of Andinia (Pleurothallidinae, Orchidaceae) with unusual bearded flowers from Ecuador, Phytotaxa 439 (1), pp. 77-84 : 79-80

Andinia barbata J. Ponert, M. Portilla, Chumová & P. Trávníček , sp. nov. ( Figs. 1–2 )

Type: — ECUADOR. Azuay: north of Shaglli, 2900 m, originally collected by M. Portilla in Ecuador, cultivated in Prague Botanical Garden, Czech Republic, 14 December 2019, J. Ponert 1317 (holotype, PRC-spirit!)

Diagnosis: The new species resembles Andinia schizopogon ( Luer 1979: 179) Pridgeon & Chase (2001: 251) and A. pogonion ( Luer 1994: 61) Pridgeon & Chase (2001: 251) , but differs in the lanceolate lip, 2.5 times longer than wide, and synsepal with long thick projections resembling a beard.

Plants sympodial, epiphytic, 2–7 cm high. Roots less than 0.5 mm in diameter. Rhizome shortly ascending, 1 mm in diameter, 1–4 mm between ramicauls, enclosed by 1–2 translucent dry sheaths. Ramicauls slender, 1 mm long, enclosed by 2–3 dry sheaths. Leaves 7–15 × 3–6 mm, erect, coriaceous, elliptical, retuse with an inconspicuous apicule in the apex on abaxial side, attenuate into 1–2 mm long petiole-like base, green. Inflorescence loose, successively 1–7-flowered raceme; peduncle 1–5 cm long, pedicel 2–4 mm long, floral bract small, 1–2 mm long, adpressed; ovary ca. 1 mm long, densely spiculate. Flower 10 × 8–9 mm. Dorsal sepal 5–6 × 2.5 mm, broadly ovate, widely cuspidate apex, tip obtuse, shallowly concave in the middle, glabrous, yellow (the hue varies from amber, aureolin and school bus yellow within the flower), with 3 purple veins. Lateral sepals fused basally for a half to a two-third of length to form a synsepal, oblong, acute apices slightly everted, tip obtuse. Synsepal 5.5 × 1.3 mm wide at base, reflexed, yellow, tinted with purple in the basal part of central projections; with 4–6 narrow long lateral projections on each side and 6 large projections from the synsepal abaxial surface in two rows, of similar appearance to the lateral projections; the projections 0.5–3 × 0.05–0.3 mm. Petals 4.0–4.2 × 0.4 mm, narrowly linear-triangular, acute, glabrous, 1-veined, yellow with purple base of the midvein, translucent. Lip 1.2 × 0.5 mm, lanceolate, slightly widen at base, apex obtuse, thick, longitudinally concave, papillose, deep purple, the base attached to the apical half of the column. Column 1.5–1.7 × 0.6 mm, slightly dilated apically, deep purple with yellow base; anther subapical; stigma subapical; pollinarium consisting of two yellow pollinia, 0.5 mm long; anther cap deep pink with white apex.

Etymology:—the name is derived from Latin word “ barbatum ” meaning “bearded” due to the unique appearance of the synsepal which resembles a beard.

Distribution and habitat:—known only from the type locality near Shaglli in Azuay, Ecuador, where it grows epiphytically in moss on tree trunks at altitude around 2900 m.

Conservation status:— To the date, the species is known only from the type locality, which lies outside protected areas. This population is under risk of disappearance due to deforestation in the area. Because new localities will likely be found in poorly explored mountains around Shaglli, we regard A. barbata as “Data Deficient” (DD) according to the IUCN Red List categories.

Nuclear genome size:—1C-value = 1.38 pg (1353 Mbp) ( Table 1).

Figures

FIGURE 1. Andinia barbata. A. Habit. B. Column with lip, lateral view. C. Flower, lateral view. D. Flower, frontal view. E. Leaf. F. Lip, adaxial side, native shape. J. Synsepal, spread and from adaxial side. Scale bars: A—1 cm; B–G—1 mm. Based on the holotype, Jan Ponert 1317. Drawn by J. Ponert.

FIGURE 2. Flowers of Andinia barbata. A. Flower, frontal view. B. Flower. C. Flower, lateral view. Scale bars = 1 mm. Based on a cultivated specimen of Jan Ponert 1317, which served as holotype. Photo by J. Ponert.