Prescottia filiformis Schltr., Repert., 2014

Azevedo, Cecília Oliveira De, Berg, Cássio Van Den & Barros, Fábio De, 2014, A revision of Prescottia (Orchidaceae: Orchidoideae, Cranichideae), Phytotaxa 178 (4), pp. 233-286 : 262-266

10. Prescottia oligantha (Sw.) Lindl. , Gen . Sp. Orchid. pl.: 454. 1840. [ Cogniaux 1909, Fawcett & Rendle 1910, Small 1913, Gale & Baldomero 1938, Williams 1946, Williams 1951, Hodge 1953, Williams 1956, Britton & Millspaugh 1962, Dunsterville & Garay 1966, Schweinfurth 1967, Wiggins & Porter 1971, Adams 1972, Garay & Sweet 1974, Pabst & Dungs 1975, Garay 1978, Hamer 1985, Ackerman 1989, Correa 1992, Ackerman 1995, Gloudon & Tobisch 1995, McLeish et al. 1995, Sprunger 1996, Bennett & Christenson 1998, Espejo-Serna & López-Ferrari 1998, Jørgensen & León-Yánez 1999, Balick et al. 2000, Dix & Dix 2000, Nir 2000, Feldmann & Barré 2001, Stevens et al. 2001, Hammel et al. 2003, Rocha & Waechter 2006, Azevedo & van den Berg 2007a, Macagnan et al. 2011]; basionym: Cranichis oligantha Sw., Prodr. Ind. Occ. 120. 1788. [ Lindley 1840 a, Cogniaux 1909, Fawcett & Rendle 1910, Gale & Baldomero 1938, Williams 1946, Williams 1951, Hodge 1953, Williams 1956, Britton & Millspaugh 1962, Dunsterville & Garay 1966, Schweinfurth 1967, Wiggins & Porter 1971, Garay & Sweet 1974, Garay 1978, Hamer 1985, Ackerman 1989, Sprunger 1991, Correa 1992, Ackerman 1995, McLeish et al. 1995, Sprunger 1996, Bennett & Christenson 1998, Espejo-Serna & López-Ferrari 1998, Nir 2000, Johnson 2001, Stevens et al. 2001, Hammel et al. 2003, Rocha & Waechter 2006, Azevedo & van den Berg 2007a, Macagnan et al. 2011, Govaerts 2014].

Type :— JAMAICA. (mont. Caerul.) Swartz s.n. (lectotype BM!, selected by Azevedo & van den Berg 2007a). Fig. 24 .

Homotypic synonym: Cranichis micrantha Spreng., Syst. Veg. 3: 700. 1826. [ Cogniaux 1909, Dunsterville & Garay 1966, Wiggins & Porter 1971, Garay 1978, Hamer 1985, Sprunger 1991, Sprunger 1996, Bennett & Christenson 1998, Nir 2000, Stevens et al. 2001, Govaerts 2014]; this is a later name for the same concept as originally described by Swartz and is thus illegitimate; it has been confused with the material referred to as P. micrantha Lindl. (see below), but this epithet is based on a different type specimen from that of Sprengel.

Heterotypic synonyms: Prescottia micrantha Lindl., Bot. Reg. 22: t. 1916. 1836. [ Wiggins & Porter 1971, Pabst & Dungs 1975, Sprunger 1991, Sprunger 1996, Rocha & Waechter 2006]. Type:— BRAZIL. Sierra d’Estrella, Griesebach s.n. (holotype K-L!); Prescottia tenuis Lindl. , Gen . Sp. Orchid. Pl.: 454. 1840. [ Dunsterville & Garay 1966, Schweinfurth 1967, Wiggins & Porter 1971, Garay 1978, Hamer 1985, Sprunger 1991, McLeish et al. 1995, Sprunger 1996, Bennett & Christenson 1998, Stevens et al. 2001, Rocha & Waechter 2006, Govaerts 2014]. Type:— PERU. Mathews 1862 (holotype K!; line drawing K-L!); Prescottia myosurus Rchb. f. ex Griseb., Fl. Brit. W. I.: 640. 1864 [ Cogniaux 1909, Fawcett & Rendle 1910, Gale & Baldomero 1938, Hodge 1953, Dunsterville & Garay 1966, Wiggins & Porter 1971, Garay 1978, Garay & Sweet 1974, Hamer 1985, McLeish et al. 1995, Bennett & Christenson 1998, Nir 2000, Stevens et al. 2001, Govaerts 2014]. Type:— DOMINICA. Imray 228 (lectotype K!, designated by Garay & Sweet 1974); Prescottia microrhiza Barb.Rodr. , Gen . Spec. Orchid. 1: 179, t. 492. 1877 [Macagnan et al. 2011]. Type:—Barbosa Rodrigues’ original drawing (plate t. 492) in the library of the Jardim Botânico do Rio de Janeiro selected by Macagnan et al. 2011 [reproduction printed in Iconographie des orchidées du Brésil, Sprunger et al. (1996), 2: t. 90.]; Prescottia pubescens Barb.Rodr. , Gen . Spec. Orchid. 1: 178, t. 469. 1877. [Macagnan et al. 2011]. Type:—Barbosa Rodrigues’ original drawing in the library of the Jardim Botânico do Rio de Janeiro selected by Macagnan et al. 2011 [reproduction printed in Iconographie des orchidées du Brésil, Sprunger et al. (1996), 2: t.87]; Prescottia nivalis Barb.Rodr. , Gen . Spec. Orchid. 2: 278, t. 818. 1881. [Macagnan et al. 2011]. Type:—Barbosa Rodrigues’ original drawing in the library of the Jardim Botânico do Rio de Janeiro selected by Macagnan et al. 2011 [reproduction printed in Iconographie des orchidées du Brésil, Sprunger et al. (1996), 2: t. 88 B.]; Prescottia viacola Barb.Rodr. , Gen . Spec. Orchid. 2: 279. 1881. [ Dunsterville & Garay 1966, Wiggins & Porter 1971, Pabst & Dungs 1975, Garay 1978, Hamer 1985, Sprunger 1991, Correa 1992, McLeish et al. 1995, Sprunger 1996, Bennett & Christenson 1998, Johnson 2001, Stevens et al. 2001, Govaerts 2014]. Type (lectotype, here designated):—Barbosa Rodrigues’ original drawing in the library of the Jardim Botânico do Rio de Janeiro [reproduction printed in Iconographie des orchidées du Brésil, Sprunger et al. (1996), 1: t. 65 A.]; Prescottia filiformis Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 7: 50. 1920. [ Dunsterville & Garay 1966, Wiggins & Porter 1971, Garay 1978, Hamer 1985, Sprunger 1991, Sprunger 1996, Bennett & Christenson 1998, Stevens et al. 2001, Azevedo & van den Berg 2007a, Govaerts 2014]. Type:— COLOMBIA. Cauca: 1800 m., Madero 73 (lectotype: drawing of type AMES!, selected by Azevedo & van den Berg (2007a); Prescottia gracilis Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 7: 51. 1920 [ Dunsterville & Garay 1966, Wiggins & Porter 1971, Garay 1978, Hamer 1985, Sprunger 1991, McLeish et al. 1995, Sprunger 1996, Bennett & Christenson 1998, Stevens et al. 2001, Rocha & Waechter 2006, Azevedo & van den Berg 2007a, Govaerts 2014]. Type:— COLOMBIA. Antioquia: c. 2000 m, Madero 62 (lectotype: drawing of type AMES!, selected by Azevedo & van den Berg (2007a); Prescottia panamensis Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. 16: 357. 1920 [ Williams 1946, Williams 1956, Dunsterville & Garay 1966, Wiggins & Porter 1971, Garay 1978, Hamer 1985, Sprunger 1991, McLeish et al. 1995, Sprunger 1996, Bennett & Christenson 1998, Stevens et al. 2001, Govaerts 2014]. Type (lectotype, here designated):—Panama. Chiriqui: Cerro Vaca, 900–1136 m, Pittier 5358 (lectotype US!; isolectotype AMES!).

Terrestrial herbs. Leaves 2(–4), basal, petiolate; petiole 1.0–6.0 cm long, green; blade (1.0–)3.0–6.0(–11.0) × (0.7–)1.5– 2.7(–4.0) cm, elliptic to lanceolate, green, apex acute, base attenuate to obtuse, margin entire. Inflorescence (10–)30– 100-flowered; peduncle (4.0–)28.0(–43.0) × 0.1–0.2 cm, green; peduncle bracts 3–6, 10.0–20.0 × 1.3–3.0 mm, ovate, rose-red to green, apex acute; rachis (2.0–)3.0–8.0(–19.0) × 0.4–0.6 cm, green to rose-red. Flower bracts 2.5–3.4(–5.0) × 1.3–1.5(–1.8) mm, ovate, green to rose-red, apex acuminate to acute; flower erect, white; dorsal sepals revolute, 1.3– 1.9 × 0.8–1.2 mm, triangular to ovate, white with an apical purplish spot, apex acute; lateral sepal patent to revolute, 1.9–3.2 × 1.1–1.5 mm, ovate to oblong, white with an apical purplish spot, apex acute; petals revolute, 1.2–2.0 × 0.5–0.7 mm, linear, white, apex acute to obtuse; lip 1.5–2.2 × 2.0– 2.2 mm, white, inner surface pubescent. Column 0.8–0.9 mm long, glabrous.

Distribution:— Prescottia oligantha occurs throughout the West Indies, southern North America (Florida, Mexico), Central America and tropical South America: Ecuador, including the Galapagos Islands, Colombia, Venezuela, British Guiana, Paraguay, Uruguay, Bolivia, Peru, and Argentina. In Brazil, it occurs in Roraima, Alagoas, Bahia, Espírito Santo, Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, Distrito Federal, Goiás, Mato Grosso do Sul, Minas Gerais, Paraná, Santa Catarina, and Rio Grande do Sul ( Fig. 25 ).

Selected Specimens Examined:— ARGENTINA. Misiones: Iguazú Dpt., Iguazú Nat. Park , Area Cataratas, area influencia sendero Macuco, 04 August 1992, Johnson 298 ( CTES) ; BAHAMAS. New Providence : Maiden head Coppice, 1905, Britton 3206 ( NY) . BELIZE. Cayo District: below summit of Baldy Sibuia, Mountain Pine Ridge , 09 March 1981, Adams 281 ( K) . BOLIVIA. Yungas: Chulumani , July 1933, Cardenas 1370 ( GH) . BRAZIL. Alagoas: 28 October 1980, Andrade-Lima 80 9724 ( HUEFS, IPA) . Bahia: Rui Barbosa, Serra do Orobó, Riacho da Prata , 05 September 2004, Queiroz 9534 ( HUEFS) . Brasília: Parque Nacional de Brasília , próximo ao portão de entrada (ca. 1 km), 03 July 1992, Barros 2354 ( UB) . Espírito Santo: Itapemirim, Itaoca , APA de Guanandy, 09 February 1995, Fraga 470 ( MBML) . Goiás: Caldas Novas, margem direita do Rio Corumbá , 2 km da barragem, a montante, próximo ao canteiro de obras, 11 June 1996, Cavalcanti 1977 ( CEN) . Mato Grosso do Sul: Corumbá, Rio Corumbá , 02 March 1979, Salles 95 ( IBGE) . Minas Gerais: Catas Altas, Serra do Caraça , 15 September 2004, Mota 2393 ( BHCB) . Paraná: Paranaguá, Ipanema , 27 August 96, Hatschbach 22114 ( MBM, MO, NY) . Rio de Janeiro: Itatiaia, Parque Nacional de Itatiaia , na margem do Lago Azul, na trilha, 12 July 2006, Azevedo 268 ( HUEFS) . Rio Grande do Sul: São Leopoldo, October 1941, Leite 429 ( NY) . Roraima: Serra dos Surucucus, NE of Mission station , 17 February 1969, Prance 10012 ( INPA) . Santa Catarina: Azambuja, Brusque , 04 October 1961, Klein 2650 ( US) . São Paulo: Caraguatatuba, próximo Caraguatatuba , Martim de Sá , 17 July 1953, Hoehne 5028 ( SPF) . BRITISH GUIANA. Kanuku Mountains , 23 July 1958, Harrison 1349 ( K) . COSTA RICA. Alajuela: San Pedro de San Ramón , 07 January 1924, Brenes 803 ( CR) . CUBA. Monte Verde , 1859, Wright 1477 ( GH, K-L) . DOMINICAN REPUBLIC. Santo Domingo: Finca Mendez Capellan , al norte aereopuerto, 06 March 1978, Dod 657 ( SEL) . ECUADOR. Galapagos: Santa Cruz Isl. , 03 January 1966, Weber 162 ( GH) . GRENADA. West Indies : swamp around the Grand Etang, 24 February 1950, Howard 10572 ( GH) . GUADELOUPE. Pigeon: Habitation Marsolle , 02 March 1936, Rodriguez 3973 ( P) . MARTINIQUE. Savanes Balata , March 1903, Mouret 377 ( P) . MEXICO. Vera Cruz : near Martinez de la Torre, 30 March 1935, Juan 4659 ( GH) . MONTSERRAT. 13 February 1907, Shafer 530 ( NY) . PARAGUAY. Altos : barranca humeda de arroyo, s.d., Rojas 1753 ( GH, SP) . PERU. Amazonas: Mendoza , 03 August 1963, Woytkowski 8100 ( MO) . USA. Florida: Burden’s Hammack , Gossmans, 24 February 1905, Eaton 1240 ( NY) ; Puerto Rico: Espinosa , 02 March 1915, Stevenson 2622 ( NY) . VENEZUELA. Aragua, 12 December 1953, Renz 8140 ( BBG) . VIRGIN ISLANDS. Tortola : Soge Montain, 08 February 1919, Fishlock 377 ( NY) .

Habitat:— Terrestrial on limestone or soils in shady sites in moist and wet forests, 0–2900 m.

Conservation Status:— Least concern (LC). Although Prescottia oligantha was cited at the list of endangered (EN) species of Florida ( Ward et al. 2003) and on the CITES Appendix II (2007), it is a widespread and common species.

Etymology:— From the Greek oligo (few) and anthos (flower), but since this plant is not few-flowered this epithet is confusing ( McLeish et al. 1995), which led Sprengel (1826) to give it a different illegitmate name.

Notes:— Prescottia oligantha has elliptic to lanceolate leaves, white flowers and a lip that is internally densely pubescent. The size and form of plants are extremely variable, changing without any evident pattern within the species. This variation is probably the reason for the large number of synonyms for this species. Prescottia oligantha is delimited here in a more extensive circumscription, including P. microrhiza , P. nivalis and P. pubescens , as a result of the difficulty of establishing the limits or boundaries among these taxa. We indicate here that it is probably a species complex, and population studies would help to clarify and elucidate species limits.

Cranichis oligantha was described by Swartz without designating a type specimen. Some authors cited the type as deposited at BM ( Fawcett & Rendle 1910, Garay & Sweet 1979, McLeish et al. 1995), whereas Garay (1978) indicated that it was at S. For this reason, Azevedo & van den Berg (2007a) chose the BM specimen as the lectotype of C. oligantha . The specimen at BM bears an annotation on the back of the sheet that agrees in part with the protologue and especially with the later citation of Swartz (1806). Sprengel renamed C. oligantha as C. micrantha because he felt that Swartz’s name was inappropriate ( oligantha = few-flowered) for a plant that has many flowers “( Cr. oligantha Sw. hallucinatione dicta).” Despite the fact that Sprengel’s name may have been more descriptive of the plant, it is nonetheless illegitimate. Many authors confuse the later name Prescottia micrantha Lindl. with Sprengel’s use of this epithet, but the types of these two names are not the same, so this must be considered as a heterotypic synonym of P. oligantha Sw.

Nir (2000) and Govaerts (2014) cited Cranichis tenuiflora Griseb. as a synonym of P. oligantha , but a careful examination of the original Wright collection ( CUBA: Wright 3292, AMES!, P!) reveals it is not a Prescottia but instead Cranichis diphylla Sw. It appears that Nir (2000) made a mistake, as he also cited C. tenuiflora Griseb. as a species in Cranichis citing the same type.

On the same sheet of the holotype of P. micrantha , there is another specimen of P. oligantha from Serra de Curral del Rey, Minas Gerais, which is not part of the type collection. When Lindley (1840) described P. tenuis , he cited: “Hab. in Peruvia, Mathews 1862 (exam. s. sp. in hb. Hooker)”. Kew bought Hooker’s herbarium in 1867. This implies that the holotype of P. tenuis is the specimen stamped “Herbarium Hookerianum 1867” now at K. At K-L there is an illustration made by Lindley from the type specimen.

Prescottia myosurus was described based on multiple specimens. The syntype from Dominica, collected by Imray, has no number. Besides that, Garay & Sweet (1974) cited Imray 228 (K) as the type of P. myosurus . As the authors cited the collector, number and the herbarium, it can be considered lectotypification, as cited by Ackerman (in press). Garay & Sweet’s publication predated the obligation to specify the herbarium or institution in which the type is conserved (starting on or after 1 st January 1990), and the requirement to use the term “ lectotypus ”, its abbreviation or its equivalent, to be an effective lectotypification (on or after 1 st January 2001; McNeill et al. 2012).

Christenson (1995) stated that Pittier collected plants for the US Herbarium in the Canal Zone of Panama in 1911. At that time, his collections were sent to specialists for identification and description of new taxa. Christenson (1995) stated that Orchidaceae were described by Rudolf Schlechter at B, who published a series of papers in 1913. In these publications, Schlechter did not indicate a herbarium for the types, and for this reason, his holotypes are assumed to have been deposited in B. Christenson (1995) verified that Pittier’s Panama collections at US are holotypes, annotated by Schlechter and marked “typ. auct.” in his handwriting, which were sent to B and returned to US. However, a few duplicates were sent to B at a later date at Schlechter’s request. One of these must have been the material of P. panamensis because it was published later than the other names ( Schlechter 1920), and the material at US does not bear Schlechter’s annotation “typ. auct.”. Actually, Schlechter identified the material housed at US as P. oligantha . It is most likely that he changed his mind later and described the new species based on the duplicate sent to B. For this reason, we are designating here the US material as the lectotype of P. panamensis . There is also another duplicate at AMES, with an original line drawing made under supervision of Schlechter and a specimen inside a small envelope. It was probably sent to AMES after the description of this taxon.

Figures

FIGURE 24. Prescottia oligantha. Drawn from fresh material. A. Habit. B,C. Flower. B. Front view. C. Lateral view. D. Floral bract. E. Lip. F. Perianth parts, clockwise from top: lip, dorsal sepal, petal, lateral sepal. G–I. Column with pollinarium in place. G. Dorsal view. H. Ventral view. I. Frontal view. J. Pollinarium (Azevedo 333).

FIGURE 25. Distribution of Prescottia oligantha.