Andinia wayqechensis C.Martel, Collantes

Martel, Carlos, Collantes, Benjamín, Maire, Anne-Laure & Thoerle, Lisa, 2016, Andinia wayqechensis (Orchidaceae), a new species from southern Peru, Phytotaxa 272 (4), pp. 294-300 : 295-299

Andinia wayqechensis C.Martel, Collantes , A-L.Maire & Thoerle, sp. nov. ( Figs. 1–2 )

Similar to Andinia pentamytera ( Luer 1994: 58) Pridgeon & Chase (2001: 251) , but differing in the leaves with a tridentate apex (vs. a denticulate apex); and flowers with oblong, shortly acuminate sepals with irregularly lacerate margins (vs. narrowly ovate-triangular, long-acuminate sepals with entire margins); petals with irregularly lacerate margins and short-acuminate apices (vs. with entire margins and long-acuminate apices); and a labellum with the erect lateral lobes curving above and largely concealing the column (vs. below the exposed column).

Type:— PERU. Cusco: Prov. of Paucartambo, Wayqecha Biological Station, sides of the road between Paucartambo and Pilcopata, 13.183544S 71.588117W, 3000 m, 16 February 2016, Martel 70 (holotype: USM!).

Plant 4.0– 13.5 cm long, epiphytic or lithophytic, repent or ascending; roots slender. Rhizome stout, 1.5–2 mm between ramicauls. Ramicaul 2.4–5.7 × 0.8–1.1 mm, enclosed by 3–4 scarious, ribbed, loose sheaths. Leaf oblong, the apex minutely tridentate, the base cuneate into a petiole 2–4 mm long, 15–21 × 3.5–7 mm. Inflorescences 1–2 from below the apex of the ramicaul, 2.5–5.4 cm long including the slender peduncle ca. 1.5 cm long, successively 2–3 flowered, distance between pedicels 7–9 mm; floral bracts oblique, acuminate, 1.5–2.2 mm long; pedicels slender, 4–8 mm long; ovary echinate, 2 mm long; s epals translucent pale yellow, external carinae irregularly dentate, interior densely papillose, oblong, acute, shortly acuminate, 3-veined, dorsal sepal margins irregularly lacerate, 9–11 × 3.5–4 mm, lateral sepals margins irregularly, minutely dentate, 7–11 × 3–4.5 mm, connate 2–2.5 mm at the base; petals translucent pale yellow, interior densely papillose, margins irregularly lacerate-dentate, linear-ovate, acuminate, 8 × 1.1 mm, 1- veined; labellum cream with callus purple, 3 × 3.5 mm, geniculate at about the middle, 5-lobed, 3-veined, basal pair of lateral lobes with margins irregularly erose, broadly rounded, erect, curving above to envelop the column, apical lobes verruculose, with lateral lobes spreading, triangular, apices narrowly rounded, apical midlobe acutely reflexed, broadly triangular, acute, shortly acuminate, disc with a central, smooth, round area ca. 0.6 mm in diameter with posterior margin echinate, anterior margin papillose with a ligulate projection; column cream colored with distal third suffused with purple, semiterete, clavate, 3.1 × 1.2 mm, with the anther subapical, 0.85 mm long, the stigma subapical, bilobed, cleft, pollinia not observed; fruit capsule, 7 mm long.

Phenology: —This species flowers throughout the year ( Repasky et al. 2010).

Distribution, Habitat, and Ecology: — Andinia wayqechensis is only known from Wayqecha Biological Station and Manu Biosphere Reserve in the cloud forest of the Kosñipata basin, southern Peru ( Fig. 3 ). Several patches were recorded within Wayqecha and Manu between 2800 and 3000 m elevation. Repasky et al. (2010) reported it as one of the most abundant orchid species within the Kosñipata cloud forests. Plants of Andinia wayqechensis grow in humid and shaded undergrowth on rocks, branches and trunks of live and dead trees, associated with mosses in primary and secondary cloud forests.

Additional material examined: — PERU. Cusco: Province of Paucartambo, Wayqecha Cloud Forest Research Station, Kosñipata Valley , between Paucartambo and Pilcopata, 27 February 2004, Janovec et al. 2773 ( BRIT, photo!) ; same area, 29 September 2005, Repasky et al. 23 ( BRIT, photo!) ; same area, 29 September 2005, Repasky et al. 45 ( BRIT, photo!) .

Conservation Status:— Andinia wayqechensis is known only from the type locality, where it is locally abundant. Dozens of individuals can be found in a patch and several patches were recorded in the type locality. The observed total population is calculated as less than 5,000 individuals. According to the IUCN Red List ( IUCN 2014), it can be listed as Vulnerable (VU, criterion D2/number of locations).

Etymology: —The new species is named after the Wayqecha Biological Reserve, where the type specimen was found.

Comments: — Andinia wayqechensis is the only species in the genus with a 5-lobed labellum enveloping and largely concealing the column, and sepals and petals with ornately dentate margins. It is most similar to A. pentamytera , sharing an echinate ovary and the general shape of the labellum and column. However, A. wayqechensis is clearly separated by the leaf with a tridentate apex, and the flower with oblong, acute, shortly acuminate sepals and linear-ovate acuminate petals. Images of this species have previously been published in local guides of orchids: as Pleurothallis spathulifolia in Huamán (2004), and as Andinia sp. in Zelenko & Bermúdez (2009).

Key to species of Andinia :

- Ovary papillose or echinate; labellum not narrowly elliptical..........................................................................................................3. 3. Sepals apiculate; labellum with large, auriculate lateral lobes flanking and rising above the column.............................................4. - Sepals not apiculate; labellum not with large, auriculate lateral lobes flanking and rising above the column.................................5. 4. Labellum with midlobe broadly rounded with small apiculum.................................................................................... Andinia dielsii - Labellum with midlobe broadly ovate, subacute........................................................................................................ Andinia pensilis 5. Labellum trilobed..............................................................................................................................................................................6. - Labellum unlobed or with 2 lobes.....................................................................................................................................................7. 6. Sepals glabrous; petals microscopic, 0.1 mm long.................................................................................................. Andinia trimytera - Lateral sepals pubescent-spiculate; petals 1.75 mm long............................................................................................ Andinia panica 7. Ovary glabrous; lateral sepals free ..................................................................................................................... Andinia vestigipetala - Ovary echinate; lateral sepals deeply connate nearly to the tips............................................................................. Andinia lappacea 8. Labellum with 3 or 5 lobes................................................................................................................................................................9. - Labellum more or less unlobed, subquadrate or subcordate...........................................................................................................12. 9. Petals lacerate-dentate; labellum 5-lobed with 2 rounded, basal lateral lobes................................................. Andinia wayqechensis - Petals entire; labellum 3-lobed........................................................................................................................................................10. 10. Lateral sepals long-pubescent, narrowly triangular, 14 mm long ...................................................................... Andinia pentamytera - Laterals sepals glabrous or sparsely verrucose, ovate, ≤ 4 mm long..............................................................................................11. 11. Lateral sepals glabrous; labellum with lateral lobes uncinate ................................................................................ Andinia hystricosa - Lateral sepals sparsely verrucose; labellum with lateral lobes narrowly acuminate....................................................... Andinia ibex 12. Sepals at least 15 mm long..............................................................................................................................................................13. - Sepals less than 10 mm long...........................................................................................................................................................14. 13. Lateral sepals connate above the middle, papillose centrally....................................................................................... Andinia hirtzii - Lateral sepals connate below the middle, long pubescent-spiculate throughout................................................ Andinia schizopogon 14. Lateral sepals long pubescent-spiculate; labellum subquadrate.............................................................................. Andinia pogonion - Sepals glabrous; labellum subcordate .................................................................................................................. Andinia dalstroemii

Figures

FIGURE 1. Andinia wayqechensis. A. Habit, with details of the leaf apex and floral bracts. B. Flower, with details of the external carinae, the margins and interior of the sepals. C. Dissected flower. D. Ovary, labellum, and column, lateral view. E. Expanded labellum, ventral view with details of callus and verrucae. F. Labellum callus, frontal and lateral view. G. Column, ventral and lateral view. Drawing by Benjamín Collantes, based on Martel 70 (USM!).

FIGURE 2. Andinia wayqechensis. A. Habit, ascendent plant growing associated with mosses. B. Habit, lateral view with a flower and fruit. C. Flower, lateral view. D. Flower, frontal view. Photographs A and C by Anne-Laure Maire, B and D by Carlos Martel.

FIGURE 3. Geographical location of Andinia wayqechensis (dot) in Peru. Grayscale indicates elevation (white [0 m] to dark grey [6500 m]). Prepared by Carlos Martel.