taxonID	type	description	language	source
03F01A03954EFF9103CBF9FA31200013.taxon	materials_examined	Type: — COLOMBIA. Boyacá: Municipio de Arcabuco, Serranía del Peligro. 2670 m, 10 May 2025, Sierra-Ariza & Rojas Molina 543 (holotype: TOLI).	en	Sierra-Ariza, Mario Alexei, Molina, Jhon Fredy Rojas, Wilson, Mark (2025): Pleurothallis velosana (Orchidaceae: Pleurothallidinae), a new species from the eastern Andes of Colombia. Phytotaxa 715 (2): 164-170, DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.715.2.7, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.715.2.7
03F01A03954EFF9103CBF9FA31200013.taxon	discussion	Pleurothallis velosana is most similar to Pleurothallis franciana Sierra-Ariza (2023: 36; Fig. 2), but differs in having an oblong-triangular lip (vs. oblong-lanceolate), a cuspidate and involute apex (vs. acute and straight), a verrucose surface with scattered pustules (vs. vesiculose), and irregular margins and base of the lip with a spathulate glenion (vs. obovate) and two subtriangular, prominent lobes (vs. two round, less prominent lobes; Table 1). Erect, epiphytic, caespitose herbs, 3.5 – 8.0 cm tall. Roots slender, 1.2 mm in diameter. Ramicauls green, 3.3 – 7.5 cm long, with two tubular sheaths on the basal half of the stem, light brown. Leaf light green, ovate-lanceolate, acuminate, 4.0 – 5.6 × 2.0 – 2.5 cm, the base sessile, cordate. Inflorescence with a reduced peduncle, enclosed by a broad, reclining spathe ca. 6 mm long, bearing up to five flowers simultaneously; pseudopeduncle terete, green, 3.0 – 5.0 mm long; floral bracts tubular, acute, 3.0 – 4.0 mm long. Flowers with sepals and petals yellowish brown; lip reddish brown, with yellowish upper margins; column light yellow. Ovary yellow to red with black dots, papillate, pedicellate, cylindrical, longitudinal sulcate, 2.5 mm long. Sepals glandular-papillate, margins irregular. Dorsal sepal lanceolate, acute, 7.8 – 8.7 × 2.5 – 3.0 mm, 3 - veined. Lateral sepals connate to form an ovate synsepal, rounded to bifid, concave at the center, with revolute margins and apex, 7.5 – 8.2 × 4.7 – 5.3 mm, 4 - veined. Petals linear-triangular, slightly glandular-papillose, acute, with irregular margins, erose in the basal half, 3.2 – 3.7 × 0.6 – 0.8 mm, 1 - veined. Lip oblong-triangular, apex cuspidate and involute, verrucose with scattered pustules, margin irregular to slightly erose, 3.3 – 3.6 × 1.4 – 1.7 mm, 3 - veined; the base of the lip bears a small, spathulate glenion; base forming two subtriangular, prominent lobes. Column short, broad, semiterete, margins irregular, 0.8 × 1.2 mm, with a foot; stigma apical, bilobed. Anther cap yellow, apical, obovate, minutely papillose, 0.6 × 0.5 mm. Pollinia 2, yellow, obovoid. Capsule not seen.	en	Sierra-Ariza, Mario Alexei, Molina, Jhon Fredy Rojas, Wilson, Mark (2025): Pleurothallis velosana (Orchidaceae: Pleurothallidinae), a new species from the eastern Andes of Colombia. Phytotaxa 715 (2): 164-170, DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.715.2.7, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.715.2.7
03F01A03954EFF9103CBF9FA31200013.taxon	materials_examined	Additional specimen examined: — COLOMBIA. Santander: Municipio de Charalá, centro poblado de Virolín, cuchilla del Fara, 2580 m, 11 May 2025, Sierra-Ariza & Rojas Molina 544 (JBB).	en	Sierra-Ariza, Mario Alexei, Molina, Jhon Fredy Rojas, Wilson, Mark (2025): Pleurothallis velosana (Orchidaceae: Pleurothallidinae), a new species from the eastern Andes of Colombia. Phytotaxa 715 (2): 164-170, DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.715.2.7, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.715.2.7
03F01A03954EFF9103CBF9FA31200013.taxon	biology_ecology	Phenology: — Flowering has been observed in January, May, July and November.	en	Sierra-Ariza, Mario Alexei, Molina, Jhon Fredy Rojas, Wilson, Mark (2025): Pleurothallis velosana (Orchidaceae: Pleurothallidinae), a new species from the eastern Andes of Colombia. Phytotaxa 715 (2): 164-170, DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.715.2.7, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.715.2.7
03F01A03954EFF9103CBF9FA31200013.taxon	conservation	Conservation status: — Data deficient (DD). Pleurothallis velosana is a recently discovered species for which only five populations have been recorded in a single geographic area. It exhibits a restricted preliminary distribution, with an area of occupancy (AOO) estimated at 11 km ², and it is not possible to accurately estimate its extent of occurrence (EOO), suggesting that the species may face an elevated risk of extinction. Nevertheless, some populations are located in the jurisdiction of Serranía del Peligro Regional Natural Park, which provides a degree of protection in an officially protected area.	en	Sierra-Ariza, Mario Alexei, Molina, Jhon Fredy Rojas, Wilson, Mark (2025): Pleurothallis velosana (Orchidaceae: Pleurothallidinae), a new species from the eastern Andes of Colombia. Phytotaxa 715 (2): 164-170, DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.715.2.7, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.715.2.7
03F01A03954EFF9103CBF9FA31200013.taxon	etymology	Eponymy: — In honour of Jorge Luis Velosa Ruiz, a renowned Colombian musician, composer, writer, professor, and veterinary doctor, in tribute to his invaluable legacy in the preservation and promotion of Colombian rural culture through his artistic works, social commitment and contribution to the cultural identity of Colombia.	en	Sierra-Ariza, Mario Alexei, Molina, Jhon Fredy Rojas, Wilson, Mark (2025): Pleurothallis velosana (Orchidaceae: Pleurothallidinae), a new species from the eastern Andes of Colombia. Phytotaxa 715 (2): 164-170, DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.715.2.7, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.715.2.7
03F01A03954EFF9103CBF9FA31200013.taxon	discussion	Notes: — In addition to Pleurothallis franciana, the new species is also like Pleurothallis braidiana (Luer) Karremans (2019: 263), Pleurothallis ariana-dayanae Vélez-Abarca, M. M. Jiménez & D. Gut. del Pozo (2022: 102) and Pleurothallis applanata Luer & Dalström (1996: 147) (Table 1). Pleurothallis velosana and P. braidiana are from the Eastern Cordillera of the Colombian Andes, P. franciana in the Central Cordillera, and P. ariana-dayanae and P. applanata from Ecuador (Fig. 5). The new species has not been observed in sympatry with any of these species, and its restricted distribution, likely associated with specific elevational and ecological conditions, reinforces its independent status and provides additional support for its recognition (Figs. 3, 4, Table 1). These species are readily recognizable from their morphology, particularly from the diagnostic features of the lip.	en	Sierra-Ariza, Mario Alexei, Molina, Jhon Fredy Rojas, Wilson, Mark (2025): Pleurothallis velosana (Orchidaceae: Pleurothallidinae), a new species from the eastern Andes of Colombia. Phytotaxa 715 (2): 164-170, DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.715.2.7, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.715.2.7
