Jumellea exilis, (Cordem.) Schltr., 1915

Baider, Claudia, Vincent Florens, F. B., Rakotoarivelo, Fanny, Bosser, Jean & Pailler, Thierry, 2012, Two new records of Jumellea (Orchidaceae) for Mauritius (Mascarene Islands) and their conservation status, Phytotaxa 52 (1), pp. 21-28 : 24

J. exilis (Cordem.) Schltr. ( Fig. 1 )

Distribution:— Mauritius, Réunion and Madagascar

Specimens examined: — MAURITIUS. Mare Longue–Macabé Road , 11 October 1962, Vaughan s.n. ( MAU 0002109 ) (fr.) ; Macabé , 1 November 1962, Vaughan s.n., ( MAU) ; Macabé , 12 October 1968, Edgerley s.n., ( MAU) ; Tamarind Falls , 21 December 1968, Wiehe s.n. ( MAU) ; Brise Fer , 2 August 1982, Lamusse s.n. ( MAU) ; Rivière Dimanche–Simonet , 21 March 1984, Lamusse s.n. ( MAU 0008290 ) (fl., fr.) ; Mondrain , 14 June 1996, D. Florens & D’Argent s.n. ( MAU) ; Rambouillet – La Nicolière, 400 m, 6 August 2009, 20 º 09’ 53” S, 57 º 36’ 53” E, Pynee et al. s.n. ( MAU 0004857 ) (fr.) ; Brise Fer , 595 m, 10 June 2009, 20 º 22’ 35’’ S, 57 º 26’ 34” E, V. Florens & Baider CB 2244 ( MAU 0008274 ) (fl.) ; Le Pouce , ca. 800 m, 20 º 11’ 52” S, 57 º 31’ 43” E, 24 September 2011, V. Florens & Baider CB 2523 ( MAU 0009140 ) (fl.) ; s. loc., 1847-52, Boivin 1055 ( MAU) .

Habitat: —In Mauritius: epiphyte in transitional and evergreen forest (400–650 m elev.) on canopy trees of 10–18 m high and lithophytic on micro ledge on steep cliffs at about 800 m elevation or on large boulders.

Conservation status: —The species is assessed in Mauritius as Critically Threatened CR B1ab(i, ii, iii, iv) + B2ab(i, ii, iii, iv); C2a(i); D as per IUCN red list criteria ( IUCN 2001).

Phenology: —In Mauritius: flowering in June, September, October, November. Fruiting: October to December.

Notes: — Jumellea exilis has a ramose, creeping stem with non-angled leaves, and oblong labellum. On the other hand, J. recta with which it has previously been confused on Mauritius, has a non-ramose erect stem with leaves angled above the articulation with the sheath, and a rhombic labellum.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Jumellea exilis from Mauritius. A. Side view of flower showing the long spur. B. Front view of flower. C. The largest known colony on Mauritius, growing near the summit of Le Pouce Mountain in steep cliffs inaccessible to introduced monkeys (Macaca fascicularis) which are known to rip and chew on Jumellea in Mauritius.