Maxillaria hajekii Bennett & Christenson, 2009

Bennett Jr, David E. & Christenson, Eric A., 2009, Nine new species and one new name in Maxillaria (Orchidaceae), Phytotaxa 1, pp. 21-36 : 29

Maxillaria hajekii Bennett & Christenson , sp. nov. ( Fig. 6 )

Species haec Maxillaria granditenuis Bennett& Christenson (1998c: 71 , f. 21) similis sed floribus parvis, antheris non cristatis, medilobo labellii glabro differt.

Type:— PERU: Pasco: Cacazu , 1200 m, C . Hajek 240 (holotype: USM) .

Caespitose epiphytes to 30 cm tall. Pseudobulbs ellipsoid, compressed, 3× 1.5 cm, separated by rhizome segments to 2 cm long, subtended by foliaceous bracts, the uppermost subequal to the leaves. Leaves one, linear, acuminate, 28× 1 cm. Inflorescences erect scapes 5 cm long, the floral bracts 1.2 cm long, lanceolate, acuminate, slightly longer than the ovaries. Flowers pale yellow, the labellum whitish yellow, the lateral lobes with intense narrow dark purple margins, the center of the midlobe intense dark purple, the column and anther white. Dorsal sepal linear-lanceolate, acute, 2.1× 0.4 cm, the lateral sepals obliquely linear-lanceolate, acute, 2.1× 0.5 cm. Petals linear-lanceolate, subfalcate, acute, 2× 0.44 cm. Labellum 3-lobed, 11.5× 5.5 mm, the lateral lobes obliquely obovate, obtuse-rounded, suberect-incurved, the midlobe oblong-ovate, obtuse, glabrous, the callus oblong, half the length of the labellum, densely pubescent. Column lightly arcuate, lightly dilated toward the apex, 7.5× 2.9 mm; the foot short; the anther helmet-shaped, with a low smooth dorsal thickening, 2.4× 2 mm; the viscidium 0.7× 1.7 mm. Flowering from June to August after the rainy season.

Habitat:—Montane forest.

Distribution:— Peru.

Etymology:—We gladly name this species for Carlos Hajek, whose keen eye and generosity has brought many interesting plants to our attention. See his website at: www.peruvianorchids.org.

Observations:—This species is related to M. granditenuis Bennett & Christenson (1998c: 71 , f. 21) but differs by having flowers about half the size, a rounded keel on the anther (not a high crest), and a glabrous midlobe of the labellum. From the lowland species M. tenuis Schweinfurth (1945: 289 , tab. 18), it is separated by having a densely pubescent callus.

Figures

FIGURE 6. Maxillaria hajekii Bennett & Christenson (drawn from Hajek 240 by M. Alcántara A.). A. plant in flower; B. flower; C. column and labellum, side view; D. sepals and petals, dissected; E. labellum, expanded, from above; F. column, undersurface; G. anther, dorsal view (left), ventral view (right).