Campylocentrum schlechterianum E. Pessoa & M. Alves, 2015

Pessoa, Edlley & Alves, Marccus, 2015, Three new species of Campylocentrum (Vandeae, Orchidaceae) from Brazil, Phytotaxa 217 (3), pp. 265-272 : 268-270

Campylocentrum schlechterianum E. Pessoa & M. Alves , sp. nov. ( Fig. 2A −G )

Type:— BRAZIL. Santa Catarina: São Martinho, Chicão, 526 m a.s.l., 26 Jan 2010, J. Schmitt et al. 1020 (fl.) (holotype: FURB). Similar to C. pauloense but differs by the globose and patent spur (vs. clavate and slightly curved).

Epiphytic herbs. Roots 1 − 1.5 mm diam., cylindrical, fibrous, smooth, whitish to grey. Stem elongated, 3 − 13 cm long, cylindrical, rarely branched. Leaves 10 − 28 × 3 − 4 mm, greenish, linear-oblong, the apex 2-lobed, lobes acute to obtuse, margin entire. Inflorescence 5 − 8 mm long, peduncle ca. 1 mm long, glabrous, brownish; rachis 4 − 7 mm long, glabrous, brownish; floral bracts 0.3 − 0.5 × 0.2 − 0.3 mm, deltoid, membranaceous, covering the base of the pedicellate ovary, margin minutely denticulate, the apex acute. Flowers 4 − 8 (per inflorescence), cream-colored, distichous, ovary pedicellate, 0.8 − 1.2 mm long, papillose; dorsal sepal 1.8 − 2.1 × 0.9 − 1.0 mm, oblong, membranaceous, the apex obtuse, 3-nerved, glabrous, margin entire; lateral sepals 2 − 2.5 × 0.7 − 0.8 mm, oblong, subfalcate, membranaceous, the apex acute to obtuse, 3-nerved, glabrous, margin entire; petals 1.7 − 1.9 × 0.7 − 0.8 mm, oblong, membranaceous, the apex acute to obtuse, 3-nerved, glabrous, margin entire; lip 1.9 − 2.1 × 1.5 − 1.8 mm between the lateral lobes, 3-lobed, 9- nerved, membranaceous, margin entire, producing at base a spur, lateral lobes 1.0 − 1.1 × 0.4 − 0.5 mm, suborbicular, the apex rounded, mid-lobe 0.9 − 1.0 × 0.6 − 0.8 mm, deltoid, the apex acute, glabrous, spur 1.0 − 1.2 × 0.9 − 1.1 mm diam., globose, patent, the apex rounded, glabrous; gynostemium ca. 0.2 mm long, anther cap apex rounded, pollinia 2, globose. Capsule not seen.

Distribution and Ecology: —This species occurs in the state of Santa Catarina (southern Brazil) and São Paulo (southeastern Brazil) in areas of Atlantic Forest with elevations of 500 − 700 m a.s.l. It probably also occurs in the State of Paraná (southern Brazil), as this state is geographically situated between the previous cited states ( Fig. 3 ). The flowering period is poorly known, but according to analyzed specimens flowers can be observed between January and March.

Etymology: —The name of the new species honors Rudolf Schlechter, a German botanist, who described several species of Campylocentrum during the first decades of the 20 th century.

Morphological affinities: — Campylocentrum schlechterianum is vegetatively similar to C. pauloense , so much so that sterile specimens of the species are almost undistinguishable. In flower, however, the shape and position of the spur (globose and patent vs. clavate and slightly curved) make C. schlechterianum similar to C. brachycarpum or C. itatiaie . It differs from C. brachycarpum by the length of the floral bracts (0.3 − 0.5 mm vs. 1 − 1.5 mm) and shape of the lip (3-lobed vs. entire), and from C. itatiaie by the number of flowers per inflorescence (4 − 8 vs. 12 − 20) and length of the sepals (1.8 − 2.5 mm vs. 0.9 − 1.4 mm) ( Table 1).

Additional specimens examined (paratypes): — BRAZIL. São Paulo: Barra do Turvo, Parque Estadual de Jacupiranga, Núcleo Cedro , 24 Mar 2005, Destefani et al. 111 (fl.) ( ESA) ; ibid., 24 Mar 2005, Destefani et al. 115 (st.) ( ESA) .

Figures

FIGURE 2. Campylocentrum schlechterianum A. Habit. B. Inflorescence. C–D. Flowers, E–F. Lip and spur in profile. G. Dissected perianth. [A–C., E. and G. drawn from Schmitt et al. 1020 (FURB); D. and F. drawn from Destefani et al. 111 (ESA)].

FIGURE 3. Map of the known distribution of the new species. Circle—Campylocentrum carvalhoi; Square—C. itatiaiae; Triangle—C. schlechterianum.