Maxillaria deniseae Collantes & 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 : 25-26

Maxillaria deniseae Collantes & Christenson , nom. nov. ( Fig. 3 )

Maxillaria huancabambae (Kraenzl.) Schweinfurth (1945: 277) var. cuzcoensis Schweinfurth (1945: 278) ; Pityphyllum huancabambae (Kraenzl.) Whitten (2006: 455) var. cuzcoense (C. Schweinf.) Whitten (2006: 456) .

Type:— PERU: Cusco: Prov. Convencion, Hda. Potrero, Sapan-Sachayocc , 2200 m, C. Vargas 2553 (holotype: AMES; isotype: CUZ), non Maxillaria cuzcoensis Schweinfurth (1945: 268) .

Miniature pendent epiphytes. Pseudobulbs ovoid, 1.2× 0.5 cm, separated by rhizome segments ca 2 cm long. Leaves linear, acute, 5.5–6× 0.4 cm. Inflorescences short scapes subequal to the pedicel and ovary. Pedicel and ovary papillose, 7× 1 mm. Flowers solitary, cupped, white, the anther nearly black, the pollinia cream colored. Sepals lanceolate, acute, with recurved apices, 8× 3 mm. Petals narrowly lanceolate, acute, 6.5× 2 mm. Labellum unlobed, elliptic, concave, 6× 3 mm, the callus a low circular pad 1 mm in diameter. Column stout, winged, 2× 1.5 mm; the pollinarium 1 mm long. Flowering from April to May in nature.

Habitat:—Seasonally dry montane forest.

Distribution:— Peru.

Specimens examined:— PERU: Cusco: Prov. Urubamba, Machu Picchu, Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel, leg. M. Quispe, B. Collantes 164 (USM); Prov. Paucartambo, Cosnipata, San Ramon to Union, 1500–1600 m, D. Moscoso 1050 (CUZ); Prov. Urubamba, Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu, Wiñay Wayna, W. Nauray 353 (CUZ); Prov. Convención, Hacienda Potrero, Sapan-Sachayocc, C. Vargas 2553 (AMES, CUZ, MO); Prov. Paucartambo, Llutuyoc, 3300 m, F. Woytkowski 603 (USM).

Etymology:—Named for Denise Guislain Koechlin, wife of the owner of the Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel.

Observations:— This species is distinguished from Maxillaria huancabambae (Kraenzl.) Schweinfurth (1945: 277) by the stark white flowers with a nearly black anther, the narrower sepals, and a labellum without defined lateral lobes. Type: PERU: Cajamarca : Prov. Jaën, Huancabamba, 2600-2700 m, Weberbauer 6098 (holotype: B, destroyed; isotypes: AMES, US)

Comment:— Schweinfurth (1945) incorrectly cited the type number as Vargas 2253 but the holotype, marked in his hand, is clearly Vargas 2553.

Figures

FIGURE 3. Maxillaria deniseae Collantes & Christenson (drawn from Collantes 164 by B. Collantes). A. plant in flower; B. flower; C. flower, side view; D. floral dissection; E. column and labellum, side view; F. labellum, from above; G. column, undersurface (left), side view (right); H. anther, dorsal view (left), ventral view (right); I. pollinarium, dorsal view (left), ventral view (right).