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Two New Species of Elleanthus (Orchidaceae) from Ecuador and Peru

1987; American Society of Plant Taxonomists; Volume: 12; Issue: 1 Linguagem: Inglês

10.2307/2419226

1548-2324

Kerry Barringer,

Plant Diversity and Evolution

Elleanthus hirsutis is from the elfin forest above La Peca, Amazonas, Peru. It is distinctive because it has hirsute leaves and inflorescences on both short and long stems. The presence of inflorescences on two types of shoots calls into question the use of inflorescence position to distinguish sections within the genus. Elleanthus steyermarkii is from dense, wet forest near Topo, Pastaza, Ecuador. It resembles members of the E. linifolius complex, but differs in its spiralled bracts and acute leaves. Elleanthus C. Presl is a genus of about 80 species of terrestrial and epiphytic orchids native to the neotropics. It is distinguished from the closely related Sobralia Ruiz Lopez & Pav6n by its racemose inflorescences and labella with saccate hypochiles containing a pair of calli. The Elleanthus species of northern South America are relatively well known due to the work of L0jtnant (1977) and modern floristic treatments for Venezuela (Dunsterville and Garay 1959-1976; Foldats (1969), Ecuador (Garay 1978b), and Peru (Schweinfurth 1958). Additional species and a revised classification were published by Garay (1978a). Recent herbarium studies have brought to light the following undescribed species. Elleanthus hirsutis Barringer, sp. nov. (fig. 1).TYPE: Peru, Amazonas, ca. 17 km E of La Peca in Serrania de Bagua, 1850-1900 m, elfin forest in rocky saddle between two peaks, 14 June 1978, Gentry, Dillon, Aronson, Diaz & Barbour 22990 (holotype F!; isotypes: F!, MO!).-PARATYPE: [same locality as holotype], 28 June 1978, Barbour 2518 (F!, MO!). Planta epiphytica hirsuta, usque ad 30 cm longa; radicibus flexuosis glabris; caulibus caespitosis erectis simplicibus inferne denudatis, paucivaginatis, superne paucifoliatis; foliis distichis plicatis anguste lanceolatis longiacuminatis; inflorescentiis spicatis subglobosis supra caulibus longis necnon brevibus, bracteis quaquaversalis ovato-lanceolatis, cymbiformis acuminatis a floris longioribus; floris extra hirsutis et furfuraceis, labello ad basin saccato intus corpusculis valde separatis lamina circa columna incurvata toto labello usque ad 6 mm longo; columna 5 mm longa. Epiphyte; roots flexuous, glabrous; stems caespitose, erect, 15-30 cm tall, simple, terete, to 2 mm in diam., hirsute with dark hairs. Leaves plicate, distichous; sheaths loose, 2-2.5 cm long, densely hirsute especially toward the mouth, the mouth with a narrow hyaline flap; lamina lanceolate, 11-13 cm long, 2.0-2.5 cm wide near the middle, the upper leaves becoming smaller, membranaceous, hirsute especially on back, the base narrowed, the apex long-acuminate, biapiculate. Inflorescences terminal on leafy stems or on short leafless stems, racemose; rachis 2.0-3.5 cm long, sparsely hirsute, slightly angled; bracts spiralled, ovate-lanceolate, 912 mm long, 3-5 mm wide, cymbiform, sparsely hispid, striate, acuminate, longer than the flowers. Flowers pedicellate, white or purple; ovary 6-8 mm long, hispid, furfuraceous; sepals lanceolate, 5-7 mm long, 2-3 mm wide, long acuminate, slightly furfuraceous at the base, the lateral sepals oblique, saccate at the base, slightly keeled; petals linear, 5 mm long, acute; lip flabelliform, 6 mm long, the hypochile saccate with two narrowly ovoid calli attached to separate, central keels, the mesochile constricted, with a thickened, lateral ridge, the epichile reniform, the margin incurved around the column; column straight, 5 mm long, with an angular protuberance on the underside below the stigma, the rostellum acute, the clinandrium biauriculate. Capsule narrowly ellipsoid, 9-13 mm long, hispid and furfuraceous. Elleanthus hirsutis is an unusual species that is closely related to E. lateralis Garay. It can be distinguished from that species by the dark, hirsute pubescence on the stem and leaves. The most outstanding feature of E. hirsutis is the presence of inflorescences on both long and