Selbyana 27(1): 4-7. 2006.

ENCYCLIA OSSENBACHIANA (: ), A NEW SPECIES FROM COSTA RICA

FRANCO PUPULIN

Jardin Botanico Lankester, Universidad de Costa Rica. Marie Selby Botanical Gard~ns, Sarasota, FL 34236-7726, USA. Mailing address: P.O. Box 1031-7050 Cartago, Costa RIca, C.A. Email: [email protected]

ABSTRACT. A new species of Encyclia (Orchidaceae) from Costa Rica is described and illustrated. Among Mesoamerican species of Encyclia, E. ossenbachiana may be distinguished by its. strongly reflexed sep'als and petals, linear-oblong, narrow lateral lobes of the lip, subquadrate-truncat~ ffildlobe, callus pre~entmg two retrorse, rounded keels that join at the rear apex to form a narrow cUnIculus, and the exaunculate column.

Key words: Orchidaceae, Laeliinae, Encyclia ossenbachiana, Costa Rica, Central America

INTRODUCTION the oldest names is untenable. A recent key to the Encyclia species of Mesoamerica offered by The of the Central American spe­ Dressler (2004), notwithstanding a typographi­ cies of Encyclia Hook. (Orchidaceae: Laeliinae) cal error in the duplication of a couplet, strongly has been rather disputed, both at the level of enhanced our understanding of this group. generic circumscriptions and of species concepts As understood today, Encyclia includes some (Hooker 1828; Lindley 1831, 1842, 1853; Ames 90 species distributed from Florida and Mexico et al. 1936; Dressler 1961, 1962, 1984, 1993, through Central America, the Bahamas, and the 2003, 2004; Dressler & Pollard 1971, 1974; Caribbean islands to Peru and Argentina in Withner 1998, 2001; van den Berg et al. 2000; South America. Three main distribution centers Higgins et al. 2003). Even after conclusive rec­ exist in Mexico, the Antilles, and the Atlantic ognition of the distinctness of Encyclia and its coast of southern Brazil. of Encyclia are segregation from the L. epiphytes (rarely lithophytes) characterized by (Dressler 1961) and removal from Encyclia of mostly conic-ovoid pseudobulbs with few ter­ the large bulk of species now assigned to Pros­ minal, coriaceous leaves, and terminal inflores­ thechea Knowl. & Westc. (Higgins 1998), the cence, racemose or paniculate, without a spathe. identity of many of the Mesoamerican species The resupinate flowers (with the exception of the remains confusing (see, for example, Dressler type species, E. viridifiora Hook.) have spread­ 2004 vs. Withner 1998, 2001). This is partly ing sepals and petals, a three-lobed lip mostly caused by the great silnilarity of many Central free from the column, the column provided with American taxa close to E. gravida (Lindl.) three terminal, short teeth, and fusiform fruits. Schltr., as well as by the application of old Apart from the large-flowered Encyclia cor­ names, often based on poorly defined concepts. digera (Kunth) Dressler and E. alata (Batem.) The use of broad concepts of Encyclia species Schltr., species of Encyclia from southern Cen­ to circumvent the difficulty of finding clear ways tral America are usually characterized by small to distinguish them reached its apex during the flowers with green perianth and white, glabrous first half of the last century. In their comprehen­ lip, often marked with purple guides. Species sive studies on the genus Epidendrum (including concepts within this group are not yet sharply Encyclia) of North and Central America, Oakes defined. The author, who currently is studying Ames and his co-workers considered most of the the status of the Costa Rican taxa close to E. species with medium-sized flowers and a more gravida, has found among the studied material or less orbicular midlobe of the lip as part of a (mostly fresh flowers from plants grown at Jar­ "polymorphic alliance," considering them as din Botanico Lankester, University of Costa varieties of a single variable species, a very Rica), a species that shows morphological fea­ broadly defined Epidendrum oncidioides Lindl. tures so peculiar that it can be confidently de­ (Ames et al. 1936). A better understanding of scribed here as new to science. Lindley's concept of E. oncidioides, a Brazilian species somewhat restricted in distribution (Dressler 1962, Carnevali & Ramfrez 1988, Car­ TAXONOMIC TREATMENT nevali et al. 1994), reveals that the gross lump­ Encyclia ossenbachiana Pupulin, sp. nov. TYPE: ing of Central American species under a few of Costa Rica-Cartago: Tierra Blanca, Rio 4 PUPULIN: ENCYCLIA OSSENBACHIANA 5

Reventado, along the river edge, at ca. 1900 mus ca. 1 mm long, subquadrate, minutely pa­ m. A collected by Rafael A. Gonzalez pillose on the lateral margins; midlobe suborbic­ Rodriguez, July 2001, flowered in cultiva­ ular, retuse, 6 X 7 mm, provided at the base with tion at Jardin Botanico Lankester, Dulce an ovate-elliptic, laminar, flat callus, decurrent Nombre de Cartago, 8 July 2003, D. Bo­ in front into a low keel running toward the lip garln 357 (holotype, USJ!). FIGURE 1. apex, on which is a second callus composed by 2 retrorse rounded keels, highest in the rear por­ Ab Encycliae mooreanae (Rolfe) Schltr. sepalis pe­ tion, joining at the base to form a narrow cunic­ talisque viridibus immaculatis, labelli lobulis laterali­ bus oblongo-linearibus multo angustioribus, lobulo in­ ulus. Column straight, subclavate, semiterete, termedio transverse late elliptico vel orbicularis apici truncate, 7 mm long. Anther cap widely ovate, subcuadrato vel subretuso-truncato, calla in disco or­ cucullate, 4-celled. Pollinia 4 in 2 pairs, ob­ nato duabus carinis rotundatis retrorsis postice elevatis ovate, strongly flattened, on narrowly linear, ba­ apicibus junctis cuniculum angustum formantibus dis­ sally bifid caudicles. tincta; a Encycliae ceratistidi (Lindl.) Schltr. infiores­ centiae ovarioque dense corrige ovarioque dense, fio­ PARATYPE: Costa Rica-Alajuela: Alfaro ribus multo minoribus, sepalis tepalisque valde refiex­ Ruiz, Palmira, Zona Protectora El Chayote, is, labelli lobulis lateralibus angustioribus apicibus along the continental divide, 2100 m, 8 March adaxialibus maculae purpureae notatis, lobulo inter­ 2001, flowered in cultivation at Jardin Botanico medio maculae purpureae magnae notato, columnae Lankester, University of Costa Rica, 2 June exalatae differt. 2004, F. Pupulin & C. Barboza 5237 (Jardin Bot. Lankester, Spirit!). Plant epiphytic, cespitose, with a very short rhizome, to 70 cm tall. Roots white, produced EpONYMY: Named in honor of Carlos Ossen­ from the base of the pseudobulb and the rhi­ bach Sauter, founder of the Charles H. Lankester zome, 0.9-1.1 mm in diam. Pseudobulbs ovoid Foundation and research associate of Jardin Bo­ to subpyiriform, subtended by scarious bracts tanicD Lankester, University of Costa Rica, in shredded with age, 3.5-5.5 X 2.3-3.0 cm, 2- recognition of his contributions to the develop­ (rarely 3-) foliate at apex. Leaves ligulate-ob­ ment of Costa Rican orchidology. long, acute, the apex somewhat irregularly bi­ DISTRIBUTION: Only known from Costa Rica. lobed, coriaceous, curving with age, 24-55 X l.9-2.3 cm. Inflorescence terminal, arching, ECOLOGY: Epiphytic in submontane rain for­ stout, warty, a paniculate raceme to 150 cm ests along the crests of the Central Volcanic long; peduncle terete, to 45 cm long, covered by range in Costa Rica, at 1900-2100 m. Flowering 6-8 scarious, tightly sheathing bracts 8-11 mm occurs at least in June and July. long; lateral branches perpendicular to the main rachis, densely warty, 7-14 cm long, 2-11 flow­ In flower size, Encyclia ossenbachiana ap­ ered. Floral bracts triangular-ovate, acute, scar­ proaches E. mooreana (Rolfe) Schltr., described ious, 3 X 2.5-3.0 mm. Ovary pedicellate, terete, in 1891 from a specimen without locality data, warty, arching, to 1.5 cm long including the ped­ to which it also resembles in the purple blotches icel. Flowers resupinate, spreading-reflexed, at the apex of the reflexed lateral lobes of the scented, the sepals and petals pale apple green, lip and on the blade of the midlobe. The lateral the sepals dorsally blotched with brown at the lobes, however, are linear-oblong in E. ossen­ apex, the lip white, blotched purple on the center bachiana, whereas they are notably narrowed at of midlobe, the lateral lobes abaxially provided the base and widely expanded at apex in E. moo­ with a large brown blotch and a purple blotch at reana, and the midlobe is subquadrate-truncate the center of the adaxial apex; the callus white; in E. ossenbachiana vs. rounded in E. moo­ the column pale green at the base, white at apex, reana. The two species also differ in the color with a bright yellow anther. Sepals sub similar, of sepals and petals, which are completely green oblanceolate-oblong, acute, reflexed, dorsally in E. ossenbachiana and flecked with purple in carinate and provided with a prominent, apical E. mooreana, as well as in the shape of the cal­ callus, slightly conduplicate toward the apex. lus. On the top of the laminar callus that is typ­ Dorsal sepal 10 X 3 mm. Lateral sepals slightly ical of many Encyclia species, E. ossenbachiana oblique, 10-11 X 3.5-4.0 mm. Petals spatulate presents two retrorse, rounded keels that join at to unguiculate, obtuse, minutely apiculate, re­ the base to form a narrow cuniculus. flexed, 9 X 3.0-3.5 mm. Lip basally adnate to The shape of the lateral lobes of the lip has the column for 2 mm, deeply 3-lobed, 10 X 8 been widely used to separate species groups in mm across the lateral lobes; lateral lobes linear­ Central American Encyclia, and it is a useful oblong, rounded, slightly wider toward the apex, character to distinguish E. mooreana from the erect and flanking the column in natural posi­ closely related E. ceratistes (Lindl.) Schltr. tion, the apices neatly reflexed, 5 X 2 mm; isth- (Ames et al. 1936; Williams 1946, 1951; Hamer 6 SELBYANA Volume 27(1) 2006

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3mm 5mm

FIGURE 1. Encyclia ossenbachiana Pupulin. A. Habit. B. Detail of the rachis. C. Flower. D. Dissected perianth. E. Lip, spread. F. Column and lip, three-quarters view. G. Column, three-quarters and ventral views. H. Pollinaria and anther cap. Drawn by the author from the holotype. PUPULIN: ENCYCUA OSSENBACHIANA 7

1974; Mora-Retana & Atwood 1992; Dressler mel, M.H. Grayum, C. Herrera, and N. Zamora, 1993, 2003, 2004). The latter species was orig­ eds. Manual de Plantas de Costa Rica, Vol. 3. inally described from a plant collected by Hart­ Monocotiled6neas (Orchidaceae-Zingiberaceae). weg in the "Spanish Main," or northern South Monogr. Syst. Bot. Missouri Bot. Gard. 93. ---. 2004. A key to the Central American species America (Lindley 1844), and its distribution of Encyclia. Orch. Digest 68(2): 88-91. ranges from Mexico to Colombia and Venezue­ Dressler, R.L. and G.E. Pollard. 1971. Nomenclatural la. The oblong-ligulate lateral lobes of the lip of notes on the Orchidaceae. IV. Phytologia 21(7): E. ossenbachiana are comparatively narrower 433-439. and marked with a round purple blotch at apex, ---. 1974. The Genus Encyclia in Mexico. Aso­ but they agree in shape to those of E. ceratistes. ciaci6n Mexicana de Orquideologfa, Mexico. Nonetheless, the two species differ in many as­ Hamer, F. 1974. Las Orqufdeas de EI Salvador, Vol. 1. pects. The inflorescence and the ovary of E. os­ Ministerio de Educaci6n, EI Salvador. senbachiana are densely verruculose (vs. slight­ Higgins, W.E. 1997 [1998]. A reconsideration of the genus (Orchidaceae). Phytologia ly warty to glabrous in E. ceratistes), the peri­ 82(5): 370-383. anth segments are smaller in E. ossenbachiana Higgins, W.E., C. van den Berg, and W.M. Whitten. (10-11 vs. 13-16 mm long), and the sepals and 2003. A combined molecular phylogeny of En­ petals are strongly reflexed in E. ossenbachiana cyclia (Orchidaceae) and relationships within Lae­ (spreading in E. ceratistes). In the original pro­ liinae. Selbyana 24(2): 165-179. tologue, Lindley (1844) stated that the column Hooker, W. 1828. Encyclia viridiflora. Curtis' Bot. of Epidendrum ceratistes is "bicomuta" (or Mag. 55: pI. 2831. provided with two horn-like arms), whereas in Mora-Retana, D.E. and J.T. Atwood. 1992. Orchids of Costa Rican populations the column only pre­ Costa Rica, Part 2. Icon. PI. Trop.15: 1401-1500. Pupulin, F. 2005. Encyclia Hook. pp. 256-267 in F. sents two very reduced teeth; however, the col­ Pupulin and collaborators. Vanishing Beauty. Na­ umn of E. ossenbachiana is not winged at all. tive Costa Rican Orchids, Vol. 1: Acianthera-Ke­ A photograph of the flowers of E. ossenbachi­ geliella. Editorial de la Universidad de Costa ana was published by Pupulin (2005: 261) with­ Rica, San Jose. out determination. Lindley, J. 1831. Epidendrum odoratissimum. Ed­ wards' Bot. Reg. 17: PI. 1415. ---. 1842. Epidendrum. Edwards' Bot. Reg. 28: LITERATURE CITED 27-36. Ames, 0., F.T. Hubbard, C. Schweinfurth. 1936. The ---. 1844. Epidendrum ceratistes. Edwards' Bot. genus Epidendrum in the United States and Mid­ Reg. 30: Misc. 92. dle America. Botanical Museum, Cambridge, ---. 1853. Folia Orch. Epidendrum. J. Matthews, Mass. London. Carnevali, G. and I.M. Ramirez. 1988. Revisi6n de van den Berg, c., W.E. Higgins, R.L. Dressler, W.M. Encyclia Hook. (Orchidaceae) para Venezuela. Whitten, M.A. Soto Arenas, A. Culham, and M.W. Bol. Comite Orquideol. Soc. Venez. Ci. Nat. 23: Chase. 2000. A phylogenetic analysis of Laeliinae 13-87. (Orchidaceae) based on sequence data from Inter­ Carnevali, G., I.M. Ramirez, and G.A. Romero. 1994. nal Transcribed Spacers (ITS) of nuclear ribosom­ Orchidaceae Dunstervillorum. VIII: new Encyclia al DNA. Lindleyana 15: 96-114. species and combinations from Venezuelan Gua­ Williams, L.O. 1946. Orchidaceae. Pp. 86-88 in Flora yana. Lindleyana 9(1): 59-70. of Panama. Part 3. Fascicle 3. Ann. Missouri Bot. Dressler, R.L. 1961. A reconsideration of Encyclia. Gard.33. Phytologia 55: 288. ---. 1951. The Orchidaceae of Mexico. Ceiba 2(1- ---. 1962. Is it really Epidendrum oncidioides? 4): 1-344. Fla. Orchid 3: 125-129. Withner, c.L. 1998. The Cattleyas and Their Relatives, ---. 1984. La delimitaci6n de generos en el com­ Vol. V. Brassavola, Encyclia, and Other Genera plejo Epidendrum. Orqufdea (Mex.) 9: 277-298. of Mexico and Central America. Timber Press, ---. 1993. Field Guide to the Orchids of Costa Portland, Ore. Rica and Panama. Cornell University Press, Ithaca ---. 2001. Encyclia in Zentralamerika, zwei neue and London. und sechs wenig bekannte Arten. Orchidee ---. 2003. Orchidaceae. pp. 216-255 in B.E. Ham- (Hamb.) 52: 444-450.