Biodiv. Res. Conserv. 19: 7-10, 2010 BRC www.brc.amu.edu.pl 10.2478/v10119-010-0014-2

Stellilabium kukwae (Telipogoneae, ), a new species from Bolivia

Dariusz L. Szlachetko* & Joanna Mytnik-Ejsmont

Department of and Nature Conservation, GdaÒsk University, Al. LegionÛw 9, 80-441 GdaÒsk, Poland, *e-mail: [email protected]

Abstract: A new species from Bolivia of the Salisb. (Telipogonae, Orchidaceae), S. kukwae Szlach. & Mytnik, is described and illustrated. It is morphologically most similar to S. pampatamboense Dodson & R.V·squez, but it is distinct in having densely, entirely ciliate petals, scarcely ciliate lip laminae, and furculate hairs covering the gyno- stemium.

Key words: Orchidaceae, -complex, taxonomy, Andes, South America

1. Introduction America. These tiny offer no reward to their pollinators (Dressler 1993). The lip closely resem- The systematic position of Stellilabium Salisb. for bles tachinid flies (Tachinidae) and Maduro observed years has been arousing controversy among taxono- pseudocopulation in Stellilabium by a tachinid fly mists. Morphologically the genus is easily distin- (Dressler 1981). Though these diminutive plants guishable from the closely related Telipogon Kunth and appear to approach the ìshootlessî condition of some Trichoceros Kunth (Dressler 1993; Szlachetko 1995; vandoids, species of Stellilabium are characterized by Dodson 2004) by its essentially small size and - a flattened, tapeworm-like inflorescence axis, which is lessness at maturity. Stellilabium is an exclusively Neo- the main photosynthetic organ (Dressler 1993). tropical taxon comprising about 30 species, which are While botanizing in Bolivia our colleague, Dr. Mar- tiny plants with short-lived mimic appearing tin Kukwa, a lichen specialist, found a small po- one at a time. It is also characterized by a short stem pulation of Stellilabium species. After careful studies with extensive , conduplicate , and lateral of the specimen we came to the conclusion that this inflorescence ( or panicle) with many, miniatu- plant undoubtedly represents a new, undescribed spe- re to small resupinate flowers, ranging from a few milli- cies. metres to one centimetre in length. The gynostemium is prominent and produces an elongate, beak-like ros- 2. Material and methods tellum. Trichoceros is vegetatively distinct from the two closely related aforementioned genera in greenish sheen A standard procedure of preparing the studied on succulent leaves, prominent pseudobulbs, and the material was applied. Both vegetative and generative rambling, vine-like habit, whereas Telipogon has a dif- characters of the new species were analyzed in detail. ferent lip and tepal structure in comparison to Stelli- Particular parts of the were boiled, dissected, labium. The three genera, Trichoceros, Telipogon and measured and drawn under a binocular microscope. Stellilabium, are members of the subtribe Telipogoninae They were subsequently compared with the type mate- Schltr. rial, diagnoses and original illustrations of the species Representatives of Stellilabium occur at high ele- representing the Telipogon-complex. The studied speci- vations in the Andes and in wetter forests of Central men was photographed (Fig. 1). VARIABILITY, AND VARIABILITY, TAXONOMY PHYLOGENY

© Adam Mickiewicz University in PoznaÒ (Poland), Department of Plant Taxonomy. All rights reserved. 8 D. L. Szlachetko, J. Mytnik-Ejsmont Stellilabium kukwae (Telipogoneae, Orchidaceae), a new species from Bolivia

Fig. 1. Stellilabium kukwae ñ a habit (photograph by M. Kukwa)

3. Results and Discussion tic-ovate, shortly apiculate, cochleate, rather thick, gla- brous, 3-nerved, greenish or yellowish-green. Petals 7.5 Stellilabium kukwae Szlach. & Mytnik sp. nov. (Figs. mm long, 1.8 mm wide, linear-lanceolate, subobtuse, 1-2) relatively thick, densely ciliate throughout, 1-nerved, Species haec Stellilabio pampatamboensi similis, sed deep purple-brown. Lateral sepals 7 mm long, 3.6 mm ab eo differt petalis dense omninoque ciliatis, laminis wide, obliquely ovate-lanceolate or ovate, subacute, labelli ciliatis et pilis gynostemium tegentibus apice cochleate, thick, glabrous, 3-nerved, greenish to yel- furculatis, non simplicibus. lowish-green. Lip 7 mm long, 4.5 mm wide, more or TYPE: Bolivia. La Paz Department: Coroico. less rectangular-elliptic, unlobed, triangular and some- 03.08.2008, Kukwa s.n. (holotype: UGDA-DLSzñ what twisted at the apex, shortly auriculate at the base, spirit). thick, densely ciliate all over and along margins, black ETYMOLOGY: Dedicated to Dr. Martin Kukwa in the basal third, gradually transforming into deep (GdaÒsk University, Poland), a collector of the type purple-brown above. Gynostemium 2 mm long, typical specimen. of the genus, blackish, ciliate all over, with 3 tufts of Plants small, caespitose. Stem short, 2-4 cm long, stiff, blackish-purple hairs with furculate apices, placed green. Leaves 5-7 per stem, ca. 2-4 cm long, up to 1 cm on both sides and back of the anther. wide, oblong-elliptic to ligulate, somewhat oblique, ECOLOGY: An epiphyte of wet tropical forests. shortly apiculate, unevenly and minutely denticulate ALTITUDE: 1500 m. along margins, thick, rather fleshy, green. Inflorescence GENERAL DISTRIBUTION: Known so far from the type ca. 2 cm long, sparcely-flowered. Floral bracts 3 mm locality in Bolivia only. long, glabrous, elliptic-ovate, cup-like, acuminate. TAXONOMIC AFFINITIES: The newly described species Pedicel and ovary 10 mm long, glabrous, with 3 promi- is closely related to S. pampatamboense Dodson & R. nent keels. Dorsal sepal 7 mm long, 4 mm wide, ellip- V·squez, but it differs by having densely, entirely ciliate Biodiv. Res. Conserv. 19: 7-10, 2010 9

Fig. 2. Stellilabium kukwae ñ flower parts Explanations: A ñ dorsal sepal, B ñ petal, C ñ lateral sepal, D ñ lip and gynostemium, E ñ gynostemium hairs (drawn from the holotype by A. KrÛl) 10 D. L. Szlachetko, J. Mytnik-Ejsmont Stellilabium kukwae (Telipogoneae, Orchidaceae), a new species from Bolivia

petals and a scarcely ciliate lip lamina. Hairs covering Acknowledgements. We would like to express our gratitu- the gynostemium are furculate at their apices, not simple de to the anonymous reviewer whose observations contribu- as those in S. pampatamboense. ted considerably to the improvement of the manuscript, and Anna KrÛl for preparing the line drawing.

References

DODSON C. H. 2004. Native Ecuadorian orchids, vol. 5. DRESSLER R. L. 1993. Phylogeny and classification of the Rodriguezia to Zygosepalum. Dodson Trust. Quito. orchid family. Dioscorides Press, Portland, OR. DRESSLER R. L. 1981. The Orchids: Natural History and Clas- SZLACHETKO D. L. 1995. Systema Orchidalium. Fragm. Flor. sification. Harvard University Press. Geobot. Suppl. 3: 1-152.