Polish Botanical Journal 58(2): 625–627, 2013 DOI: 10.2478/pbj-2013-0067 A NEW SPECIES OF CLEISTES (ORCHIDACEAE, VANILLOIDEAE) FROM COLOMBIA MARTA KOLANOWS K A 1 & DARIUSZ L. SZLACHET K O Abstract. Cleistes cuatrecasasii Kolan. & Szlach. sp. nov. from the Pacific slope of the Colombian Andes is described and illustrated. Information about its habitat and distribution is provided, and the taxonomic affinity of the new species is briefly discussed. Key words: Andes, biodiversity, Nariño, taxonomy Marta Kolanowska & Dariusz L. Szlachetko, Department of Plant Taxonomy and Nature Conservation, University of Gdańsk, ul. Wita Stwosza 59, 80-308 Gdańsk, Poland; e-mail:
[email protected] INTRO D UCTION The Neotropical genus Cleistes Rich. ex Lindl. are wing-like, connate partially with the fila- was described by Lindley (1840) to separate plants ment, with the style forming a prominent pocket characterized by the presence of longitudinal crests hiding the basal part of the anther (Szlachetko or lamellae on the lip, but its species usually have & Rutkowski 2000). been united within Pogonia Juss. (Schweinfurth Nowadays over 50 Cleistes species are recog- 1958; Schultes 1960; Foldats 1970; Williams nized (Christenson 1992; Campacci et al. 2011; et al. 1980). Subsequent morphological studies Pansarin 2004; Pansarin & Barros 2008; Szla- (Dressler & Dodson 1960; Garay 1978; Szlachetko chetko & Baranow 2012). The geographical range & Rutkowski 2000) and molecular research (Cam- of the genus extends from Peru to Costa Rica, with eron 2003) clearly indicated the generic distinc- the highest diversity observed in Brazil (Carnevali tiveness of Cleistes. & Ramírez-Morillo 2003). The only species known As currently recognized, the genus embraces from North America (southeastern USA) is C.