Polish Botanical Journal 51(1): 57–59, 2006

GENERA ET SPECIES ORCHIDALIUM. 15. MAXILLARIEAE

DARIUSZ L. SZLACHETKO, JOANNA MYTNIK-EJSMONT, MARCIN GÓRNIAK & MAGDALENA ŚMISZEK

Abstract. A new of the subfamily Vandoideae () – Christensonella Szlach., Mytnik, Górniak & Śmiszek, gen. nov. – is described. Its taxonomic position is briefl y discussed and 16 new combinations are made. Key words: Orchidaceae, Vandoideae, Maxillarieae, Christensonella, neotropics Dariusz L. Szlachetko, Joanna Mytnik-Ejsmont*, Marcin Górniak & Magdalena Śmiszek, Department of Taxonomy and Nature Conservation, Gdańsk University, Al. Legionów 9, PL-80-441 Gdańsk, Poland, *e-mail: [email protected]

Maxillarieae Pfi tz. is an exclusively neotropical iorchis Rausch., Mersupiaria Hoehne, , tribe characterized by the presence of a short and Mormolyca Fenzl, Pityphyllum Schltr., Scuticaria wide rostellum, which transforms itself almost Lindl. and Trigonidium Lindl. completely into a narrow viscidium and relatively Within the subtribe there occurs a relative uni- broad tegula. The rostellum is usually deeply in- fi cation of the fl ower structure on one hand; on the cised after the removal of the pollinarium. The other hand, a very large variability of vegetative column foot is usually well-developed. Most spe- characters (such as size and plant types, growth cies possess 4 pollinia (occasionally 2). Maxil- patterns, number of leaves, and inflorescence larieae includes 3 subtribes: Bifrenariinae Dressl., types) can be observed. The adaptation to local Eriopsidinae Szlach., Maxilariinae Lindl. habitats could be a basis of such wide morpho- (Cymbidioid phylad of the ad- logical variability. However the general morpho- vanced sensu Dressler 1993) is logical similarity of the fl ower structure may be a very rich and diversifi ed group containing tropical caused by convergence, this being an expression and subtropical orchids. Precise number of species of the adaptation to particular groups of pollina- classifi ed in Maxillariinae is not yet known because tors. This could probably explain the polyphyletic it depends on the adopted classifi cation system. extraction of the subtribe. Dressler estimates 460–500 species, but Atwood By using consistent criteria for separating the and Mora de Retana (1997) from Costa Rica dem- genera in Maxillariinae, at least Maxillaria Ruiz onstrated that the subtribe contains more than 600. & Pavón sect. Urceolatae Christ. should be segre- The generic delimitations in Maxillariinae are gated into a new genus. This is what we propose not strictly defi ned either. Some authors proposed below. a broad concept of particular genera (Christenson 2002), for example Maxillaria Ruiz. & Pavón in- Christensonella Szlach., Mytnik, Górniak & Śmi- cludes Anthosiphon Schltr., Ornithidium Salisb., szek, gen. nov. Pseudomaxillaria Hoehne and Sepalosaccus Schltr. Maxillaria Ruiz & Pavón sect. Urceolatae Christ. Type Other authors proposed narrow generic concepts species: Maxillaria nardoides Kraenzl. (Schlechter 1914; Senghas 2002). Szlachetko Genus hoc a Maxillaria Ruiz & Pavón pseudobulbis (1995) divided Maxillariinae into ten genera: squamis scariis dense obtectis, 1–2 foliis crassis, suc- Antrosiphon, Chrysocycnis Linden & Rchb.f., cosis, infl orescentia unifl ora, brevipedunculata, axe et Cryptocentrum Benth. in Benth. & Hook.f., Cyrid- pedunculo squamis scariis dense obtectis recedit. 58 POLISH BOTANICAL JOURNAL 51(1). 2006

GENERIC TYPE: Christensonella paulistana (Hoehne) Basionym: Maxillaria cogniauxiana Hoehne, Bol. Agric. Szlach., Mytnik, Górniak & Śmiszek (= Maxillaria pau- (Sao Paulo) 34: 632.1934. listana Hoehne). Pseudobulbs fusiform or cylindrical to ellip- Christensonella echinophyta (Barb. Rodr.) Szlach., soid, densely arranged along the rhizome, covered Mytnik, Górniak & Śmiszek, comb. nov. by scarious or subscarious and semitransparent or Basionym: Maxillaria echinophyta Barb. Rodr., Gen. brownish scales. Leaves 1 or 2, fi liform or oblong Sp. Orch. 1: 122. 1877. to linear, terete or subterete, cylindrical, usually thick and stiff. Infl orescence single-fl owered, with Christensonella ferdinandiana (Barb. Rodr.) a very short peduncle, covered by scarious or sub- Szlach., Mytnik, Górniak & Śmiszek, comb. nov. scarious sheaths. Flowers small to medium-sized, Basionym: Maxillaria ferdinandiana Barb. Rodr., Gen. campanulate. Floral bracts similar to the sheaths. Sp. Orchid. 2: 204. 1881. Tepals subsimilar, equal or subequal to the lip. Lip hanging on the column foot, obscurely 3-lobed, Christensonella juergensii (Schltr.) Szlach., with a prominent, oblong central callus. Gynoste- Mytnik, Górniak & Śmiszek, comb. nov. mium similar to that of Maxillaria. Column foot short, but prominent, mentum short. Basionym: Maxillaria juergensii Schltr., Repert. Sp. Nov. Regni Veg. 35: 88. 1925. ETYMOLOGY. Dedicated to Eric A. Christenson who contributed to our knowledge of various or- Christensonella madida (Lindl.) Szlach., Mytnik, chids of the world, including Maxillaria. Górniak & Śmiszek, comb. nov. Basionym: Maxillaria madida Lindl., Bot. Reg. 24: NOTE. The newly proposed genus differs clearly Misc. 44. 1838. from Maxillaria by series of features. The most characteristic is the presence of a single or two Christensonella minuta (Cogn.) Szlach., Mytnik, succulent leaves, which are usually narrow, elon- Górniak & Śmiszek, comb. nov. gate, and often fi liform. Pseudobulbs are usually fusiform, covered by some scarious or subscarious Basionym: Maxillaria minuta Cogn. in Martius, Fl. scales at the base with transparent, papery margins. Bras., Orchid. 3(6): 68. 1904. The infl orescence is very short, single-fl owered. The fl oral bracts are scarious or subscarious with Christensonella nardoides (Krzl.) Szlach., Mytnik, transparent, papery margins, these completely con- Górniak & Śmiszek, comb. nov. ceal the infl orescence axis. The column foot is Basionym: Maxillaria nardoides Krzl., Repert. Sp. Nov. rather short and massive. Our preliminary studies Regni Veg. 1: 90. 1905 of ITS sequence support the step we take here (Śmiszek et al., in prep.). Christensonella pachyphylla (Schltr. ex Hoehne) The new genus embraces about 20 species Szlach., Mytnik, Górniak & Śmiszek, comb. nov. known from Mexico to Brazil and Peru. Sixteen Basionym: Maxillaria pachyphylla Schltr. ex Hoehne, new combinations are herein made. Bol. Mus. Nac. Rio de Janeiro 12(2): 36. 1936.

Christensonella acicularis (Herb. ex Lindl.) Christensonella paulistana (Hoehne) Szlach., Szlach., Mytnik, Górniak & Śmiszek, comb. nov. Mytnik, Górniak & Śmiszek, comb. nov. Basionym: Maxillaria acicularis Herb. ex Lindl., Bot. Basionym: Maxillaria paulistana Hoehne, Arq. Bot. Reg. 23: sub t. 1986. 1837. Estado Sao Paulo 2: 135. 1952.

Christensonella cogniauxiana (Hoehne) Szlach., Christensonella pumila (Hook.) Szlach., Mytnik, Mytnik, Górniak & Śmiszek, comb. nov. Górniak & Śmiszek, comb. nov. D. SZLACHETKO ET AL.: GENERA ET SPECIES ORCHIDALIUM. 15 59

Basionym: Maxillaria pumila Hook., Bot. Mag. 64: ACKNOWLEDGMENTS. The senior author wishes to ex- 3613. 1837. press his gratitude to the curators of AAU, AMES, B, BM, C, K, P and W for their hospitality during his Christensonella seidelii (Pabst) Szlach., Mytnik, personal visits. We are greatly indebted to Professor Górniak & Śmiszek, comb. nov. Ryszard Ochyra for latinization of the diagnoses and to the anonymous reviewer for valuable comments on the Basionym: Maxillaria seidelii Pabst, Orquidea (Rio de manuscript. This article was prepared at the Heidelberg Janeiro) 22: 52.1960 University thanks to a grant from the Alexander von Humboldt-Stiftung (V-8121/POL/1067782) and Polish Christensonella subulata (Lindl.) Szlach., Mytnik, State Committee for Scientifi c Research (KBN grant Górniak & Śmiszek, comb. nov. 510/P04/2004/27). Basionym: Maxillaria subulata Lindl., Gen. Sp. Orchid. Pl.: 147. 1832. REFERENCES

Christensonella uncata (Lindl.) Szlach., Mytnik, ATWOOD J. T. & MORA D. E. 1997. Maxillaria cedralensis, Górniak & Śmiszek, comb. nov. a new species from the highlands of Costa Rica. Selbyana 18: 31–32.

Basionym: Maxillaria uncata Lindl., Bot. Reg. 23: CHRISTENSON E. A. 2002. Vue d’ensemble du genere Maxil- 1986. 1837. laria. Richardiana 2(2): 41–65.

DRESSLER R. L. 1993. Phylogeny and classifi cation of the orchid Christensonella vernicosa (Barb. Rodr.) Szlach., family. Dioscorides Press, Portland. Mytnik, Górniak & Śmiszek, comb. nov. SCHLECHTER R. 1914. Die Orchidaceen von Deutsch-Neu- Guinea. Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 1: 1–1058. Basionym: Maxillaria vernicosa Barb. Rodr., Gen. Sp. Orchid 1: 121. 1877. SENGHAS K. 1993. Subtribus Maxillariinae. In: F. G. BRIEGER, R. MAATSCH & K. SENGHAS (eds), Rudolf Schlechter: Die Orchideen. Blackwell Wissenschafts-Verlag, Berlin. Christensonella vitellinifl ora (Barb. Rodr.) Szlach., SENGHAS K. 2002. Maxillaria (Orchidaceae), un genre chaotique. Mytnik, Górniak & Śmiszek, comb. nov. Richardiana 2(1): 29–38.

Basionym: Maxillaria vitellinifl ora Barb. Rodr., Gen. SZLACHETKO D. L. 1995. Systema Orchidalium. Fragm. Florist. Sp. Orchid. 1: 121. 1877. Geobot., Suppl. 3: 1–137.

Received 2 February 2006