Re

ICONES PLEUROTHALLIDINARUM

IV

SYSTEMATICS

OF

ACOSTAEA

CONDYLAGO

AND

PORROGLOSSUM

(ORCHIDACEAE)

Missouri Botanical Garden

ICONES PLEUROTHALLIDINARUM

IV

SYSTEMATICS

OF

ACOSTAEA

CONDYLAGO

AND

PORROGLOSSUM

Carlyle A. Luer

m

Missouri Botanical Garden

MONOGRAPHS IN SYSTEMATIC BOTANY

from the Missouri Botanical Garden

Volume 24, November 1987

ISSN 06161-1542

Carlyle A. Luer

3222 Old Oak Drive

Sarasota, FL. 34239

Typeset at 3222 Old Oak Drive, Sarasota, Flo

with WordStar Professional Release 4

and a Hewlett Packard Lascijet Series II

using HP 33412AD and 33412AF

CONTENTS

Systematics of the Genus Acostaea .1

Key to the species of Acostaea .4

The species of Acostaea .6

References to Acostaea .20

Index to the scientific names in Acostaea .20

Systematics of the Genus Condylago .21

Systematics of the Genus Porroglossum .25

Key to the species of Porroglossum .28

The species of Porroglossum .34

Acknowledgments.90

References to Porroglossum .90

Index to the scientific names in Porroglossum .91

The three pleurothallid genera included in this volume are

not closely related, but each has developed independently an

actively motile labellum. In each, a stimulus causes the

lip to rise quickly. The pollinator is trapped temporarily

between the lip, column, and petals. An escape requires the

pollinator to brush past the stigma, rostellum, and anther.

SYSTEMATIC^ OF THE GENUS

ACOSTAEA (ORCHIDACEAE)

New taxa:

Acostaea costaricensis subsp. bicornis (Luer) Luer

Acostaea costaricensis subsp. colombiana (Garay) Luer

Acostaea costaricensis subsp. unicornis (Luer) Luer

Dr. Rudolph Schlechter described this genus in 1923, basing it on two col¬

lections of very similar plants sent to him by Sr. Guillermo Acosta from near

San Ramon in Costa Rica. Schlechter distinguished the new genus by the inser¬

tion of the petals onto an elongated column-foot, the remarkable structure of

the lip, and the wide-winged column. Since he described the genus from dried

specimens, he could not know that the lip was actively motile in living plants.

Schlechter also stated that the flowers were non-resupinate, which is not

the case. Resupination in such tiny, dried flowers could be difficult to de¬

termine. The flowers are resupinate from a bending backward of the pedicel, not

by a twisting of the pedicel and ovary. Also assuming the flowers to be non-

resupinate, Garay (1974) presumed that the lip was passively motile, "swinging

the pollinator downward" onto the winged column.

The most distinguishing feature of this genus is the sensitive, actively

motile labellum. The independently evolved mechanism is totally different from

that devised by the other two pleurothallid genera known with sensitive lips

(Porroglossum Schltr. and Condylagp Luer), or the few other orchid genera (Cal-

eana R. Br., Drakaea Lindl., Plocoglottis Blume, and Pterostylis R. Br.) of

other tribes and subtribes (Dressier 1981; M. Clements, pers. comm.).

In 1867, long before Acosta, specimens and excellent pencil illustrations

of flowering plants of this genus had been sent to Reichenbach by Endres, also

from Costa Rica. Presumably Reichenbach was either uncertain about the pecu¬

liarities of the flower, or did not find the time to name and publish the genus

before his death in 1889. Perhaps he was unsure of the unusual morphology of

the floral parts and was hoping eventually to obtain living plants.

All the species of Acostaea are found growing epiphytically on mossy limbs

or twigs in cool, moist, neotropical forests usually in association with other

pleurothallids. Numerous plants are often present in a population, and they

ICONES PLEUROTHALLIDINARUM

flower throughout the year. They probably mature and flower within one year

from seed. Flowering specimens have been found growing upon the leaf of a large

species of Pleurothallis. Without flowers the little tufted plants are indis¬

tinguishable from many little species of Pleurothallis or Stelis.

THE MECHANISM OF THE SENSITIVE LABELLUM

The following hypothetical account of the sensitive lip is based on simple

observation of the activity of the hinged Up of Hving flowers. No known

detailed experiments have ever been conducted.

It is known that the terminal part, or "apex," of the oblong column-foot

xs truncate and concave. The base of the Up is attached by a broad, membra¬

nous margin to the entire width of the end of the column-foot, creating thereby

a thin, transverse hinge. In the "open," or receptive position (Figure 1.) the

Up is extended down from the column, and more or less rests upon the synsepal.

The prominent callus of the Up is exposed.

FoUowing a stimulus to the caUus, the Up suddenly snaps upward to a

"closed" position (Figure 2.) between the petals and the large column-wings.

This creates an effective cage from which the pollinator can escape only by

crawling past the stigma, rosteflum, and pollinia. Pollinia adhering to the

pollinator would be transported to the stigma of another flower, should the

pollinator fall into the trap of the other flower. After a period of time, the

Up descends again to the open position.

It is not known how the mechanism works. I suggest that the stimulus

received from the caUus causes a sudden loss of turgor of certain, critical

cells near the hinge, possibly within the concave apex of the column-foot. (A

sudden loss of turgor in certain cells supposedly occurs in the totally differ¬

ent mechanism of Porroglossum to cause the Up to snap shut. See Systematics

of Porroglossum , page 26.) Should certain cells within the column-foot near

the broad hinge lose turgidity to decrease the width of the column-foot by

failing to oppose unaffected outer cells, the Up would rise, much the same as

pinching folded paper in Japanese origami causes a mouth to open, or wings to

flap. Similarly, if pressure is appUed to bend one side of the hinge of a

fast-food, hamburger container, the Ud closes. Releasing the pressure on the

hinge or restoring the width, causes the Ud to open. The loss and restora¬

tion of turgidity m cells within the concave column-foot near the hinge could

explain the phenomenon.

A second possibiUty is that the critical cells are located near the base

of the caUus which occupies the base of the Up. Loss of turgidity here would

have a similar effect by decreasing the width of the labeUar side of the

SYSTEMATICS OF ACOSTAEA

ICONES PLEUROTHALLIDINARUM

KEY TO THE SPECIES AND SUBSPECIES OF ACOSTAEA

1 Apex of the callus of the lip rounded.2

1* A pe x of the callus of the lip with 1 or 2 minute processes.6

2 Apex of the blade of the lip entire. a. tenax

2’ Apex of the blade of the lip lobed, not entire.3

3 Apex of the blade of the lip trilobed. A. trilobata

3’ Apex of the blade of the lip bilobed with a small

apiculum in the sinus. 4

4 Callus of the lip cylindrical, less than 1 mm long,

from a narrow base.A campylotyle

4 Callus of the hp more or less flattened, more than

1 mm long, from a broad base. 5

5 Lobes of the lateral sepals with a small angle on the

inner margin above the sinus; petals with an obtuse

angle on the lower margin.A costaricensis subsp. Colombiana

3 Lobes of the lateral sepals without a small angle on

the margin above the sinus; petals oblong, without an

obtuse angle on the lower margin. A. costaricensis subsp. costaricensis

6 Apex of the callus of the lip with a central

apiculum .. . . costaricensis subsp. unicornis

6 Apex of the callus of the lip with a pair of

.A. costaricensis subsp. bicomis

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

Acostaea campylotyle P. Ortiz

Acostaea costaricensis Schltr. subsp.

Acostaea tenax Luer & Escobar

Acostaea trilobata Luer

Plate 1.

bicomis (Luer) Luer Plate 2.

colombiana (Garay) Luer Plate 3.

costaricensis Plate 4.

unicornis (Luer) Luer Plate 5.

Plate 6.

Plate 7.

SYSTEMATICS OF ACOSTAEA

Plate 1. Acostaea campylotyle P. Ortiz

8

SYSTEMATIC^ OF ACOSTAEA

Plate 2. Acostaea costaricensis Schltr. subsp. bicomis (Luer) Luer

ICONES PLEUROTHALLIDINARUM

Acostaea costaricensis Schltr., subsp. colombiana (Garay) Luer, subsp. nov.

Syn.: Acostaea colombiana Garay, Orquideologia 9:112,1974.

By.: Named for Colombia, the country of origin of the plant described.

COLOMBIA: Dept, of Antioquia: Munic. of Con-

cepcidn, Cabeceras del Rio Concho, O. /.

Arango s.n. (Holotype of A. colombiana : AMES);

flowered in cultivation by M. & O. Robledo at

La Ceja, 9 Oct. 1977, C Luer 1959 ; above

Santo Domingo, Aguas Frias, alt. 2000 m, 10

May 1985, C. Luer, R Escobar & E. Valencia

11326 (MO).

Acostaea colombiana was distin¬

guished by the absence of a tooth at the

apex of the column-wings beside the

anther, obliquely ovate-falcate, obtuse

petals, and the apical lobes of the lip

toothed in the sinus. I have drawn a

flower from the cultivated plant from

which the above description

fiad that there is indeed a tooth at the apex of the column-wings beside the

anther. The shape of the petals varies from that of A. costaricensis only in

the obtuse angle on the labellar margin. The obscure, obtuse angles on the

inner margms of the apical lobes of the Up are also seen in other populations

of A. costaricensis. Therefore, the angled petals are the only morphological

feature that separates A. colombiana from A. costaricensis. Petals with a

similarly angled margin are seen in A campylotyle.

SYSTEMATIC^ OF ACOSTAEA

Plate 3. Acostaea costaricensis Schltr. subsp. colombiana (Garay) Luer

12

SYSTEMATIC^ OF ACOSTAEA

Plate 4. Acostaea costaricensis Schltr. subsp. costaricensis

m

SYSTEMATICS OF ACOSTAEA

Plate 5. Acostaea costaricensis Schltr. subsp. unicornis (Luer) Luer

ICONES PLEU ROTHALLIDINARUM

PANAMA; Prov. erf CocI6; epiphytic in cloud

forest above El Valle, alt. 900 m, 6 March

1976, C. Luer, J. Luer, R Dressier A P.

Taylor 760 (Holotype SEL); same area, 20 Feb.

Santa FI, alt.

700 m, 5 Sept 1976, C. Luer A R L. Dressier

1143 (SEL).

This subspecies occurs in central

Panama where populations of the typical

species also occur. Without a strong

lens, no difference can be seen. The apex of the lip of the typical species is

rounded and minutely pubescent. The apex of the Up of subspecies unicornis is

also round, but from the center of the margin a small apiculum arises, and from

the under surface of the free apex of the callus some glandular hairs dangle.

Aeostaea tenax Luer & Escobar, Orquideologfa 15:123,1982.

Ely.: From the Latin tenax, 'tenacious," referring to the restraining a]

COLOMBIA; Dept. <

1981, C. Luer A R Escobar 6603 (Holotro

SEL; Isotype: JAUM); epiphytic in cloud fore

S tWC f£? UCaramanga and Berhn ’ a,t - 2550

May 1984, C Luer, /. Luer, R Escobar A

Valencia 10200 (MO).

This species occurs in the eastern

cordillera of Colombia at altitudes

considerably higher that that of any

other known population of the genus.

Vegetatively and florally, A. tenax is

SYSTEMATIC^ OF ACOSTAEA

Plate 7. Acostaea trilobate. Luer

PLEUROTHALLIDINARUM

SYSTEMATIC^ OF THE GENUS

CONDYLAGO (ORCHIDACEAE)

This genus, based on a single species, was described in 1982. Plants

were first discovered by a collector in 1975, and successfully cultivated by

Sr. Rodrigo Escobar R. in Medellm, Colombia. The totally different mechanism

of a sensitive labellum sets the genus apart from the other two pleurothallid

genera (Acostaea Schltr. and Porroglossum Schltr.) with motile lips. These

three genera are not closely related.

This monotypic genus is endemic to a small region of wet, virgin forest of

the northern part of the Western Cordillera of Colombia. It has no known close

relatives. The mechanism of the actively mobile lip is unique in the Orchida-

ceae. Since the mechanism has never been studied, the details of the following

discussion have been drawn from simple observation.

As in the species of the other two pleurothallid genera with mobile lips,

the lip of Condylago is "down" in the receptive position. The flower, as well

as the flowers of most of the species of these genera, are borne in the resupi-

nate position with the lip lowermost. At the base of the upper surface of the

blade of the lip of Condylago a flat, disclike, slightly sticky callus is

present. Extending 90° downward from the base of the blade are a pair of

rigid, knobbed, armlike appendages that rest at a 90° angle against the round¬

ed, bulbous apex of the column-foot. Between the appendages a thin, slender

strap connects the base of the blade to the back surface of the swollen apex of

the column-foot.

A stim ulus, presumably received somewhere on the blade of the lip, causes

the lip to snap suddenly upwards to a position beneath the column. The sensi¬

tive site of the "trigger" has not been discovered. The circular disc as well

as other areas of the blade have been explored with a pointed instrument, but

without finding the sensitive spot. Any movement of the lip, however, sends it

quickly into the "up" position, and it stubbornly refuses to be returned to the

"down" position.

Presumably a loss of turgor in the swollen tips of the armlike processes

at some signal from the "trigger" (as occurs in the inner layer of cells of the

clawlike strap of the lip of Porroglossum) releases tension between the pro¬

cesses and the swollen apex of the column-foot. This would permit the now

unopposed strap to pull the lip inwards and upwards, guided by the processes as

they slide downward on the apex of the column-foot. In the "up" position the

processes lie parallel to the column-foot. When the turgor has been restored,

pressure between the processes and the column-foot, and opposing the pull of

the strap, would force the lip back down into the receptive position. The ends

of the armlike processes glide over the end of the column-foot much like the

femoral condyles ride over the tibial plateau in the knee joint.

Since no sensitive "trigger" spot has been demonstrated, it is possible

that the pollinator simply moves the lip as it invades the flower to investi¬

gate or to nibble the circular callus, possibly only the "bait." Motion alone

will effect the closure.

ICONES PLEUROTHALLIDINARUM

Condylago Luer, Orquideologia 15:118,1982.

Type: Condylago rodrigoi Luer, Orquideologia 15:118,1982.

Ety.: From the Latin cortdylus, "a condyle,” in allusion to the articulation of the lip to

The description of the only species will suffice for the description of

the genus.

Condylago rodrigoi Luer, Orquideologia 15:118,1982.

Ety.: Named in honor of Sr. Rodrigo Escobar of Medellin, Colombia, who has successfully

cultivated this species since its discovery.

Plant medium in size, epiphytic, caespitose; roots slender. Ramicauls erect, slender,

2-3 cm long, enclosed by 2-3 loose, tubular sheaths with microscopically papillose margins.

Leaf erect, thinly coriaceous, narrowly elliptical, acute, subpetiolate, 5-10 cm long in¬

cluding the petiole ca. 2 cm long, 15-2.5 cm wide. Inflorescence a loose, flexuous, suc¬

cessively many-flowered, arching raceme, up to 25 cm long including the peduncle ca. 10 cm

Superficially, the single species known to date in the genus resembles the

relatively common and widespread Pleurothallisflexuosa (Poepp. & Endl.) Lindl.

Vegetatively the leaves of both species are narrowly elliptical and borne by

short ramicauls. The racemes of both species are flexuous and successively

flowered, eventually much exceeding the leaves in length. The flowers are of

similar size and coloration, and the sepals of both are filled within by long,

white hairs. The lips, however, indicate no close relationship whatsoever.

SYSTEMATIC^ OF CONDYLAGO

Plate 1. Condylago rodrigoi Luer

24

25

SYSTEMATIC^ OF

ICONES PLEUROTHALLIDINARUM

Bean and Oliver. Schlechter pointed out the apical anther and the elongated,

curved column-foot with a free apex, but obviously he could not realize the

dramatic action involving the free apex and the springlike claw of the lip bent

around it under tension. He did not include in his Porroglossum the other four

species already known. Instead, he transferred Af. echidna, Af. xipheres and Af.

amethystina to Scaphosepalum Pfitz., leaving Af. eduardii and M. mordax (the

older epithet for his P. colombianum) in Masdevallia.

In his monograph of the genus Masdevallia in 1925, Kranzlin completely

failed to comprehend the genus. He reduced Porroglossum to the synonymy of

section Echidna, scattered four species of Porroglossum into three other of his

sections (Af. eduardii into sect. Coccineae, M. echidna and Af. xipheres into

sect. Echidna, and M. amethystina into sect. Rhombopetalae ), and to his genus

Lothiania, proposed the preceding year for M. mordax, he added L. bilabiata (a

synonym of the common, totally unrelated M. platyglossa Rchb. f.). He reduced

Af. muscosa to M. echidna, and/ 5 , colombianum to M. xipheres. He also described

a specimen of P. mordax as Scaphosepalum antioquiense.

There are two paintings by Lehmann at Kew with the intended names

Masdevallia adenosepala and Af. sensitiva. The former can be referred to P.

mordax, the latter possibly to P. olivaceum.

In the past few years, 20 additional species have been discovered to bring

the total number of known species to 25. They inhabit the cool, moist, mossy

cloud forests of the Andes from Venezuela through Colombia, Ecuador and

Peru to Bolivia. Only one species (P. muscosum) is known from Venezuela, and

only one species (P. procut) is known from Bolivia. Eight species are known

from Colombia, four species are known from Peru, and 15 have been found in

Ecuador. Most of the species are in cultivation, but a few are so rare that

they have been seen but once. Undoubtedly other still unknown species will be

discovered as new roads penetrate previously inaccessible forests.

THE MECHANISM OF THE SENSITIVE LABELLUM

In the "open," or pollinator-receptive position of the lip (Figure 1.),

the outer layer of cells of the upper surface of the straplike claw (the

narrow, basal extension of the lip) is pressed against the free apex of the

elongated column-foot (the "fulcrum"). The claw is bent under tension away

from the back of the free apex of the column-foot from its insertion higher on

the back surface of the column-foot. The column-foot is free to near the

middle, just below the connation of the lateral sepals to the upper portion of

the column-foot. The distal segment of the free column-foot beyond the inser¬

tion of the claw is called the "emergence" by Oliver.

A tactile stimulus (from the pollinator under natural conditions, or from

an object like a bristle or a pencil point under greenhouse conditions) re¬

ceived by the callus causes a sudden loss of turgor in the outer layer of cells

of the claw in contact with the apex of the column-foot leaving the tension of

the outer layer of cells of the under surface of the claw unopposed (Oliver

1888). This releasing of the pressure of the claw against the apex of the

column-foot, causes the lip to snap suddenly inwards to the "closed" position

(Figure 2.), thereby thrusting the pollinator against the stigma and under

surface of the column.

ICONES PLEUROTHALLIDINARUM

KEY TO THE SUBGENERA, SECTIONS AND SPECIES

OF PORROGLOSSUM

Subgenus Eduardii

1 Rhizome long-repent; raceme distantly flowered. P. eduardii

Subgenus Porroglossum

1’ Plant caespitose or shortly repent; raceme densely flowered.2

2 Peduncle glabrous.4

Section Echidna

2’ Peduncle pubescent.3

3 Sepals verrucose, the tails clavate-thickened. P. echidna

y Sepals verrucose or smooth, the tails slender. P. muscosum

Section Tortae

4' Flowers non-resupinate, the ovaries more or less twisted.5

5 Leaves reticulated; blade of the lip broadly

cuneate, pubescent. 6

5 Leaves not reticulated; blade of the lip narrowly

to broadly cuneate. 3 7

6 Tails of the lateral sepals ca. 71

6’ Tails of the lateral sepals ca. 21

long, descending. P. portillae

long, ascending. p. uxorium

7 ° f r th f *? eral se P als 4 long, descending;

blade of the hp narrowly cuneate, glabrous./>. dalstroemii

IS ° f ?i 1- er u Se P ak sub 8 1 °bose, 1.5-2 mm long and broad;

blade of the hp broadly cuneate, ciliate./> condylosepalum

8 All three sepals tailless, the lateral sepals

triangular, subacute.

8’ Lateral sepals distinctly narrowed or with tails

9 Dorsal sepal verrucose, narrowly obtuse without

contracting into a tail.

9’ Dorsal sepal not verrucose, contracted into a

distinct tail, long or short.

SYSTEMATIC^ OF PORROGLOSSUM

10 Apex of the lateral sepals apical, distant from the

junction with the dorsal sepal, the margins erose. P. mordax

10’ Apex of the lateral sepals lateral, adjacent to the

junction with the dorsal sepal, the margins entire. P. tycinum

11 Tail of the dorsal sepal slender, acute, shorter than the

blade, usually acutely reflexed.12

IT Tail of the dorsal sepal slender or stout, about as long as

or longer than the blade.16

12 Tails of the lateral sepals thickened-clavate.13

12’ Tails of the lateral sepals slender.15

13 Leaves reticulated; flowers small, the tails of the lateral

sepals ca. 5 mm long, the blade of the lip 3 mm long. P. rodrigoi

13’ Leaves not reticulated; flowers larger, the tails of the lateral

sepals ca. 10 mm long, the blade of the lip 5 mm long.14

14 Sepals white; blade of the lip minutely pubescent. P. nutibara

14’ Sepals orange; blade of the lip glabrous. P- aureum

15 Sepals bright rose; callus of the lip low. P- amethystinum

15’ Sepals brown; callus of the lip tall, longitudinal. P. olivaceum

16 Tail of the dorsal sepal slender, more or less reflexed.

16’ Tail of the dorsal sepal thick, more or less erect or antrorse.

17 Sepals rose to bright rose; tail of the dorsal sepal acutely

reflexed; callus of the lip longitudinal.

17’ Sepals not rose; tail of the dorsal sepal slightly reflexed;

callus of the lip longitudinal or transverse.

18 Sepals pubescent within.

18’ Sepals glabrous.

19 Dorsal sepal broadly transversely dilated; petals with

acute marginal angles...

19’ Dorsal sepal not broadly dilated; petals with obtuse

marginal angles.

20 Callus of the lip tall and longitudinal.

20’ Callus of the Up low and transverse.

21 Leaves verrucose; callus of the Up densely pubescent

21’ Leaves not verrucose; callus of the Up glabrous.

22 Tail of the dorsal sepal erect; callus of the Up low,

longitudinal and flat; stigma with acute processes.

22’ Tail of the dorsal sepal antrorse; caUus of the Up

short and transverse; stigma without acute processes

.18

P . Ser ^l9

P. hoeijeri

P. teaguei

. P. agile

, schramii

.23

24

23 Lateral sepals abruptly contracted into narrow, terete,

laterally ascending tails.• • •••••••.

23’ Lateral sepals gradually narrowed into broad,

decurved tails.

. P.procul

. . P. andreettae

. P. meridionale

P. peruvianum

24 Blade of the Up pubescent

24’ Blade of the Up glabrous .

ICONES PLEUROTHALLIDINARUM

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

Porroglossum agile Luer

Porroglossum amethystinum (Rchb. f.) Garay

Porroglossum andreettae Luer

Porrogjlossum aureum Luer

Porroglossum condylosepalum Sweet

Porroglossum dalstroemii Luer

Porroglossum echidna (Rchb. f.) Garay

Porroglossum eduardii (Rchb. f.) Sweet

Porroglossum hirtzii Luer

Porroglossum hoeijeri Luer

Porroglossum fycinum Luer

Porroglossum meridionale P. Ortiz

Porroglossum mordax (Rchb. f.) Sweet

Porroglossum muscosum (Rchb. f.) Schltr.

Porroglossum nutibara Luer & Escobar

Porroglossum olivaceum Sweet

Porroglossum peruvianum Sweet

Porroglossum portillae Luer & Andreetta

Porroglossum procul Luer & Vasquez

Porroglossum rodrigoi Sweet

Porroglossum schramii Luer

Porroglossum sergioi P. Ortiz

Porroglossum taylorianum Luer

Porroglossum teaguei Luer

Porroglossum uxorium Luer

Plate 1.

Plate 2.

Plate 3.

Plate 4.

Plate 5.

Plate 6.

Plate 7.

Plate 8.

Plate 9.

Plate 10.

Plate 11.

Plate 12.

Plate 13.

Plate 14,15,16,17.

Plate 18.

Plate IQ ™ ?i

Plate

Figure 3. A. Column, side view. B. Column, bottom view.

IS f IIP!

SYSTEMATICS OF PORROGLOSSUM

Porroglossum Schltr.

.2:778,1

of the lip is transverse and erect. As far as

SYSTEMATIC^ OF PORROGLOSSUM

Plate 2. Porroglossum amethystinum (Rchb. f.) Garay

SYSTEMATIC^ OF PORROGLOSSUM

Plate 3. Porroglossum andreettae Luer

SYSTEMATICS OF PORROGLOSSUM

Plate 4. Porroglossum aureum Luer

Plate 5. Porroglossum condylosepalum Sweet

SYSTEMATICS OF PORROGLOSSUM

Plate 6. Porroglossum dalstroemii Luer

SYSTEMATIC^ OF PORROGLOSSUM

Plate 7. Porroglossum echidna (Rchb. f.) Garay

ICONES PLEUROTHALLIDINARUM

Porroglossum eduardii (Rchb. f.) Sweet, Amer. Orchid Soc. Bull. 41: 519,1972.

Bas.: Masdevallia eduardii Rchb. f., Gard. Chron. 2: 778,1880.

Ety.: Named in honor of its discoverer, Eduard Klaboch.

Plant medium in size, epiphytic, long-repent, the rhizome slender, 2-4.5 cm long

between ramicauls; roots slender. Ramicauls erect, slender, 7-10 mm long, enclosed by 2-3

tubular sheaths. Leaf erect, coriaceous, long-petiolate, the petiole 10-20 mm long, the

blade elliptical, obtuse, 18-23 mm long, 9-12 mm wide, the base cuneate into the slender

petiole. Inflorescence a loose, successively few-flowered raceme, 2-3 flowers often open

simultaneously, borne by an erect, slender, glabrous peduncle 15-21 cm long, with a few,

distant bracts, from low on the ramicaul; floral bracts tubular, 3-4 mm long; pedicel 3-4 mm

long; ovary verrucose, 4 mm long; sepals orange, with lightly erose margins, the dorsal

sepal ovate, 11 mm long, 75 mm wide, connate to the lateral sepals for 3 mm to form a

gaping cup, the apex obtuse, with a minute apiculum, the lateral sepals oblong, 15 mm long,

65 mm wide, connate 8 mm, the apices rounded with a minute apiculum, the veins tall-

carinate crested within above the middle; petals translucent orange, more or less oblong,

45 mm long, 1.75 mm wide, the apex rounded, the lower margin slightly dilated; lip orange,

the blade cuneate, 4 mm long, 3 mm wide, the truncate apex pubescent, with a shallow sulcus

medially, the callus at the base of the blade purple-black, transverse, erect, 1 mm tall,

shortly densely pubescent, the base extended into a broad, straplike claw bent with tension

around the free apex of the column-foot; column stout, semiterete, 2 mm long, the foot

curved, 3 mm long.

Unique in the genus, this species is noted for the long-repent habit, a

long, loose raceme of large, orange, tailless flowers, two or three often open

simultaneously, and lateral sepals verrucose-crested within. The mechanism of

the sensitive labellum is the same as in all the other members of the genus.

SYSTEMATICS OF PORROGLOSSUM

SYSTEMATIC^ OF PORROGLOSSUM

SYSTEMATICS OF PORROGLOSSUM

Plate 10. Porroglossum hoeijeri Luer

SYSTEMATIC^ OF PORROGLOSSUM

Plate 11- Porroglossum fydnum Luer

SYSTEMATICS OF PORROGLOSSUM

Plate 12. Porroglossum

meridionale P. Ortiz

SYSTEMATIC^ OF PORROGLOSSUM

ICONES PLEUROTHALLIDINARUM

roadcut between Otovalo and Apuela,

R. Escobar 3938 (SEL); Prov. of Morona-bantiago: collected

1000 m, 1972, flowered in cultivation 12 Dec. 1978, C. Luer

western slopes of Cbraz6n, Rio Silante, alt. 2000 m, 14 Jan.

: Tandapi, alt. 2000 m, 31 Mar. 1984, C.

8 Feb. 1979, C. Luer, J. Luer, A. Him &

/. Teague near Limon, alt.

(MO); Prov. of Pichincha:

l, F. C. Lehmann 315 (G);

Dalstrom, T.

. 2500 in, G. C. K Dunsterville

This species is rather frequent, widespread and variable in its wide range

through the Andes from Venezuela through Ecuador, at altitudes below 2500

meters above sea level. It was the first species of the genus to be brought

into cultivation in Europe. Specimens cultivated at Kew were the first in

which the sensitive labellum was observed and reported by W. Bean in 1887.

Porrogfossum echidna, from higher altitudes in the eastern cordillera of

Colombia, is little more than a local race of P. muscosum. Reichenbach’s type

specimen of M. echidna collected by Wagener demonstrates the characteristic

clavate, sepaline tails abruptly produced from obtuse apices. Typically the

tads of P. muscosum are slender, but clavate or non-clavate tails are permit¬

ted m other species of the Pleurothallidinae (e.g. Masdevallia zahlbruckneri

Abruptly to gradually produced tails are seen in various clones of P.

... ea ^f S °l R muscoswn are variable from narrowly elliptical (Plate

14.) to broadly elliptical and long-petiolate (Plate 15.). The texture varies

from relatively thin to thickly coriaceous and verrucose, sometimes dark bluish

the c er , rU T e SepjU , S are also characteristic of P. echidna, but occasionally

e sepals of some clones of P. muscosum are lightly verrucose. (Plate. 16.).

lv ? 7 elongated, narrowly acute apices of the lateral sepals gradual-

Lcl // d , mt ° ™ & SlCnder taik Was desCT ibed by Reichenbach as

Masdevallia japheres (Plate 17.).

„ f hJ? e CaU ° US thlckenin 8s of the forward portion of the blades of the lips

call^ of?h n , C W H ‘I! 0 , S,n, . ilar ‘° be of Bostic value. The longitudinal

cal us of the blade of the lip ts not constant in height or shape. The length

of n^r” pe f un * vari “ “ concepts, rendering^his feature to

li rf, ' Valu J B The ovaries of p - ‘dtidna are long-hispid, but the

ovaries “^ '° ng - hlSpid ’ a " h °“« h “ os * have

SYSTEMATIC^ OF PORROGLOSSUM

muscosum (Rchb. f.) Schltr.

ICONES PLEUROTHALLIDINARUM

SYSTEMATIC^ OF PORROGLOSSUM

ICONES PLEUROTHALLIDINARUM

Porroglossum nutibara Luer & Escobar, sp. nov.

Ety.: Named for the local Indian chief Nutibara.

Species haec P. sergioi P. Ortiz similis, sed sepalis niveis, cauda sepali dorsalis

subnulla et caudis scpalorum lateralium clavatis differt.

SYSTEMATICS OF PORROGLOSSUM

Plate 18. Porroglossum

nutibara Luer & Escobar

PLEUROTHALLIDINARUM

SYSTEMATICS OF PORROGLOSSUM

Plate 19. Porroglossum olivaceum Sweet

ICONES PLEUROTHALLIDINARUM

Plate 20. Porroglossum olivaceum Sweet

SYSTEMATIC^ OF PORROGLOSSUM

I-S ill

to P.

SYSTEMATIC^ OF PORROGLOSSUM

Plate 22. Porroglossum peruvianum Sweet

systematic; of porroglossum

Plate 23. Porroglossum portillae Luer & Andreetta

SYSTEMATIC^ OF PORROGLOSSUM

Plate 24. Porroglossum procul Luer & Vasquez

SYSTEMATIC^ OF PORROGLOSSUM

SYSTEMATICS OF PORROGLOSSUM

Plate 26. Porroglossum schramii Luer

SYSTEMATIC^ OF PORROGLOSSUM

Plate 27. Porroglossum sergioi P. Ortiz

SYSTEMATICS OF PORROGLOSSUM

Plate 29. Porroglossum teaguei Luer

SYSTEMATIC^ OF PORROGLOSSUM

Plate 30. Porroglossum uxorium Luer

ICONES PLEUROTHALLIDINARUM

SYSTEMATICS OF PORROGLOSSUM

INDEX TO SCIENTIFIC NAMES

Acostaea 25

Caleana 25

Condylago 25

Masdevallia 25, 26,32, 4

sect. Coccineae 26

sect. Echidna 26, 32

Muscosae 32

Rhombopetalae 26

lenosepala 26

amethystina 25, 26, 36, 48

mastodon 46

mordax 25,26,31,32,33,58

muscosa 25, 26, 32,60

ochthodes 32

platyglossa 26

verrucosa 32

xipheres 25, 26, 58, 60, 62

zahlbruckneri 62

Plocoglottis 25

Porroglossum 25,26,31,32,58

subgen. Eduardia 25, 28, 32

subgen. Porroglossum 28, 31, 32

sect. Echidnae 25, 28, 31, 32

sect. Porroglossum 28, 31, 32, 33

sect. Tortae 25, 28,31, 32, 33

Porroglossum agile 29, 34, Plate 1

amethystinum 29, 36, Plate 2; 52, 68, 86

andreettae 29, 38, Plate 3; 76

25, 26, 31,32, 33, 58

condylosepalum 28, 33, 42, Plate 5; 88

dalstroemii 25, 28, 33, 42, 44, Plate 6

echidna 28, 32, 46, Plate 7; 62

echidnum 32,46

eduardii 26,31,32, 48, Plate 8

hirtzii 25, 28, 50, Plate 9

hoeijeri 29, 52, Plate 10

lycinum 29, 54, Plate 11

meridionale 29, 34, 56, Plate 12; 72

mordax 26, 29,31,33, 58, Plate 13

muscosum 26,28,32,34,46,60,

Plates 14, 15,16,17; 62, 84

nutibara 25,29, 66, Plate 18; 82

olivaceum 26, 27, 29, 68, Plates 19, 20, 21

peruvianum 29, 72, Plate 22

portiUae 28,33, 42, 44, 74, Plate 23

procul 26, 29, 76, Plate 24

rodrigoi 29, 78, Plate 25

schramii 29, 80, Plate 26

sergii 82

sergioi 29, 66, 82, Plate 27

taylorianum 29, 84, Plate 28

teaguei 29, 86, Plate 29

uxorium 28,33, 42, 88, Plate 30

antioquiense 26, f

echidna 46

xipheres 60

. , .