Lankesteriana: International Journal on Orchidology
LANKESTERIANA, International Journal on Orchidology, is an international scientific journal published by the Lankester Botanical Garden Research Center – University of Costa Rica. The journal is globally recognized for its specialization and contributions to the knowledge of the orchid family. In addition to research articles, LANKESTERIANA is dedicated to facilitating scholarly communication and exchange by publishing a comprehensive array of content, including book reviews, checklists, comments, conference proceedings, correspondence, corrigenda, obituaries, opinions, reviews, and special issue contributions. LANKESTERIANA maintains rigorous academic standards as a peer-reviewed journal, ensuring that only the highest quality research articles are published. Through this rigorous review process, the journal maintains its reputation for excellence and reliability, providing readers with access to credible, authoritative scientific information on orchids. Furthermore, LANKESTERIANA values contributions from authors worldwide, with English as the official language of the journal. Through Early View, LANKESTERIANA is committed to reducing the time to effective publication of scientific, peer-reviewed papers, for the benefit of both authors and the journal's readers. The papers in this section of Lankesteriana receive an individual DOI and are published online as soon as the editorial process is concluded positively. They represent early views of the final papers exactly as they will appear in the hard-printed, complete issue of the journal. The effective date of publication of each paper is established by the date of its first publication online, which is recorded on the front page of the paper, both in its online and hard-printed versions. The printed version of LANKESTERIANA is published periodically in volumes by the Lankester Botanical Garden, University of Costa Rica. Each volume is made up of three issues published in April (covers the period from January to April), August (covers from May to August), and December (covers from September to December). LANKESTERIANA is indexed by Clarivate Biosis, SciELO, Scopus, Scirus, WZB, Redalyc, DOAJ, PERIODICA, BIBLAT, The Latindex Directory, and it is included in databases such as E-journals, Ebookbrowse, FAO Online Catalogues, CiteBank, Mendeley, WorldCat, Core Electronic Journals Library, and Biodiversity Heritage Library, and in the electronic resources of the Columbia University, the University of Florida, the University of Hamburg, and the Smithsonian Institution, among others. The Lankester Botanical Garden is a research center of the University of Costa Rica, LANKESTERIANA´ s publishing institution, which holds the copyright and publishing rights for every contribution under a Creative Commons Attribution-Non-Commercial-No Derivatives 3.0 Costa Rica license (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0 CR). Postmaster: Lankester Botanical Garden Research Center, University of Costa Rica, P.O. Box 302-7050 Cartago, Costa Rica, C.A. jardin.lankester@ucr.ac.cr ISSN-e: 2215-2067 | ISSN 1409-3871
According to the Open Access policy promoted by the University of Costa Rica, all the papers published by Lankesteriana are licensed under the Creative Commons copyright and can be downloaded free of charge. The journal holds copyright and publishing rights under the CC BY-NC-ND 3.0 CR license. Before the publication of the materials submitted by the author(s) in LANKESTERIANA, the author(s) hereby assign all rights in the article to the Lankester Botanical Garden.
Corybas geminigibbus, a new addition to the orchid flora of Sumatra
Corybas is an orchid genus of 154 species distributed from India to South China, the Western Pacific, and New Zealand. Sumatra is home to eight species, five of which are endemic. However, the true diversity is likely underestimated due to limited exploration in some parts of the island. During a recent exploration in the northern Gayo Plateau near the northern tip of the island, a Corybas species was discovered that did not match any previously known species. Further identification through specimen comparison and literature review confirmed that the species is Corybas geminigibbus. It was found growing in montane bogs. This discovery marks the second bioregion in Indonesia where this species has been recorded and the ninth Corybas species on the island. The finding also provides additional evidence of floristic similarities, suggesting past geological connections between northern Sumatra and mainland Asia. A detailed description, discussion, and photographs are provided.
Copyright (c) 2026 Lankesteriana: International Journal on Orchidology https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/cr/
New distribution records and range extensions for three Sumatran orchids species in Kalimantan, Borneo, Indonesia
Borneo, one of the largest and most biodiverse islands in the world, continues to reveal remarkable biological discoveries. Its unique geological history and the relatively limited extent of botanical exploration have contributed to the island’s enigmatic flora. During our expedition across three provinces in the Kalimantan, Indonesia, we discovered three orchid species previously unrecorded on this mainland. Based on comprehensive specimen examination and literature review, three Sumatran orchid species, Eria compressoclavata, Oxystophyllum cuneatipetalum, and Plocoglottis quadrifolia, are reported for the first time from Kalimantan, Borneo, Indonesia. This study provides detailed morphological descriptions, notes on the expanded distributional ranges, ecological observations, and high-resolution photographic documentation for each species.
Copyright (c) 2024 Lankesteriana: International Journal on Orchidology https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/cr/
Pleurothallis cop-biodiversitatis (Pleurothallidinae), a new species from Colombia
A new species, Pleurothallis cop-biodiversitatis, belonging to Pleurothallis subsection Macrophyllae-Fasciculatae, from the Central Andes of Colombia, is described and illustrated. This new species is compared with Pleurothallis matudana and Pleurothallis tandapiensis, the most morphologically similar species. Pleurothallis cop-biodiversitatis primarily differs from these species in having a lip with erose margins, more pronounced basal lobes, a rounded, apiculate apex, and a sulcate blade with a lanceolate, strongly vesiculate concavity.
Mormodes benelliana (Catasetinae), a new species from Mato Grosso, Brazil
In the present study, we describe and illustrate Mormodes benelliana, a new species found in the southwest region of the Brazilian state of Mato Grosso. This species occurs as an epiphyte in the transition between the Amazon and Cerrado domains. Mormodes benelliana is similar to M. hoehnei, but differs by having smaller pseudobulbs, inflorescences longer than the pseudobulbs, conspicuous peduncle, yellowish-brown and brown-vinous striped flowers, with a large-elliptic to ovate, glabrous lip.
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new green-flowered Aa (Cranichideae) from Peru
A new species from the Peruvian Andes, Aa olivacea, is described and illustrated. Information concerning distribution, habitat, ecology, and conservation status is provided. The new species is similar to A. hieronymi by its dense spikes of dark green and brown flowers with translucent whitish floral bracts; but differs from it by its elliptic to lanceolate leaves, 60 to 100-flowered spikes, glabrous rachis, lateral sepals with the margin entire to occasionally minutely erose near the apex, petals with slightly erose to sinuate apical margin, lip unlobed with lacerate to erose margin, and ovary with scarce hairs. Furthermore, A. tenebrosa is proposed as a synonym of A. hieronymi, A. nigrescens is recognized as a distinct species from A. leucantha, and A. lehmannii is confirmed to be an illegitimate, superfluous name for A. leucantha.
new species Telipogon (Oncidiinae) from Bolivia
Telipogon minutus, from the Carrasco National Park in the Bolivian Yungas, is proposed as a new species. Plants of T. minutus, which reach up to 4 cm in height, are the smallest known Bolivian Telipogon. The new species is characterized by its oblong to ovate labellum, which is weakly sub-auriculate and retuse at the base, with a semi-circular stigma, a column with two lateral lobes and a mammillary protuberance at the apex, and two tufts of setae with trifurcate apices. A description, figures, and a distributional map of the new taxon are provided, along with a discussion of the differences between the new species and morphologically similar Telipogon species.
Female orchid bee Euglossa dilemma visits the perfume orchid Coryanthes panamensis in Florida
Male orchid bees gather fragrance chemicals from the surfaces of about 700 species of neotropical orchids and pollinate them in the process. The males display the collected chemicals during their courtship, and female orchid bees will mate only with males, displaying a species-specific blend of collected chemicals. Given this reality, the discovery of a female Euglossa dilemma dead in the bucket trap of a flower of the perfume orchid Coryanthes panamensis bearing the orchid’s pollinarium is extraordinary. There are no previous reports of female orchid bees visiting a perfume orchid and picking up pollinia of the orchids. Bearing a pollinarium indicates that this female bee made at least two visits to the flowers and that these visits were unlikely to be accidental. The flower in which the bee was found was on a cultivated plant grown in a residential garden in Coral Gables, Florida. Neither the orchid nor the orchid bee are native to Florida and occur in different areas of tropical America. Why this female orchid bee visited this orchid is considered, including the possibility that it may be a gynandromorph. Despite being a morphological female, the bee may have had neurological anomalies that caused it to exhibit a male-like attraction to this perfume orchid.
The rostellum, a small structure located above the stigma in the gynostemium of monandrous orchid flowers, separates the pollinia from the stigma, can prevent self-pollination, and plays an important role in pol- lination. It secretes a sticky exudate before and after anthesis, to which the pollinia are attached. Additionally,the viscidium, a sticky disk at the base of the stipe, also connects to the rostellum. This structure varies among species and holds taxonomic significance. For example, in Catasetum, the rostellum extends into antennae-like projections. After pollination, emasculation, or injury, the plant hormone ethylene is produced, triggering various post-pollination, post-emasculation, and post-injury processes, including changes in perianth color, senescence, and, ultimately, the death of floral segments that have completed their functions. Although the rostellum plays a significant role, it remains understudied, and many aspects of its function are still unknown. This review high- lights current knowledge and explores speculative hypotheses that may invite differing opinions and perspectives, which will likely be revised as future research deepens our understanding of its biological and ecological roles.
More than a century later: first modern record of Pteroglossa macrantha (Orchidaceae: Spiranthinae) in Argentina, with notes on its morphology, distribution, habitat, and conservation implications
Abstract. Pteroglossa macrantha (Orchidaceae: Spiranthinae) was previously known in Argentina only from a historical collection made by Ekman in 1908 in the province of Misiones, with no subsequent records confirming its presence in the country. During recent botanical surveys in the province of Corrientes, a new population was discovered, representing the first modern record for Argentina after more than a century and one of the southernmost confirmed occurrences of the species in the country. Detailed morphological observations confirmed its identity and revealed slight variations in leaf proportions compared with specimens from Brazil and Paraguay. The plants of this species grow in seasonally flooded alluvial grasslands on sandy substrates near the Paraná River. The regional conservation assessment, based on IUCN criteria, indicates that P. macrantha should be considered Critically Endangered (CR) in Argentina due to its extremely small area of occupancy, its occurrence in a single locality, and ongoing habitat degradation. This finding highlights the importance of the riparian grasslands of Corrientes as biodiversity refuges and priority areas for the conservation of rare and threatened orchids of the Southern Cone.
Florida’s naturalized orchids are mostly terrestrials (10/15, 5/10 epiphytes), horticultural escapes (14/15), native to Asia (10/15), tropical American (4/10), and Africa (1/15). Only 3 species are widespread in Florida, Eulophia graminea, Eulophia maculata, and Zeuxine strateumatica, and can be considered invasive based on their spread beyond the areas of their initial establishments. Most of the other orchid species occur in one or two counties and have spread little so are considered naturalized but not invasive. The longest naturalized orchids (5/15) escaped more than 50 years ago, another group (5/10) more than 20 years ago, while the most recently naturalized species (5/10) less than 20 years ago. The 15 naturalized orchids comprise 12% (15/117 species) of Florida’s orchid flora, which is higher than most other places except for Hawaii’s (18/21) which has only 3 native orchids. Most orchids naturalized in Florida (10/15) have also naturalized elsewhere in the world. Failure to reproduce is the reason why most orchids don’t naturalize. To attempt to understand how Florida’s 15 naturalized orchids have overcome this barrier, the literature was examined to learn what their breeding systems and pollinators are in their native areas. This enabled predictions to be made about how these orchids reproduce in Florida. Four of the orchids need no pollinators because they are autogamous or apomictic. The native region pollinators of two of the orchids occur in Florida, five of the orchids are probably pollinated by congeneric species of their native area pollinators (Apis, Centris and Xylocopa), Two of the orchids are pollinated by close analogues of their native area pollinators (butterflies and hummingbirds). Overcoming other barriers to their naturalization, such as the lack of suitable mycorrhizal fungi or the inability to deal with abiotic limitations, has occurred but are poorly known and understood.
The genus Encyclia Hook. (Orchidaceae, Epidendroideae) in Maranhão state, Brazil: new morphological data and extent of distribution
In this study, we report the diversity, geographical distribution, and ecology of the Encyclia species from the state of Maranhão, Brazil. For each species treated, we present morphological descriptions, geographic distribution maps, taxonomic and ecological comments, an identification key for the species occurring in the state and photographic plates. Three species were recorded: E. gonzalezii, E. granitica, and E. linearifolioides, with E. gonzalezii being endemic to Brazil. Encyclia granitica has been locally rediscovered approximately 93 years after its only known collection in Maranhão. We also included new morphological data for this species, for which a description of the fruits had not been available until now. We found that the epicarp of the three species exhibited significant morphological differences, which may aid in their identification and delimitation. Given the complicated taxonomy of the genus, further studies focused on the epicarp may determine the extent to which it can assist in distinguishing additional species and in assessing its phylogenetic signal.
Ten new orchid records from the Indonesian archipelago
Orchidaceae is one of the most diverse plant families in Indonesia, yet many species remain poorly documented across the archipelago. Here we report ten orchid species as new national records for Indonesia: Bulbophyllum nematocaulon, Bulbophyllum sanguineomaculatum, Cleisomeria lanatum, Corybas calopeplos, and Corybas holttumii from Sumatra; Acanthophippium bicolor and Anoectochilus papuanus from Java; Dendrobium teretifolium from the Lesser Sunda Islands, Bulbophyllum thiurum from Kalimantan; and Aerides agustiana from Sulawesi. For each species, we provide taxonomic notes, distributional data, type information, phenology, ecological observations, line drawings, and photographs. These new records extend the known geographic ranges of the species and confirm the importance of field exploration and herbarium study for documenting Indonesia’s remarkable orchid diversity.
Addition of Five New Species to the Orchid Flora of Bhutan IV
Five orchid species belonging to four genera, namely, Bulbophyllum deergongense, Bulbophyllum nepalense, Liparis sootenzanensis, Spiranthes himalayensis and Zeuxine gracilis, are reported for the first time from Bhutan. These findings are based on systematic native floristic diversity field surveys carried out between 2023 and 2025. We provide descriptions, along with information on type, distribution, phenology, habitat, notes, and colour plates to facilitate accurate species identification and support practical conservation efforts.
Voucher specimens matter! Confirmation of Lecanorchis multiflora (Vanilloideae) in the tropical rainforest of the Philippines with notes on its habitat and conservation status
Lecanorchis multiflora (Orchidaceae) was recently collected in Mt. Timolan Protected Landscape, province of Zamboanga del Sur, in the Philippine archipelago. This is the first record of the species with a voucher specimen in the Philippines. A description based on our recent collection, colour photographs to aid identification, geographic distribution information, ecology, phenology, and IUCN conservation assessment are provided below.
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small-flowered Cyrtochilum (Oncidiinae) from Colombia
A new species of Cyrtochilum from the Cordillera Oriental range in the department of Cundinamarca, Colombia, is described, illustrated, and compared with C. suarezii and C. parviflorum. The new species is easily distinguished by its broadly elliptic to sub–rhomboid lip with two short rounded simple calli on the lip, ornamented with short papillae at the base.
Spread of the African spotted orchid Oeceoclades maculata in the New World
Oeceoclades maculata (Lindl.) Lindl. (= Eulophia maculata (Lindl.) Rchb.f.) has a broad native range across tropical Africa and Madagascar. Here, we document the spread of O. maculata in the New World, using published records, herbarium specimens, photographs posted online, and our own collections. The earliest known New World record of O. maculata is from Brazil dating to before 1790. Until 1962, O. maculata was known in the New World only from South America. Since then, this species has spread north through Central America into Mexico and across the West Indies to Florida and the Bahamas. It was first found in Florida in 1974, and until 1994 all Florida records of O. maculata were restricted to Miami-Dade County (except one record of greenhouse escapees in Gainesville). Here, we document O. maculata records from the following geographic areas in the New World: 11 South American countries (all except Chile and Uruguay), all 7 Central American countries, Mexico, 22 West Indian island-groups, and Florida. We also document records from 31 counties in peninsular Florida. Oeceoclades maculata has now been recorded in the New World from northeastern Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil (~28.5°S) and Estancia Santa Teresa, Corrientes, Argentina (28.0°S) in the south, to Gainesville (29.7°N) and Palm Coast, Florida (29.6°N) in the north. A report of O. maculata populations in Gainesville dying out after a hard frost suggests that this species may have reached its northern outdoor limit in peninsular Florida. Although its impact on native species in the New World appears to be minor, there are efforts to eradicate O. maculata in some natural areas.
Size dependent allocation to vegetative and reproductive organs of the orchid Lankesterella ceracifolia (Spiranthinae)
How functional organ traits vary with increasing plant size reveals the strategies of plants to acquire, store and utilize resources that ensure vegetative growth and reproduction. Plant size can influence fitness; thus, the relationships of organ traits should be evaluated together with reproductive allocation, but this is rarely the case. The relationship among plant size, functional organ traits (number and size of roots, leaves and flowers, and scape size), and dry mass partitioning was analyzed intraspecifically using 35 reproductive individuals of the epiphytic orchid Lankesterella ceracifolia. The relationships between vegetative and reproductive organ traits were evaluated using different regression models. Size-dependent allocation to reproduction was evaluated through reproductive versus vegetative (RV) regressions for the entire inflorescence and separately for scape and flowers. The four regression models included simple (slope only), linear (slope and intercept), allometric (without intercept), and non-linear (allometric with intercept), were fitted to RV and compared via a log likelihood-ratio test. Preferential allocation to leaves instead of roots influenced how rosette frontal area changed with increasing plant size. Flower dry mass represented 70% of the inflorescence dry mass, an unusual result as scape dry mass generally represents most of the reproductive structure in plants. The allometric model was suitable for the entire inflorescence or only the scape, while the isometric model was best for flowers. Dry mass investment in the scape influenced the final reproductive allometry found for the orchid L. ceracifolia.
Evidence of artificial selection: are orchids in cultivation an effective ex situ conservation strategy?
Artificial selection is the process by which humans change morphological and genetic characteristics of species through selection of “favored” characters. Although the gray literature suggests the process is occurring in orchids held in ex situ collections, there is limited evidence of this in the scientific literature. There is a perspective among growers that species (not hybrids) held in ex situ collections are potential sources of material for use in in situ re-establishment, however, this assumes that there has not been any artificial selection for morphological characters, or functional traits while grown and propagated ex situ. Here we evaluate if plants grown in ex situ collections show changes in morphological characters across time and if the range of character size is within the range from in situ populations. We evaluated plants from the American Orchid Society database from nine genera and 54 species. We noted that 35% of characters evaluated had evidence of significant change across time. Moreover, for most species in ex situ the evaluated characters were frequently (95%) outside the range of plants of natural populations based on species descriptions. If variation in size of ex situ collections as compared to in situ plants is genetically based, it is possible that these would be functionally maladaptive if re-introduced to their natural environment. Protocols for ex situ conservation programs need to focus on the morphological, biochemical, and ecological interactions and genetic diversity that would render the re-introduction of ex situ to their natural environment to maximize the likelihood of effective re-establishment. Consequently, species which are awarded recognition at orchid shows may potentially be inappropriate for plants within an in situ reintroduction conservation program.
new species of Andinia (Pleurothallidinae) from Peru and an updated phylogenetic analysis of the genus with emphasis on subgenus Aenigma
A new species, Andinia peruviana, from Amazonas department, Peru, is described and illustrated. Updated phylogenetic analyses of nuclear internal transcribed spacer (nrITS) sequences in this study re-affirm the monophyletic nature of Andinia sensu lato and further support the previously proposed circumscription which incorporated genera Lueranthos, Masdevalliantha, Neooreophilus, and Xenosia. Andinia subgenus Aenigma was strongly supported in all analyses. The new species was determined phylogenetically to belong to subgenus Aenigma, along with A. barbata, A. dalstroemii, A. hirtzii, A. pogonion, A. schizopogon and A. uchucayensis. The phylogenetically-confirmed representatives of subgenus Aenigma are illustrated with drawings and photographs, and their geographic distribution is discussed. The updated phylogenetic analyses also show the corrected phylogenetic positions of A. vestigipetala, as the sole representative of the clade corresponding to subgenus Minuscula, and A. trimytera, as a member of the clade corresponding to subgenus Andinia.
Diversity and conservation of orchids in San Antonio del Tequendama, Cundinamarca, Colombia
The municipality of San Antonio del Tequendama, Cundinamarca, Colombia, harbours remnants of cloud forests that support a rich diversity of orchids, primarily threatened by habitat loss. This study aims to guide conservation efforts through fieldwork and herbarium records, focused on orchid spatial distribution. The study area covers 82 km², situated at elevations between 1090 and 2700 meters. We conducted 31 field trips between 2017 and 2019. A total of 151 species from 54 genera were documented, offering the most comprehensive list of orchid species recorded in the region, accounting for 3.51% of Colombia’s orchid species. The most diverse genera were Epidendrum (23 spp.), Maxillaria (13 spp.), Stelis (10 spp.), and Cyrtochilum (10 spp.). Thirty genera (19.86%) were represented by only one species. Six threatened species were identified: Cattleya trianae and Masdevallia caudata (Endangered), Pleurothallis mundula, Cyrtochilum ioplocon, Dracula psittacina, and Oncidium gloriosum (Vulnerable). Although the conservation status of some endemic species (26 spp., 17.21%) remains unknown or unassessed, many observed during field trips are rare and vulnerable to illegal collection for commercial purposes. The remaining forests of San Antonio del Tequendama, especially those within protected natural reserves, are crucial for in situ conservation actions at the local level. Our findings on species distribution provide a baseline for assessing the conservation status of orchid populations in cloud forests.
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Recruitment bottleneck in aphyllous vanilla seedlings facing drought conditions
Seedling survival is strongly dependent on forest environmental conditions, which in Madagascar have been heavily degraded. Rising temperatures and declining rainfall further exacerbate the vulnerability of these ecosystems. We investigated seedling recruitment across ecologically diverse sites to identify the key factors influencing germination and seedling survival in aphyllous Vanilla species. In situ seedling monitoring and in vitro seed germination trials were conducted to assess tolerance to water stress at various developmental stages. Among the 13 study sites, only three showed positive recruitment rates, with two sites exhibiting rates exceeding 50%. Recruitment was influenced by factors such as fruiting success, soil acidity, high silt content, and clay-rich soil composition. After 12 months of monitoring, approximately 85% of seedlings were lost following severe drought conditions. In vitro asymbiotic germination assays revealed two distinct peaks: rapid germination of immature white seeds after four months, followed by delayed germination of mature black seeds eight months later. The assessment of drought tolerance across protocorm developmental stages exposed to a high-concentration gelling agent revealed that advanced-stage protocorms had increased resistance to water stress. However, no developmental stage was capable of surviving a prolonged six-month drought. Due to the absence of seedling recruitment in several locations, aphyllous vanilla recruitment may benefit from assisted propagation through seed cultures and the subsequent reintroduction of young plantlets into natural habitats. Moreover, conservation and restoration programs should incorporate research on developing soil conditions that facilitate vanilla seedling recruitment.
A new species of Pleurothallis (Pleurothallidinae) from the P. talpinaria complex, with notes on comparative floral morphology and pollination ecology
A new species of Pleurothallis subgenus Talpinaria, discovered in the department of Tolima, Central Andes of Colombia, is described, illustrated, and discussed. The new species, Pleurothallis vallejoi is compared with P. talpinaria from Colombia and Venezuela, P. trimeroglossa from Peru and Ecuador, P. jostii, presumed to occur in Ecuador, and P. gracilicolumna from Colombia. The new species is distinguished from the previous ones by a lip with subquadrate lateral lobes, with narrowly elliptical basal auricles, and a callus that is elongated, thin, and slightly elevated, with the median lobe occupying almost half of the total lip length. Additionally, the pollination mechanism of the P. talpinaria complex is described and discussed.
First naturalization of the orchid Cymbidium aloifolium, a population found in southern Florida
The first naturalization of the orchid Cymbidium aloifolium in the world is reported in a residential neighborhood in southern Florida near Miami. A survey for naturalized plants of this epiphytic orchid, which is native to South and Southeast Asia, found 101 plants growing on 38 different trees belonging to 13 different species. Of these 101 plants, 53 were mature, capable of reproduction, 37 were juveniles, and 11 were seedlings. Seven plants bore a total of 86 fruit. The tree hosts with the most plants were the palms Phoenix roebelenii and Thrinax radiata, and a mahogany (Swietenia macrophylla). A small remnant of the Pine Rockland within this residential area had three native tree species with four plants of this orchid, indicating the potential of the orchid to invade this unique, rare plant community. Cymbidium aloifolium’s occurrence at higher latitudes and altitudes in its native Asia than where it has naturalized in Florida suggests that it should be able to live farther north in Florida.
In vitro seed propagation constraints of Mexican lady’s slipper orchid, Pichouaxtle, Cypripedium irapeanum.
Cypripedium irapeanum known in Mexico as "Pichohuaxtle" in Nahuatl, is the most emblematic Mexican lady’s slipper orchid and one of the most studied cypripedioid species in Mesoamerica. Despite its protected status in Mexico, habitat loss driven by land-use change has severely reduced its populations. Ex situ conservation approaches are urgently needed to safeguard its genetic diversity, yet seed germination in the genus remains challenging due to innate dormancy and specific nutritional requirements. We collected seeds from two Mexican ecosystems where this species is distributed —Quercus and Tropical Dry Forests— and isolated mycorrhizal fungi from adult plants to examine both symbiotic and asymbiotic cultures. We found limitations in seed production due to flower ripening, ineffective pollination, or parasitism. Furthermore, germination was achieved after a cold treatment, and the best medium to obtain seedlings in vitro was Norstog medium. Two mycorrhizal fungi, isolated from adult plants belonging to the family Tulasnellaceae, formed a clade with previous isolates from American slipper orchids. One of these isolates promoted germination but later produced fungal incompatibility in vitro. Our study contributes to clarify previously undescribed processes in the biology of this highly appreciated and vulnerable species, supporting future efforts to propagate it from seed and obtain successful cultures.
Overlooked for almost 200 years: clarification of Vanilla guianensis (Orchidaceae), a prior name for V. hostmannii, and the reinstatement of V. acuta
The binomial Vanilla guianensis, published by Splitgerber in 1841, has long been debated as potentially based on a mixed collection of two taxa belonging to different Vanilla subgenera. Most of the literature has placed the name under Vanilla subg. Membranacea, while it has also been less frequently associated with Vanilla subg. Vanilla. In this study, we reassessed its typification and demonstrate that the original material and protologue are congruent and not based on a mixed collection of different species. We hypothesize Vanilla guianensis is a member of Vanilla subg. Vanilla, and that the name is conspecific with V. hostmannii. We further clarify the nomenclatural and typification status of V. surinamensis, a name published by Reichenbach on the basis of Splitgerber material, and identify Pulle as the first author to have effectively neotypified Splitgerber’s V. guianensis. We reach this conclusion by conducting a comprehensive analysis of Splitgerber’s Vanilla collections, supported by an examination of his herbarium catalogue and fieldbook, together with an extensive historical review of the post-Splitgerber literature. Finally, we discuss the implications of our proposal for the circumscription of these and other implicated taxa, including Vanilla acuta.
INDEX OF SCIENTIFIC REVIEWERS, LANKESTERIANA VOL. 21–22, 2021–2022
The Editor-in-Chief, Managing Editors, Editorial Committee, Editorial Board, and Editorial staff of LANKESTERIANA acknowledge the reviewers listed below for their willing cooperation. It is greatly appreciated that they have generously invested their time and competence in providing valuable comments and advice, for the benefit of the authors, the editorial staff, and the readers of LANKESTERIANA
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INDEX OF TAXONOMIC NOVELTIES, LANKESTERIANA VOL. 21–22, 2021–2022
Orchids of the Southern Cone (1830–2000) – Part I Claude Gay’s physical and political history of Chile
The life and works of French botanist Claude (Claudio) Gay (1800–1873) are presented, with special consideration to Orchidaceae. This work aims to bring to light the life of a brilliant scientist who dedicated his professional life to the study of Chile’s natural history and his seldom-mentioned monumental work that contains the first complete orchid flora of Chile. The most important modern and contemporary bibliographical sources have been consulted, as well as Gay’s original publications. Claude (Claudio) arrived in Chile in 1828 and lived in the country until 1842, engaged by the Chilean government to conduct a scientific survey of the country. He traveled across the country collecting objects of natural history which became the foundation stone of the Cabinet of Natural History, the precursor of Chile’s National Museum of Natural History. Gay returned to France in 1842 and, commissioned by the Chilean Minister of the Interior, published his Historia física y política de Chile, a monumental work in 30 volumes that were published between 1844 and 1871. Eight volumes, published in Paris between 1845 and 1852, containing 3767 species of plants, were dedicated to botany. Following the incomplete works of Juan Ignacio Molina’s Saggio sulla Storia Naturale del Chili (1782) and Ruiz and Pavon’s Flora Peruvianae et Chilensis (1789–1803) it was the first attempt to produce a complete flora of Chile. A total of 49 species of Orchidaceae were described and partly illustrated, a remarkable achievement if we consider that by the turn of the 21st century, a total of orchids was only 52 had been reported for Chile. Claudio Gay is considered the first recorder of the country’s history and the founder of modern natural science in republican Chile.
New evidence corroborates the presence of Solenidium lunatum (Oncidiinae) in Colombia
Solenidium includes three species found from northern to central South America. They are characterized by free, similar sepals and petals, a trilobed lip with a grooved claw, and a winged column with two ceraceous pollinia. The presence of Solenidium lunatum in Colombia has been confirmed, specifically within the Sierra de la Macarena National Natural Park. Historically, its record within Colombian territory was uncertain, despite mentions in catalogs and a fragmented specimen (K–SPC–61118.000) lacking precise collection data. This discovery confirms its known distribution, which spans from northern South America (Colombia, Venezuela) to the Brazilian Cerrado, mainly in areas with granitic formations
A tale of two women: The Caribbean orchid portraits of Louise Auguste von Panhuys (1763–1844) and Nancy Anne Kingsbury Wollstonecraft (1791–1828)
Louise von Panhuys (1763–1844) and Nancy Anne Kingsbury Wollstonecraft (1791–1828) stand out historically as the first female illustrators of neotropical orchids. Louise von Panhuys epitomized an era when high social status equated to a refined education; as the writers of her time described, a classic “lady of leisure.” In contrast Nancy K. Wollstonecraft, was the daughter of a clergyman from New England, born into the broad American middle class which shaped the early decades of the United States’ independent life. Both shared a common passion for: the exuberant forests of the Caribbean European colonies: von Panhuys in the Dutch territory of Suriname and Wollstonecraft in the Spanish island of Cuba. The artistic result of these two women’s works is astounding and went in different directions: while von Panhuys painted to entertain herself and with a mostly descriptive purpose, Wollstonecraft combined her artistic talent and her botanical knowledge into a three-volume manuscript, Specimens of the Fruits and Plants of the Island of Cuba (unfortunately never published), with accurate and detailed descriptions and beautiful illustrations. Biographies of these two extraordinary women are accompanied by complete sets of their orchid paintings, eight by Panhuys (along with several of her landscapes and scenes from Suriname) and nine by Wollstonecraft. A clarifying note: Wollstonecraft’s name is indistinctly given as ‘Nancy Anne’, ‘Anne’, or ‘Nancy’. The author has adhered to the name as given in the different bibliographical sources.