Campylocentrum itatiaiae E. Pessoa & M. Alves, 2015

Pessoa, Edlley & Alves, Marccus, 2015, Three new species of Campylocentrum (Vandeae, Orchidaceae) from Brazil, Phytotaxa 217 (3), pp. 265-272 : 267-268

Campylocentrum itatiaiae E. Pessoa & M. Alves , sp. nov. ( Fig. 1G −L )

Type:— BRAZIL. Rio de Janeiro: Parque Nacional do Itatiaia, Pinheiral, 2,000 m a.s.l., Jan 1938, L. Lanstyak s.n. (fl.) (holotype: RB). Morphologically related to C. brachycarpum Cogniaux , but differs by shorter floral bracts (0.3 − 0.4 mm vs. 1.0 − 1.5 mm long) and 3-lobed lip (vs. unlobed).

Epiphytic herbs. Roots 1.5 − 2 mm diam., cylindrical, fibrous, smooth, whitish to grey. Stem elongated, to 15.5 cm long, cylindrical, unbranched. Leaves 18 − 21 × 3 − 5 mm, greenish, linear-oblong, the apex minutely 2-lobed, lobes obtuse, margin entire. Inflorescence 6 − 15 mm long, peduncle 1 − 2 mm long, glabrous, brownish; rachis 5 − 13 mm long, glabrous, brownish; floral bracts 0.3 − 0.4 × 0.2 − 0.3 mm, deltoid, membranaceous, covering the base of the pedicellate ovary, margin minutely denticulate, the apex acute. Flowers 12 − 20 (per inflorescence), color unknown, distichous, ovary pedicellate, 0.6 − 1 mm long, sparsely papillose; dorsal sepal 0.9 − 1.0 × 0.6 − 0.7 mm, ovate, membranaceous, the apex obtuse, 1-nerved, glabrous, margin entire; lateral sepals 1.2 − 1.4 × 0.7 − 0.8 mm, oblong, subfalcate, membranaceous, the apex acute, 1-nerved, glabrous, margin entire; petals 0.9 − 1.0 × 0.6 − 0.7 mm, oblong, membranaceous, the apex rounded, 1-nerved, glabrous, margin entire; lip 1.1 − 1.2 × 1.2 − 1.4 mm between the lateral lobes, 3-lobed, 5-nerved, membranaceous, margin entire, producing at base a spur, lateral lobes 0.6 − 0.7 × 0.30 − 0.35 mm, suborbicular, the apex rounded, mid-lobe 0.4 − 0.5 × 0.4 − 0.5 mm, deltoid, the apex obtuse, glabrous, spur 0.8 − 1.1 × 0.5 − 0.7 mm diam., obovoid, straight to slightly curved, the apex rounded, glabrous; gynostemium ca. 0.2 mm long, anther cap apex rounded, pollinia 2, globose. Capsule not seen.

Distribution and Ecology: —This species is known only from the type locality in the Itatiaia National Park, in the state of Rio de Janeiro (southeastern Brazil) ( Fig. 3 ). This national park protects an important fragment of montane Atlantic Forest of the Serra da Mantiqueira with elevations above 2,000 m a.s.l. (IBDF 1997). Although extensive botanical studies have been performed in the area ( Barberena et al. 2008, Lima & Guedes-Bruni 2004, Morin & Barroso 2007, Monteiro & Guimarães 2009, Monteiro & Guimarães 2008), only one specimen of the species, collected in 1938, is known. Probably it is a rare species from areas of difficult access. The flowering period is poorly known, but according to the specimen label, flowers can be observed in January.

Etymology: —The name of the new species refers to its type locality.

Morphological affinities: — Campylocentrum itatiaiae has an obovoid spur; this characteristic is present in other species such as C. brachycarpum Cogniaux , C. densiflorum Cogniaux (1906: 511) , and C. organense ( Reichenbach 1864: 901) Rolfe (1903: 245) . Nevertheless, these other three species all have longer floral bracts (> 1.0 mm long), while C. itatiaiae has floral bracts only 0.3 − 0.4 mm long. Tiny flowers with sepals <1.5 mm long are shared between the new species and C. brachycarpum , but the new species differs by its 3-lobed lip (vs. entire). Additionally, in C. brachycarpum the pedicellate ovary and part of the perianth are covered by the floral bract, while in C. itatiaiae the floral bract covers only the base of the pedicellate ovary ( Table 1).

Figures

FIGURE 1. A–F. Campylocentrum carvalhoi. A–B. Habit. C. Inflorescence. D. Flower. E. Lip and spur in profile. F. Dissected perianth. G–L. Campylocentrum itatiaiae. G. Habit. H. Inflorescence. I. Flower. J. Lip and spur in profile. K. Dissected perianth. L. Pollinarium. [A. drawn from Pessoa & Carvalho 1190 (UFP); B–F. drawn from Carvalho 119 (UFP); G–L drawn from Lanstyak s.n. (RB)].

FIGURE 3. Map of the known distribution of the new species. Circle—Campylocentrum carvalhoi; Square—C. itatiaiae; Triangle—C. schlechterianum.