Maxillaria canarina Bennett & Christenson, 2009

Bennett Jr, David E. & Christenson, Eric A., 2009, Nine new species and one new name in Maxillaria (Orchidaceae), Phytotaxa 1, pp. 21-36 : 21-23

Maxillaria canarina Bennett & Christenson , sp. nov. ( Fig. 1 )

Species haec Maxillaria lueri Dodson ( Dodson & Dodson 1980: t. 155) similis sed sepalis petalisque canarinus, labello ad medium trilobo medilobo bullato differt.

Type:— PERU: Amazonas: Nieva , on the road between Lago Pomacocha and Rioja-Moyobamba, 1800 m, Hort. Hajek 226 (holotype: USM) .

Pendent subcaespitose clump-forming epiphytes. Pseudobulbs ellipsoid-subfusiform, glossy, becoming irregularly sulcate with age, 2× 0.5 cm, subtended by papery bracts, the bracts ovate-lanceolate, pale brown with darker brown spots. Leaves one, linear, acute, 40× 0.4 cm. Inflorescences short scapes, ca 2.5 cm long, the floral bracts lanceolate, aciculate, subequal or slightly shorter than the ovaries, ca 1.5 cm long. Flowers strongly cupped, fragrant, yellow, the labellum with a transverse dark red band on the undersurface corresponding to the base of the midlobe, the column white. Dorsal sepal lanceolate to elliptic-lanceolate, shallowly concave, acute, 12× 4 mm, the lateral sepals ovate-triangular, acute, subparallel to the labellum, 15× 5.5 mm. Petals oblong-lanceolate, acute, 11.5× 3 mm. Labellum 3-lobed, cuneate, 13× 3.8 mm, the lateral lobes erect-incurved, obliquely oblanceolate, obtuse-rounded, about 2/3 the length of the labellum, the midlobe elliptic, obtuse-rounded, bullate over its entire surface with a weakly defined midvein (groove), the callus from the base of the labellum to the base of the midlobe, oblong-oblanceolate with a triangular apex, acute. Column distinctly hooked below the apex, 5× 2 mm, the foot retrorse, subequal to the column, the rostellum hood-like, the pollinia 4, in 2 pairs, on a short common stipe and lunate viscidium. Flowering from May to June but probably sporadically throughout the year as growths mature.

Habitat:—Wet montane forest.

Distribution:— Peru.

Etymology:—From the Latin canarinus, meaning canary yellow, referring to the flower color.

Observations:—Distinguished by its pendent habit, extremely long narrow leaves, yellow flowers, bullate midlobe of the labellum, and crozier-like column apex. It is most similar to M. lueri Dodson ( Dodson & Dodson 1980: t. 155) which differs by having white sepals and petals, and a labellum that is 3-lobed at the apex.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Maxillaria canarina Bennett & Christenson (drawn from Hajek 226 by M. Alcántara A.). A. plant in flower; B. flower; C. column and labellum, side view; D. sepals and petals, dissected; E. labellum, expanded, from above; F. column and foot, 2/3 view.