Pterichis fuentesii Kolan., Baranow & S.Nowak, 2020

Kolanowska, M., Baranow, P., Nowak, S. & Fuentes, A. F., 2020, New species and a new record of Pterichis sect. Pterichis (Orchidaceae) from Bolivia, Blumea 65 (3), pp. 212-218 : 213-214

publication ID	https://doi.org/10.3767/blumea.2020.65.03.05
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03DD4157-4249-352E-FC99-FA0063A1433B
treatment provided by	Felipe
scientific name	Pterichis fuentesii Kolan., Baranow & S.Nowak
status	sp. nov.

Treatment

2. Pterichis fuentesii Kolan., Baranow & S.Nowak View in CoL , sp. nov. — Fig. 2

The species is similar to P.acuminata , but distinguished by the oblong-ligulate petals not widened near the middle and the transversely elliptic lip widest well above the base. — Type: S. Achá et al. 149 (holo LPB), Bolivia, La Paz, Prov. Bautista Saavedra, Área Natural de Manejo Integrado Apolobamba, Chaka , campamento. alt. 3625 m, 27 Mar. 2009 .

Etymology. Dedicated to Alfredo Fuentes ,collector of the type specimen.

Plant c. 19 cm tall, leafless during flowering. Scape erect, terete, apically glandular-puberulent, with 5 tubular, acuminate sheaths. Inflorescence racemose, 3-flowered, rachis glandular-puberulent. Flowers yellowish white. Floral bracts c. 8.5 mm long, elliptic, acuminate, externally glandular-puberulent. Pedicellate ovary c. 9 mm long, densely glandular-puberulent. Dorsal sepal c. 5.5 by 2.8 mm, ovate, subacute, externally densely glandular-ciliate, 3-veined. Lateral sepals c. 5.7 by 2.3 mm, obliquely ovate, acuminate, externally densely glandular-puberulent, 3-veined. Petals c. 6.2 by 1.2 mm, free, oblong-ligulate, obtuse, glabrous, 3-veined. Lip c. 5 by 7 mm, cucullate-concave, transversely elliptic in outline; apical lobe oblong-ovate, papillose, recurved; disc almost glabrous, primarily 7-veined, veins branching, ornamented with a few rounded glands along the margin in the upper half. Gynostemium c. 3.1 mm long.

Distribution — Endemic to Bolivia.

Habitat & Ecology — Terrestrial at the altitude of 3625 m among shrubs near ‘páramo yungueño’, which is characterized by the dominance of high grasses. Flowering: March.

Note — Unlike P. acuminata ( Fig. 3 View Fig ), the petals of this Bolivian species are not widened near the middle and the lip is transversely elliptic (vs reniform), widest well above the base. In P. multiflora (Lindl.) Schltr. (sect. Acraea ) petals are adnate to the dorsal sepal and ciliate along the margins. Moreover, in the latter species the upper margin of lip’s lateral lobes is ornamented with numerous small glands (c. 20–30 on each lobe vs up to 10 on each side). This species is only known from the type.