Altensteinia weddelliana, 2020

AA WEDDELLIANA (Rchb. f.) Schltr. Repert. View in CoL Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. 11: 150. 1912. Altensteinia weddelliana Rchb. f. Xenia Orchid. 3: 19. 1878. TYPE: BOLIVIA. ‘Viciniis Soratae. Paracollo in schistosis. Region subalpine 3400 Met. Decembri 1856 – Januario 1857’ G. Mandon 1167 (holotype: W; isotype: G00168572!, G00168573!, K).

Plants terrestrial, sometimes epiphytic. Roots fleshy, fasciculate, pubescent. Leaves basal, oblong-lanceolate, acute to acuminate, 9–14 3 1.5–2 cm. Inflorescence slender, erect, up 38 cm long, enclosed by hyaline and diaphanous sheaths, terminated in a cylindrical spike, formed by numerous flowers, 2.6–7.5(–11) cm long, rachis sparsely hairy. Floral bracts ovate, acute, margins slightly erose, 4–5 3 2.5–3.5 mm, surpassing the flowers. Flowers white, light brown at the base. Dorsal sepal oblong to ovate, acute, dorsally hairy, 1.5–2 3 0.8–1.2 mm. Lateral sepals obliquely linear-lanceolate, obtuse, dorsally hairy at the base, somewhat erose at the apex, 1-nerved, 2–2.5 3 0.8–1.2 mm. Petals obliquely linear-lanceolate, acute, 1- nerved, margin slightly erose, 1.8–2.3 3 0.5–1.1 mm. Lip cucullate, transversely elliptic, fleshy (except the margins), 3-lobed, margins involute, lacerate, 2.5 3 3.5 mm. Column short, glabrous. Ovary sessile, globose to subcylindric, pubescent, 1.8–2.2 mm long.

Distribution and Habitat — Aa weddelliana grows in Argentina (Jujuy, Salta, Tucumán, and Catamarca provinces), Bolivia (Cochabamba and La Paz departments), and Peru (Arequipa, Ica, and Lima departments). In Argentina, it grows in forest and montane grassland of the Yungas, sometimes as epiphytic on Polylepis australis Bitter ( Rosaceae ) and Podocarpus parlatorei Pilg. ( Podocarpaceae ) at 1300–3500 m a. s. l. In Bolivia, it grows at 3000–4500 m a. s. l., in dry valleys, and wet and dry Puna ( Ibisch 2014). In Peru, it was found at 300–3800 m a. s. l., in sandy, sandy-clay, stony and rocky soils of Lomas formations from desert coast, as well as in paramo and puna ( Trujillo and Delgado Rodriguez 2011). Flowering and fruiting plants have been recorded from September to March.

Taxonomic Notes — Aa weddelliana is similar to A. fiebrigii , the differences between these two taxa are mentioned in the taxonomic notes of Aa fiebrigii .

Representative Specimens Examined — Argentina. — CATAMARCA: Andalgalá, Los Que~ noales, arriba de la Mesada de las Rosas, 2600 m, 15-I-1952. H. Sleumer 2243 (LIL). Cumbres de suncho, Quebraditas del Portezuelo, Sta. Ana. ca. 2150 m, 08-II-1952. H. Sleumer 2293 (LIL). — JUJUY: Estación Volcán, Mula Muerta, 2700 m, 15-I-1927. Castillon 151 (LIL). Volcán, ’loma del tambo’, 2500 m, 22-I-1924. R. Schreiter 4639 (LIL). Tilcara, Est. Vieja, cerca de Abra Mayo, 3300 m, 21-III-1952. Petersen & Hyerting 49 (LIL). — SALTA: La Caldera, Potrero del Castillo, 2500 m, 14-III-1952. H. Sleumer & F. Vervoorst 2805 (LIL). Subida al Nevado del Castillo por Malpaso, 3400 m, 15-III-1952. H. Sleumer & F. Vervoorst 2927 (LIL). — TUCUMAN: Chicligasta, Est. Las Pavas, Pte. del Bayo, entre los pastos, 3200m, 11-III-1924. S. Venturi 3050 (LIL). La Cascada, 2600 m, 23-III-1953. T. Meyer 20206 (LIL).Estancia Santa Rosa, 3600 m, 06-I-1927. S. Venturi 4782 (LIL). Entre La Cascada y Las Cuevas, 3000 m, 10-X-1949. T. Meyer 15055 (LIL). Taf´ ı, Cumbre de Anfama, 2700 m, 23-III-1922. R. Schreiter s.n. (LIL52127). Cumbre de Anfama, 2500 m, 09-III-1919. R. Schreiter 811 (LIL). Cuesta de Malamala, 2700 m, 02-IV-1904. M. Lillo 3423 (LIL). Cuesta de Malamala, 2700 m, 7-III- 1905. M. Lillo 4358 (LIL). Trancas, Pampa Grande, 2000 m, I-1896. M. Lillo 2111 (LIL).