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).