Skip to main content Skip to main navigation menu Skip to site footer
Responsive image
Issue: Vol. 720 No. 3: 2 Oct. 2025
Type: Article
Published: 2025-10-02
DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.720.3.1
Page range: 193-208
Abstract views: 328
PDF downloaded: 18

A new, spectacular, long-caudate species of Pleurothallis (Orchidaceae) from central Peru related to P. sijmii

Herbario Pedro Ruiz Gallo (PRG), Universidad Nacional Pedro Ruiz Gallo, Calle Juan XXIII 391, Lambayeque, Lambayeque, Peru
Missouri Botanical Garden, Prolongación Bolognesi Mz. E Lote 6, Oxapampa-Pasco, Peru
Department of Organismal Biology and Ecology, Colorado College, Colorado Springs, CO 80903, USA
Department of Organismal Biology and Ecology, Colorado College, Colorado Springs, CO 80903, USA
Elongatia Huánuco Pasco Pleurothallidinae Scabrata taxonomy Monocots

Abstract

In Peru, despite being recognized for its rich diversity of orchid species, the richness of Pleurothallis species is still unknown. Here we describe and illustrate a new species of Pleurothallis found in central Peru. Pleurothallis yanesha can be easily recognized by its raceme of long caudate flowers. The new species is most similar to P. sijmii, but differs from it in the flowers with apically connivent sepals (versus partially extended), longer sepals, narrowly ovate, much longer petals, the lip smaller and without callus, with the median lobe narrowly triangular, acute, and the column strongly arched. P. yanesha is known from montane forests located within the Oxapampa-Asháninka-Yánesha Biosphere Reserve (BIOAY) in the department of Pasco. In addition, we report the first confirmed wild population of P. sijmii, and include an update of this description, taxonomic comments on the allied species and the implications of floral morphology for the pollination of these species.

References

  1. Adobe Inc. (2022) Adobe Photoshop (24.0.1) [Software]. Available from: https://www.adobe.com/products/photoshop.html (accessed 25 January 2025)
  2. Aiton, W.T. (1813) Hortus Kewensis, or a Catalogue of the Plants Cultivated at the Royal Botanic Garden at Kew (Vol. 5). Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme, and Brown, London, 568 pp.
  3. Almeida, A.B.R., Smidt, E.C. & Amano, E. (2019) Evolution of anatomical characters in Acianthera section Pleurobotryae (Orchidaceae: Pleurothallidinae). PLOS One 14: e0212677. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0212677
  4. Bachman, S., Moat, J., Hill, A.W., de la Torre, J. & Scott, B. (2011) Supporting Red List threat assessments with GeoCAT: geospatial conservation assessment tool. ZooKeys 150: 117–126. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.150.2109
  5. Beentje, H. (2016) The Kew plant glossary: an illustrated dictionary of plant terms. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, Surrey, 192 pp.
  6. Brand, A. (1901) Symplocaceae. In: Engler, A. (Ed.) Das Pflanzenreich. Verlag von Wilhelm Engelmann, Leipzig, 76 pp.
  7. Catchpole, D. (2004) The ecology of vascular epiphytes on a Ficus L. host (Moraceae) in a Peruvian cloud forest. University of Tasmania, Australia, 166 pp.
  8. Cornejo, M. (2015) La lucha por la tierra en la Amazonía peruana: el caso de los Yánesha. Instituto de Estudios Peruanos, Lima, 169 pp.
  9. Díaz Hernández, A.G., Ocupa Horna, L.A., Yupanqui Godo, L.E. & Wilson, M. (2018) A new species of Andinia (Orchidaceae, Pleurothallidinae) from Huánuco, Peru, and the first Peruvian locality for Andinia schizopogon. Phytotaxa 361: 222–232. https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.361.2.7
  10. Dod, D.D. (1989) Orquídeas (Orchidaceae) nuevas para la ciencia, endémicas a La Española II. Moscosoa 5: 226–234.
  11. ESRI Inc. (2019) ArcMap Desktop (10.8) [Software]. Available from: https://www.esri.com/en-us/home (accessed 15 February 2025)
  12. Garay, L.A. (1968) Studies in American Orchids VII. Calsadia 10: 231–238.
  13. IUCN (2024) Guidelines for using the IUCN Red List categories and criteria. Version 16. Prepared by the Standards and Petitions Committee. Available from: https://www.iucnredlist.org/documents/RedListGuidelines.pdf (accessed 10 February 2025)
  14. Govaerts, R., Nic Lughadha, E., Black, N., Turner, R. & Paton, A. (2021) The World Checklist of Vascular Plants, a continuously updated resource for exploring global plant diversity. Scientific Data 8: 1–10. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41597-021-00997-6
  15. Hágsater, E., Santiago, E. & Medina, Tr. (2019) Epidendrum geminiochraceum. In: Hágsater, E. & Santiago, E. (Eds.) The genus Epidendrum part 13. Icones Orchidacearum 17: pl. 1725.
  16. Karsten, G.H. (1861) Florae Columbiae. Berolini, Ferdinandi Duemmleri Successores, 200 pp. https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.203.3.9
  17. Karremans, A.P. (2015) Nomenclatural notes in the Pleurothallidinae: Stelis. Phytotaxa 203: 292–296. https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.203.3.9
  18. Karremans, A.P. (2016) Genera Pleurothallidinarum: An updated phylogenetic overview of Pleurothallidinae. Lankesteriana 16: 219–241. https://doi.org/10.15517/lank.v16i2.26008
  19. Königer, W. (1982) Masdevallia concinna, Masdevallia decumana, Masdevallia lineolata, Masdevallia pernix - neue Arten aus Peru. Orchidee (Hamburg) 33: 100–107.
  20. Kunth, L.S. (1816) Orchideae Juss. Nova Genera et Species Plantarum 1: 330–369.
  21. Kuntze, O. (1891) 169. Orchidaceae. In: Kuntze, O. (Ed.) Revisio Generum Plantarum (Pars II). A. Felix, Leipzig, pp. 645–682.
  22. Lindley, J. (1839) Notes upon some genera and species of American Orchidaceae. Part I. Companion to the Botanical Magazine 2: 353–357.
  23. Lindley, J. (1842) Pleurothallis. Edward’s Botanical Register. Misc 28: 67–84.
  24. Lindley, J. (1859) Pleurothallis. In: Lindley, J. (Ed.) Folia Orchidacea. J. Matthews, London, pp. 1–46.
  25. Linnaeus, C. (1781) Supplementarum Plantarum. Orphanotrophe, Brunswig, 468 pp.
  26. Luer, C.A. (1976) Miscellaneous species of Pleurothallis. Selbyana 3: 38–201.
  27. Luer, C.A. (1979) Icones Pleurothallidinarum (Orchidaceae). Miscellaneous new species in the Pleurothallidinae. Selbyana 5: 145–196.
  28. Luer, C.A. (1982) Ophidion and Zootrophion, two new genera in the Pleurothallidinae (Orchidaceae). Selbyana 7: 79–72.
  29. Luer, C.A. (1986) Icones Pleurothallidinarum III. Systematics of Pleurothallis. Monographs in Systematic Botany from Missouri Botanical Garden 20: 1–120.
  30. Luer, C.A. (1994) Icones Pleurothallidinarum XI. Systematics of Lepanthes subgenus Brachycladium and Pleurothallis subgenus Aenigma subgenus Elongatia subgenus Kraenzlinella. Addenda to Dracula, Lepanthopsis, Myoxanthus, Platystele, Porroglossum, and Trisetella. Monographs in Systematic Botany from Missouri Botanical Garden 52: 1–137.
  31. Luer, C.A. (2002) Icones Pleurothallidinarum XXIV: A first century of new species of Stelis of Ecuador, part one. Addenda to the Lepanthes of Ecuador. Addenda to Barbosella, Dracula, Dresslerella, Lepanthopsis, Platystele, Pleurothallis, Restrepia, Scaphosepalum, Teagueia and Trichosalpinx. Monographs in Systematic Botany from the Missouri Botanical Garden 88: 1–122.
  32. Luer, C.A. (2004) Icones Pleurothallidinarum XXVI. Pleurothallis subgenus Acianthera and three allied subgenera. A second century of new species of Stelis of Ecuador. Epibator, Ophidion, Zootrophion. Addenda to Brachionidium, Dracula, Lepanthes, Platystele, Pleurothallis, Porroglossum, and Masdevallia. New genera and combinations. Monographs in Systematic Botany from the Missouri Botanical Garden 95: 1–265.
  33. Luer, C.A. (2007) Icones Pleurothallidinarum XXIX. A third century of Stelis of Ecuador. Systematics of Apoda-Prorepentia. Systematics of miscellaneous small genera. Addenda: new genera, species, and combinations (Orchidaceae). Monographs in Systematic Botany from the Missouri Botanical Garden 112: 1–130.
  34. Luer, C.A. (2011) Miscellaneous new species in the Pleurothallidinae (Orchidaceae) excluding species from Brazil. Harvard Papers in Botany 16: 311–360. https://doi.org/10.3100/0.25.016.0206
  35. Martens, M. & Galeotti, H. (1844) Posoqueria coriacea Nobis. Bulletins de l’Académie royale des sciences, des lettres et des beaux-arts de Belgique 11: 227–243.
  36. MINAM. (2016) Áreas naturales protegidas del Perú (2011–2015). Ministerio del Ambiente, Lima, Peru, 208 pp.
  37. Ocupa-Horna, L., Vieira-Uribe, S. & Yupanqui-Godo, L.E. (2021) Two new species of Andinia (Pleurothallidinae) from the central cordillera of Peru. Lankesteriana 21: 297–306. https://doi.org/10.15517/lank.v21i3.48840
  38. Planchón, J. & Triana, J. (1860) Annales des Sciences Naturelles. Botanique 4: 361–362.
  39. Poeppig, E.F. & Endlicher, S.L. (1835) Nova genera ac species plantarum, quas in regno Chilensi Peruviano et in terra Amazonica: annis MDCCCXXVII ad MDCCCXXXII. Sumptibus Friderici Hofmeister, Leipzig, 162 pp.
  40. POWO (2025) Plants of the World Online. Facilitated by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Available from: https://powo.science.kew.org (accessed 21 August 2025).
  41. Pridgeon, A.M. & Chase, M.W. (2001) A phylogenetic reclassification of Pleurothallidinae (Orchidaceae). Lindleyana 16: 235–271.
  42. Reichenbach, H.G. (1853) Sobralia. Flore des Serres et des Jardins de l’Europe 8: 245–247.
  43. Rolfe, R.A. (1910) New Orchids: Decade 35. Bulletin of Miscellaneous Information, Royal Gardens, Kew 5: 158–162.
  44. Ruiz, L.H. & Pavón, J.A. (1799) Flora Peruviana et Chilensis. Vol 2. Typis Gabrielis de Sancha, Madrid, 76 pp.
  45. Ryan, A. & Oakeley, O. (2003) Ida A. Ryan & Oakeley, a new genus based on Lycaste section Fimbriatae Fowlie. Orchid Digest 67: 8–10.
  46. Santos, G.F. (2004a) Escribiendo la historia en el paisaje: espacio, mitología y ritual entre la gente Yánesha. In: Surrallés, A. & García, H.P. (Eds.) Tierra adentro: territorio indígena y percepción del entorno. IWGIA, Copenhague, pp. 187–217.
  47. Santos, G.F. (2004b) Los yanesha. In: Santos, G.F. & Barclay, F. (Eds.) Guía etnográfica de la Alta Amazonía. Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (IFEA), Lima, pp. 159–360.
  48. Schlechter, R. (1923) Beiträge zur orchideenkunde von Zentralamerika. II. Orchidaceae Bradeanae Costaricenses. Repertorium Specierum Novarum Regni Vegetabilis Beihefte 19: 76–157.
  49. Schlechter, R. (1929) Orchidaceae Buchtienianae. Repertorium Specierum Novarum Regni Vegetabilis 27: 27–85.
  50. Shaw, J.M.H. (2014) International Register and Checklist of Orchid Hybrids (Sander’s List) July-September 2014. The Orchid Review 122: 61–78.
  51. Stearn, W.T. (2004) Botanical Latin. Timber Press, Portland, USA, 560 pp.
  52. Swartz, O. (1799a) Dianome Epidendri generis Linn. Nova Acta Regiae Societatis Scientiarum Upsaliensis 6: 61–88.
  53. Swartz, O. (1799b) Dianome Epidendri generis Linn. Journal für die Botanik, hrsg. vom Medicinalrath Schrader 2: 201–244.
  54. Rojas-Alvarado, G. & Karremans, A. (2024) A typological and morphological analysis of the Pleurothallidinae (Orchidaceae) inflorescences. The Botanical Review 90: 221–250. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12229-024-09303-6
  55. Tropicos.org. (2025) Pleurothallis sijmii Luer [Photograph]. Missouri Botanical Garden, Saint Louis, Missouri, U.S.A. Available from: https://tropicos.org/image/22568 (accessed 10 January 2025)
  56. Thiers, B.M. (2023) Index Herbarium: A global directory of public herbaria and associated staff. New York Botanical Garden’s Virtual Herbarium. Available from: http://sweetgum.nybg.org/science/ih/ (accessed 5 September 2025)
  57. Valenzuela, L. (2015) A new species of Scaphosepalum in the humid montane forest from Perú. Arnaldoa 22: 339–346.
  58. Valenzuela Gamarra, L., Vásquez, R., Villalba, M.I., Monteagudo, A.L. & Flores, J. (2022) Orquídeas de la Reserva de Biósfera Oxapampa-Ashaninka-Yánesha. Proyect@art E.I.R.L., Lima, 431 pp.
  59. van der Werff, H. (2013) Studies in Andean Ocotea (Lauraceae). Novon 22: 354–357.
  60. van der Pijl, L. (1972) Functional considerations and observations on the flowers of some Labiatae. Blumea: Biodiversity, Evolution and Biogeography of Plants 20: 93–103.
  61. Vesque, J. (1893) Epharmosis sive materiae ad instruendam anatomiam systematis naturalis, Vol. 3. Vincennes Delapierre, Rue de La Liberté, 137 pp.
  62. Wilson, M., Baquero, L., Dupree, K., Jiménez, M., LeBlanc, C., Merino, G., Portilla, J., Salas Guerrero, M., Tobar Suarez, F. & Werner, J. (2016) Three new species of Pleurothallis (Pleurothallidinae; Orchidaceae) in subsection Macrophyllae-Fasciculatae from northern South America. Lankesteriana 16: 349–366. https://doi.org/10.15517/lank.v16i3.27314
  63. Wilson, M., Zhao, K., Hampson, H., Frank, G., Romelroux, K., Jiménez, M.M., Tobar, F., Larsen, B. & Perez, A. (2018) A new species of Pleurothallis (Orchidaceae: Pleurothallidinae) in subsection Macrophyllae-Fasciculatae with a unique, highly reduced, morphologically distinct labellum. Lankesteriana 18: 217–230. https://doi.org/10.15517/lank.v18i3.35495

How to Cite

Ocupa-Horna, L., Valenzuela, L., Ward, R. & Wilson, M. (2025) A new, spectacular, long-caudate species of Pleurothallis (Orchidaceae) from central Peru related to P. sijmii. Phytotaxa 720 (3): 193–208. https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.720.3.1