The first natural hybrid of the genus Gongora is described for the department of Copán in Honduras, between the species Gongora truncata and Gongora batemanii (synonym: Gongora cassidea). The nothospecies described here presents intermediate characteristics between both species, such as setaceous projections on the lip, a large callus, spatulate epichile, and a cucullate hard dorsal sepal. The identity of a specimen from the Herbarium Jany Renz Botanical Institute, University of Basel, Switzerland, corresponds to the same hybrid described here and erroneously determined as Gongora saccata, a synonym of Gongora seideliana, is considered. The clarification of the synonymy of Gongora saccata and relevant aspects regarding the pollination mechanisms and reproductive barriers of both parent species are also discussed.
The existence of a wild population of Laelia dawsonii f. dawsonii is recorded for the first time in the Mexican State of Jalisco. Laelia dawsonii has a wide geographical distribution throughout the Sierra Madre del Sur (Oaxaca, Guerrero, and Jalisco); however, the populations are very isolated, and each one has very few individuals. Until now, no wild populations of this species had been registered outside of the State of Oaxaca. The population found in Jalisco is composed of about 100 plants. Due to its horticultural importance, L. dawsonii has been frequently extracted from the field, and its Oaxacan populations have been decimated since the end of the 19th century. Currently, this species is considered endangered in Mexico.
Keywords: biogeography, conservation, Laeliinae, Laelia anceps
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.