A taxonomic synopsis of Acianthera (<em>Orchidaceae: Pleurothallidinae</em>) in Peru, including two new species

Abstract

Abstract.A taxonomic synopsis of Peruvian Acianthera including 35 accepted species is presented. An artificial key and maps for known localities from all these species are also included. Acianthera berlinensis sp. nov. and A. marleniae sp. nov. are described and illustrated as new species based on specimens collected in the Peruvian regions of Amazonas and Cajamarca, respectively. Information on the distribution and habitat is provided for both new taxa, followed by a discussion comparing the traits that distinguish them from their closest relatives. A. consatae, A. dodsonii, A. lamia, A. scalpricaulis and A. toachica, previously known only from Ecuador and Bolivia, are herein reported for the first time for the Peruvian flora.

Plastid phylogenomics resolves ambiguous relationships within the orchid family and provides a solid timeframe for biogeography and macroevolution

“…Here, a cladogram depicting the commonest topologies of relationships between genera was provided and nine clades were defined (termed “affinities” by the author) but without considering the magnitude of the support for these (see Figure 2 in Karremans 67 ). Our plastid phylogenomic analysis recovered well-supported relationships in Pleurothallidinae that are mostly in line with previously published studies 28,63,68 . However, these previous trees based on a handful of DNA nuclear and plastid markers yielded poor resolution and low support for backbone nodes as well as infrageneric relationships.…”

“…Acianthera includes over 300 species distributed throughout the American tropics and subtropics 64,69,70 , is often retrieved as sister to the remainder of Pleurothallidinae with moderate support 68 . Karremans 67 used a series of “affinities” to describe to groups of genera affiliated with a core genus of these group and thus described the “ Acianthera affinity” as the frequent clustering of several Central American genera with Acianthera 64 .…”

Plastid phylogenomics resolves ambiguous relationships within the orchid family and provides a solid timeframe for biogeography and macroevolution

“…Acianthera includes over 300 species distributed throughout the American tropics and subtropics 64 , 67 , 68 , is often retrieved as sister to the remainder of Pleurothallidinae with moderate support 63 . Karremans 66 used a series of “affinities” to describe groups of genera affiliated with a core genus and thus described the “ Acianthera affinity” as the frequent clustering of several genera allied with Acianthera 64 .…”