Trichosalpinx, a new genus in the Pleurothallidinae

Abstract

In the Pleurothallidinae three vegetatively similar genera are characterized by lepanthiform stems, i.e., secondary stems enclosed by a series of imbricating, ribbed, tubular sheaths dilated above to oblique ostia, and with the ribs and thickened margins of the ostia usually ciliate or scabrous. The three taxa may be differentiated from each other by the morphology of the column.The column of Lepanthes Sw. is wingless and footless, with a dorsal, apical or subapical anther, and an apical or ventral stigma. The short, hooded column of Lepanthopsis (Cogn.) Ames is Platystele-like, with the anther apical and the stigma transversely bilobed. The column of Pleurothallis R. Br. Sect. Lepanthiformes (Lindl.) Cogn., proposed here as Trichosalpinx, is usually elongated, more or less winged, with an apical, subapical or ventral anther and stigma, and with a foot usually well-developed. The column could be called Pleurothallis-like sensu lato. The relationship of Trichosalpinx to Pleurothallis is analogous to the relationship of Lepanthopsis to Platystele Schltr. If Lepanthopsis is to be maintained, this taxon should be elevated to the rank of genus. 54, No. 5 Etymology: From the Greek tricha (Tpvxa), ''a hair,' and salpinx (oadmvy §), '"'a trumpet," in reference to the ciliated ribs and margins of the trumpetlike sheaths of the secondary stems.Jesh Se ME Oe, @) (EL ag JN Vol.TYPE: Specklinia ciliaris Lindl.This somewhat diverse group of about 90 species is widely distributed from sea level to altitudes over 3000 meters, from southern Mexico to southern Brazil. Some species seem allied to Pleurothallis, others, to Lepanthopsis. The lips of some species are amazingly similar to the lips of some species of Pleurothallis sect. Specklinia, e.g. P. barbulata Lindl. and T. ciliaris, but vegetatively these two species are totally different. It would be interesting to discover if a common pollinator could account for this apparent example of convergent evolution.The following new combinations become necessary.

Lord of the flies: pollination of Dracula orchids

“…The name means little dragon and pays homage to the 'chimaera' of Reichenbach (Luer 1993), as well as to the extravagant display of the flowers' widespread sepals with long, pendant sepaline tails that resemble flying bats (Luer 1978, Luer 1993. Comprising ca.…”

Pollen morphology of the subtribe Pleurothallidinae Lindl. (Orchidaceae)

“…) . Two preliminary conclusions shall be drawn: The separation of the P. dura-and P. blaisdellii-complexes as Trichosalpinx ( Luer 1983) is supported by the homogeneous gemmate surface. Physosiphon, which was split by Luer ( 1986c) and now resides in Pleurothallis subgenera Sarracenella and Physosiphon, shows af® nities to Trisetella [Pleurothallis sarracenia (~Ph.…”

Un nuevo híbrido natural de Dracula (Orchidaceae: Pleurothallidinae) del suroccidente de Ecuador

“…y Porroglossum Schltr. (Luer, 1978(Luer, , 1986(Luer, , 1993Pridgeon et al, 2001;Calderón y Farfán, 2003;Pridgeon, 2005). Excluyendo a D. xenos Luer et Escobar, que parece ser un híbrido entre Dracula y Masdevallia, Dracula sería un grupo monofilético cuyas especies no presentan serios problemas para su delimitación (Pridgeon, 2005;Pridgeon et al, 2001), siendo muchas de ellas muy conocidas y apreciadas en cultivo.…”

“…Sin embargo, al revisar el material cultivado y compararlo con la literatura, ilustraciones y fotografías del género, se notaron varios rasgos que lo hacían diferente de estas orquídeas. Otra especie con la que parecía muy similar es D. pusilla (Rolfe) Luer, una orquídea de Centroamérica registrada de México hasta Panamá, pero no en Colombia y Ecuador (Luer, 1978(Luer, , 1993Calderón y Farfán, 2003). Sin embargo, también se encontraron diferencias entre esta planta y el material de El Oro y se descartó que los ejemplares correspondan a alguna especie conocida de Dracula.…”