NOMENCLATURE NOTES New Ecuadorian Cyrtochilum Species ECuaDor IS FLorISTICaLLy THE richest country in South america with around 230 plant families and an estimated number of species between 16,000 and 18,000. The land rises from sea level to more than 20,564 feet (6,268 m) elevation and the vegetation varies from xerophytic scrub to rainforest and highandean páramos. Wesley E. Higgins These diverse ecological conditions create the richness of the Ecuadorian flora. The genus Cyrtochilum occurs as epiphytes or terrestrials in the moist cloud forStig Dalström ests at elevations of 1,650–11,500 feet (500–3,500 m) in Ecuador. With publication of the latest volume of the Flora of Ecuador (Harling et al. 2010) in September 2010, there are now 10 new Cyrtochilum species (Dodson and Luer 2010). Cyrtochilum colobium Dalström, Fl. Ecuador 87:51 (–52; fig. 13), 2010. The name comes from the Greek “kolos” meaning “shortened, stunted” 500 ORCHIDS AUGUST 2011 WWW.AOS.ORG in reference to the stunted column of the flower. This obscure little species is only known from the original collection by S. Dalström and Thomas Höijer, and is not likely to be recollected anytime soon due to the insignificant appearance. In addition, it was found in an area near the Colombian border considered unsafe for foreigners to visit. Cyrtochilum colobium is similar to many other small, brownflowered species in the genus, and differs morphologically in minor floral features only. The combination of these features sets it apart, however. Floristically, the column of Cyr. colobium resembles Cyrtochilum confertum or Cyrtochilum gracile, but it is shorter. The lip of Cyr. colobium is also much smaller and elliptic, with the typical, omnipresent callus occupying much of the surface. The diminutive plant habit readily distinguishes Cyr. colobium from both the other species as well. It appears most closely related to Cyrtochilum sphinx, and may prove conspecific if additional material is ever encountered, but the plump, runt-like column of Cyr. colobium seems different enough to justify specific status for the time being. Cyrtochilum ferrugineum Dalström & D.Trujillo, Fl. Ecuador 87:74 (76–77; fig. 24), 2010. The name comes from the Latin “ferrugo” or “ferrugineus” meaning “rust” or “rust-colored” in reference to the color 3 [1] Cyrtochilum ferrugineum, a rarely encountered species in Ecuador, is more common in northern Peru. [2] Cyrtochilum colobium is found in an area near the Colombian border considered unsafe to visit. [3] The floral morphology (shape) of Cyrtochilum fredericae, an attractive little species, connects some members of the former genus Neodryas (= Cyrtochilum) with Cyrtochilum graminoides and Cyrtochilum hoeijeri. of the sepals and petals. The plant was originally collected by Benigno Malo and flowered in cultivation by Steve Beckendorf. This is an insignificant species, similar to Cyr. colobium and Cyr. sphinx in size and general appearance. It can be distinguished from those species by the ventral lobes of the column ending below the stigmatic surface, and from the larger Cyrtochilum longifolium by the smaller habit and different-colored flowers with a shorter column. Cyrtochilum ferrugineum is easily distinguished from Cyrtochilum graminoides by the slightly longer and clavate column versus a longitudinally almost triangular column for Cyr. graminoides. Cyrtochilum flavostellulare Dalström, Fl. Ecuador 87: 80 (–82; fig. 26), 2010. The name comes from the Latin S. DALSTRÖM 2 S. DALSTRÖM 1 S. DALSTRÖM A Summary of 10 Recently Described Taxa/By Wesley E. Higgins and Stig Dalström “flavus” meaning yellow and “stellulare” meaning “small star” in reference to the small, yellow, star-shaped callus of the lip of the flower. Cyrtochilum flavostellulare is a showy species with large and brightly colored flowers, similar those of the variable Cyrtochilum macranthum. The color of the lip of Cyr. flavostellulare appears to be brownish as opposed to the brightly yellow and purple lip of Cyr. macranthum. The callus of the lip appears rather similar, but in Cyr. macranthum, it is strikingly white and purple with the basal two spreading projections, or teeth, larger, and often slightly falcate, versus unicolored yellow, smaller and straighter projections, or teeth, for Cyr. flavostellulare, where the apical projections often are slightly larger than the basal ones. This plant was originally collected by Julian Steyermark. Cyrtochilum hirtzii Dalström, Fl. Ecuador 87:86 (88; fig. 29), 2010. Named in honor of alejandro Hirtz of Quito, Ecuador, who collected the species and has contributed substantially to the understanding and discovery of many Ecuadorian plants. Cyrtochilum hirtzii is an attractive species, similar to the sympatric Cyrtochilum halteratum, but easily distinguished by the more complex, denticulate and digitate callus of the lip. The structure of the callus resembles the lip callus of the equally sympatric Cyrtochilum cuencanum and, at this time, the possibility of a natural hybrid origin for Cyrtochilum hirtzii cannot be ruled out. Cyrtochilum cuencanum differs from Cyr. hirtzii by the nonauriculate sepals and the wingless column. Cyrtochilum midas Dalström, Fl. Ecuador 87: 136 (–138; fig. 50), 2010. This species is named for the mythological Greek King Midas, whose touch turned everything into gold, in reference to the flowers changing from white to 4 yellow with age. alejandro Hirtz originally collected this large plant that is sometimes collected in the hope that it will bear large flowers as well. unfortunately the long and wiry inflorescence of Cyr. midas only carries smaller flowers scattered on rambling branches. The basic color of the flowers is white with some pinkish marking, but the white soon turns to dull yellow. The effect of this is that it seems as if two species were represented on the same inflorescence. The relatively large and orbiculate bracts (similar to fish scales) of Cyr. midas suggests that it is closely related to Cyrtochilum cimiciferum and Cyrtochilum williamsianum, but it can easily be distinguished by the larger habit, and by the somewhat larger and more or less whitish flowers with pink markings. Cyrtochilum parvibrachium Dalström, Fl. Ecuador 87:146 (–148; fig. 54). 2010. This species is named from the Latin “brachium” meaning “arm” and “par- ECUAGENERA This species is named in honor of Friederike König, of Vienna, austria. The original collector was S. Dalström and the plant was cultivated and flowered by Ecuagenera. only a couple of plants of this pretty little species have been seen, collected in an area known for a rich diversity of Cyrtochilum species. Cyrtochilum fredericae is interesting because it morphologically connects some more typical “odontoglossoid” species, such as Cyr. graminoides and Cyrtochilum hoeijeri, with Cyrtochilum rhodoneurum, which is distinguished by bright orange to red colors and fused lateral sepals. Cyrtochilum fredericae is distinguished by the combination of orange flowers with spreading lateral sepals. S. DALSTRÖM Cyrtochilum fredericae Dalström, Fl. Ecuador 87:86 (88; fig. 29), 2010. 5 [4] The color of the lip of Cyrto. flavostellulare appears to be brownish as opposed to the brightly yellow and purple lip of Cyrtochilum macranthum, shown here in its native habitat. [5] Cyrtochilum flavostellulare, which is apparently rare and easily confused with Cyr. macranthum, but it differs in the shape and color of the lip callus. WWW.AOS.ORG AUGUST 2011 ORCHIDS 501 6 S. DALSTRÖM NOMENCLATURE NOTES vus” meaning “little” in reference to the small but distinct armlike appendages, or wings, on the column of the flower. only a single collection by ulf Molau has been examined. a living plant was cultivated and flowered at the Botanical Garden in Gothenburg. The plant habit resembled a poor Cyrtochilum ramosissimum with long and straplike leaves and an arching to rambling paniculate inflorescence. The insignificant flowers also resembled a poor Cyr. ramosissimum. The general morphology of both the plant and flower resembles several of the former Odontoglossum species that were transferred to Cyrtochilum (Dalström 2001) as a consequence of DNa analysis (Williams et al. 2001), but the flower also shows resemblance to some more “oncidoid” Cyrtochilum species due to the more open aspect of the lip–column relationship. This is good evidence that a combined method of using morphology, DNa analysis and any other additional source of useful information is to be preferred in order to classify any large and complex group of plants. Cyrtochilum sphinx Dalström & G. Calat., Fl. Ecuador 87:170 (–172; fig. 64), 2010. This species is named for the enigmatic Egyptian Sphinx, in reference to the troublesome and enigmatic taxonomic background of this species, and also for the similarity in shape between the column of the flower and the body of the sculpture. Cyrtochilum sphinx belongs to a complex of small-flowered, horticulturally unattractive and visually hard to discover, insignificant plants that very few collectors probably even notice, hence very little material is available for study. as a result, data regarding distribution, ecology, pollination, etc. are most inconclusive. This species differs from all other, more or less similar Cyrtochilum species by the projecting rostellum in combination with the broadly rounded ventral lobes of the column. The original collection was made by G. Calatayud. 7 [6] Cyrtochilum midas is named for the flower color that changes from white to yellow. 502 ORCHIDS AUGUST 2011 WWW.AOS.ORG [7] Cyrtochilum hirtzii, a rare species from the Pastaza valley, may be a natural hybrid of Cyrtochilum cuencanum and Cyrtochilum halteratum. A. HIRTZ Cyrtochilum tanii Dalström, Fl. Ecuador 87:172 (–174; fig. 65), 2010. This species is named in honor of Kiat Tan, PhD, first director of the orchid Identification Center at the Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, Sarasota, Florida. The type plant was collected by Tan together with Libby Besse and Joe Halton. This unexpected discovery is the only Cyrtochilum reported from the Monte Cristi area of Ecuador. although the field notes unfortunately have been lost, it seems reasonable to assume that this species, which is closely related to Cyrtochilum articulatum and Cyrtochilum flexuosum from the andean slopes, most likely is restricted to the thin level of cloud-forest vegetation on the summit of the coastal cordillera. Cyrtochilum tanii is distinguished by the small but distinct digitate column wings. References Dalström, S. 2001. a Synopsis of the Genus Cyrtochilum (orchidaceae; oncidiinae): Taxonomic reevaluation and New Combinations. Lindleyana 16(2):56–80. Dodson, C.H. and C.a. Luer. 2010. orchidaceae, Genera Cyrtochiloides–Epibator. In: G. Harling, W. andersson and B. Lennart, editors. Flora of Ecuador. Department of Systematic Botany and the Section for Botany, university of Goteborg, riksmuseum, Stockholm. Harling, G., W. andersson and B. Lennart, editors. 2010. Flora of Ecuador. Department of Systematic Botany and the Section for Botany, university of Goteborg, riksmuseum, Stockholm. Williams, N.H., M.W. Chase, T. Fulcher and W.M. Whitten. 2001. Molecular Systematics of the oncidiinae Based on Evidence from Four DNa regions: Expanded Circumscriptions of Cyrtochilum, Erycina, Otoglossum and Trichocentrum and a New Genus (orchidaceae). Lindleyana 16:113–139. 8 S. DALSTRÖM This species is named from the Latin “verrucosus” meaning “full of warts,” in reference to the fields of warts surrounding the apex of the callus on the lip of the flower. Mark Whitten, PhD, collected the original plant and it was cultivated and flowered by Ecuagenera. Cyrtochilum verrucosum appears rare in nature, and is consequently uncommon both in living collections and herbaria. Considering the rather large plant with the smallish, dull greenish brown flowers, it seems unlikely that this status will ever change. Cyrtochilum verrucosum is easily distinguished from vegetatively and morphologically similar (and just as horticulturally uninteresting) species by the rather erect column in combination with the gibbous basal callus, which terminates in widely spreading, distinct angles, flanked by the carpetlike verrucosities, for which the species is named. Cyrtochilum is a genus of approximately 140 species distributed from Puerto rico to Bolivia, via the andean region. The genus is characterized by ovoid, sometimes slightly compressed pseudobulbs with a generally rather dull surface, often surrounded by large foliaceous, distichous bracts, sometimes concealing the pseudobulbs entirely; the roots are relatively thick. The pollinia are relatively small to minute, elliptic, pulvinate with a ventrally flattened viscidium; a variable, short and often relatively broad stipe; and large caudicles. Seventy-two species and one, possibly two, natural hybrids are currently recognized from Ecuador. S. DALSTRÖM Cyrtochilum verrucosum Dalström, Fl. Ecuador 87: 183 (–185; fig. 70), 2010. 9 10 Wesley E. Higgins, PhD, was the recipient of an American Orchid Society fellowship. He is an AOS taxonomic authority and an AOS accredited judge. He serves on the Publications Committee and coordinates the Nomenclatural Notes column, for which he periodically writes. 5317 Delano Court, Cape Coral, Florida 33904 (e-mail higgins@alumni.ufl.edu). Stig Dalström is a research associate of Lankester Botanical Garden, University of Costa Rica, and of the Centro de Investigación en Orquídeas de los Andes: Angel Andreetta, Gualaceo, Ecuador. 2304 Ringling Boulevard, Apartment 119, Sarasota, Florida 34237 (e-mail stigdalstrom@juno.com). [8] Cyrtochilum sphinx named for the similarity in shape between the column of the flower and the body of the sphinx sculpture. [9] Cyrtochilum verrucosum is a rare and little-known species with an undocumented distribution. [10] Cyrtochilum pardinum is an epiphyte or terrestrial in wet to semiwet montane forest and along roadsides in shrubby areas at elevations of 6,560–12,450 feet (2,000–3,800 m). WWW.AOS.ORG AUGUST 2011 ORCHIDS 503