Masdevallia luerorum (Orchidaceae: Pleurothallidinae), a new species from Costa Rica

Masdevallia luerorum from the southern Pacific region of Costa Rica is described and illustrated. It resembles M. lata, but differs in the single flowered inflorescence, the shorter sepals, the broad and cylindrical sepaline tube, the smaller mentum beneath the column-foot, a smaller secondary mentum, a slight deflection between the two mentums, and the lip with marginal folds near the middle, apically rounded and conspicuously verrucose. Initial phylogenetic evidence indicated that Masdevallia nicaraguae is closely allied to M. luerorum. However, M. nicaraguae is distinguished by the white flowers suffused with fuchsia stripes toward the bases of sepals and the thick and triangular, shorter sepaline tails of the lateral sepals. Moreover, both species are isolated geographicallySe describe e ilustra Masdevallia luerorum del Pacífico sur de Costa Rica. Es similar a M. lata, pero difiere en la infloresencia uniflora, los sépalos más cortos, el tubo sepalino amplio y cilíndrico un mentón más pequeño debajo del pie de la columna, un mentón secundario más corto, una ligera deflexión entre ambos mentones, y el labelo con pliegues marginales cerca de la mitad y apicalmente redondeado y conspicuamente verrucoso. Evidencia filogenética inicial indicó que Masdevallia nicaraguae está estrechamente relacionada con M. luerorum. Sin embargo, M. nicaraguae se distingue por las flores blancas con rayas fucsia hacia las bases de los sépalos y colas sepalinas triangulares, más cortas y gruesas. Además, ambas especies están aisladas geográficamente.Universidad de Costa Rica/[814-B3-080]/UCR/Costa RicaUCR::Vicerrectoría de Investigación::Unidades de Investigación::Ciencias Agroalimentarias::Jardín Botánico Lankester (JBL

The origin and speciation of orchids

SummaryOrchids constitute one of the most spectacular radiations of flowering plants. However, their origin, spread across the globe, and hotspots of speciation remain uncertain due to the lack of an up-to-date phylogeographic analysis.We present a new Orchidaceae phylogeny based on combined high-throughput and Sanger sequencing data, covering all five subfamilies, 17/22 tribes, 40/49 subtribes, 285/736 genera, and c. 7% (1921) of the 29 524 accepted species, and use it to infer geographic range evolution, diversity, and speciation patterns by adding curated geographical distributions from the World Checklist of Vascular Plants.The orchids' most recent common ancestor is inferred to have lived in Late Cretaceous Laurasia. The modern range of Apostasioideae, which comprises two genera with 16 species from India to northern Australia, is interpreted as relictual, similar to that of numerous other groups that went extinct at higher latitudes following the global climate cooling during the Oligocene. Despite their ancient origin, modern orchid species diversity mainly originated over the last 5 Ma, with the highest speciation rates in Panama and Costa Rica.These results alter our understanding of the geographic origin of orchids, previously proposed as Australian, and pinpoint Central America as a region of recent, explosive speciation

Filogenia molecular de las especies de Masdevallia Ruiz y Pav. (Orchidaceae: pleurothallidinae) de Costa Rica

Tesis (licenciatura en biología con énfasis en biología molecular y biotecnología)UCR::Vicerrectoría de Docencia::Ciencias Básicas::Facultad de Ciencias::Escuela de Biologí

Masdevallia Ruiz & Pav. [with the new species Masdevallia bellissima]

Costa Rican species of Masdevallia are presented and discussed. A new species, Masdevallia bellissima, is described and illustrated.Se presentan y discuten especies costarricenses de Masdevallia. Se describe e ilustra una nueva especie, Masdevallia bellissima.UCR::Vicerrectoría de Investigación::Unidades de Investigación::Ciencias Agroalimentarias::Jardín Botánico Lankester (JBL

The New Refugium Botanicum. Maxillaria rodrigueziana

Ilustraciones por Sylvia StrigariMaxillaria rodrigueziana J.T. Atwood & Mora-Ret., Icones Plantarum Tropicarum 14(1):t. 1361. 1989. Type: Panamá. Province of Coclé: El Copé on the Pacific side ½-hour walk from the sawmill, elevation 2,400 feet (730m),October 16, 1979, T. Antonio 2137 (holotype, MO; isotype, SEL). Epiphytic, sympodial, caespitose, large herb, up to 50 cm tall. Roots growing from the rhizome at the base of the pseudobulb, fleshy, white, up to 1 mm in diameter. Rhizome short, stout, concealed by appressed, imbricating, scarious sheaths. Pseudobulbs apically unifoliate, ovoid, rugose, 5–7 × 3–4 cm, subtended by one large, lanceolate-triangular, obtuse, imbricating, scarious sheath. Leaves elliptic, coriaceous, obtuse to rounded, grass green, blade 15–30 × 4.5–7.5 cm, supported by a distinct, thick petiole 3–11 cm long. Inflorescence 1–3 per pseudobulb, singleflowered, erect, growing from the base of the newly developingpseudobulbs,up to 20 cm long; covered by 4–6, thin, imbricating, tightly adpressed bracts. Floral bracts much longer than the ovary, lanceolate, acute, conduplicate, apically loose, to 6 cm long, translucent. Pedicellate ovary teretesubclavate, ca. 2.5 cm long.UCR::Vicerrectoría de Investigación::Unidades de Investigación::Ciencias Agroalimentarias::Jardín Botánico Lankester (JBL

A Note on Masdevallia zahlbruckneri and M. utriculata (Orchidaceae)

Masdevallia utriculata and M. zahlbruckeri are characterized and illustrated based on living plants from Costa Rica. The species are compared with each other on the basis of their general similar morphology. Their taxonomic status is reviewed.Universidad de Costa Rica/[814-B3-080]/UCR/Costa RicaMinisterio de Ambiente, Energía y Telecomunicaciones/[]/MINAET/Costa RicaSistema Nacional de Áreas de Conservación/[]/SINAC/Costa RicaUniversidad de Costa Rica/[814-B0-052]/UCR/Costa RicaUCR::Vicerrectoría de Investigación::Unidades de Investigación::Ciencias Agroalimentarias::Jardín Botánico Lankester (JBL

Illustrations and studies in Neotropical Orchidaceae: the Specklinia brighamii group (Pleurothallidinae) in Costa Rica

This paper focuses on the taxonomy and systematics of the species related to Specklinia brighamii and S. simmleriana in Costa Rica. The group also includes S. alexii, recorded for the first time for the country, S. acrisepala, and two newly described taxa, S. barbelifera and S. tirimbina. The six taxa are described on the basis of living material and illustrated in a composite plate. Notes on ecology, distribution and diagnostic features are presented for each taxon. A key to the species is given to aid in identification.UCR::Vicerrectoría de Investigación::Unidades de Investigación::Ciencias Agroalimentarias::Jardín Botánico Lankester (JBL

Phylogenetic reassessment of Acianthera (Pleurothallidinae: Orchidaceae)

The phylogenetic relationships within the Acianthera affinity are re-evaluated using Bayesian analyses of nrITS and chloroplast matK sequence data. Emphasis is made on species from the Antilles, Central America and the Andean South America as those have been less represented in previous studies. Acianthera is retrieved largely monophyletic, but is redefined to include the genera Aberrantia, Antilla, Apoda-prorepentia, Arthrosia, Brenesia, Cryptophoranthus, Didactylus, Dondodia, Kraenzlinella, Ogygia, Pleurobotryum, Proctoria, Sarracenella and Unguella. Four well-supported subgenera are proposed for Acianthera and characterized both geographically and morphologically. The species belonging to the three newly proposed subgenera are listed.UCR::Vicerrectoría de Investigación::Unidades de Investigación::Ciencias Agroalimentarias::Jardín Botánico Lankester (JBL