Notes on Erycina-complex with descriptions of new Colombian species

Marta Kolanowska,Dariusz L Szlachetko

doi:10.1007/s00606-013-0901-z

Abstract

The morphological differences between orchid genera synonymized recently under the name Erycina, i.e., Psygmorchis, Stacyella and Erycina s.str. were evaluated. The results of the revision complemented with the available molecular data support the traditional recognition of three different genera. The morphological description of the taxa included in Erycina-complex and artificial keys to the subordinate taxa are provided. Two new species of Psygmorchis are described and illustrated based on Colombian material and their taxonomic affinities are briefly discussed.

Highlights

A numerous theoretical (Maynard Smith 1962, 1966; Rice 1987) and empirical (Thoday and Gibson 1970; Howard and Harrison 1984; Hua and Wiens 2013) studies were incorporated into a composite model of speciation via habitat specialization
It was shown that the selection on a habitat preference always leads to the maintenance of an adaptive polymorphism and to the evolution of prezygotic reproductive isolation as a correlated character (Rice 1987; de Meeus et al 1993)
The habitat restrictions apply to the majority of orchid species and due to the cosmopolitan distribution of those

Summary

Introduction

A numerous theoretical (Maynard Smith 1962, 1966; Rice 1987) and empirical (Thoday and Gibson 1970; Howard and Harrison 1984; Hua and Wiens 2013) studies were incorporated into a composite model of speciation via habitat specialization. In subsequent research, Dodson (1957) elevated this group to the sectional rank, but later Garay (1963, 1970) suggested that section Iridifolia of Oncidium should be united with Lockhartia While the latter genus produces laterally flattened leaves like Psygmorchis, both differ in crucial characters. During the studies on the Ecuadorian orchids, Dressler and Williams (2003) found one more species of Reichenbach’s Equitantia group of Oncidium which generic affinity should be reconsidered and they transferred O. crista-galli to Psygmorchis This reassignment was later evaluated by Szlachetko (2006) who found this species substantially different from other Psygmorchis species in both vegetative (presence of unifoliate pseudobulbs) and generative (oblong clavate, distinctly cleft pollinia, convex tegula) characters

Materials and methods

Pseudobulbs unifoliate at the apex or leaf

Isthmus between the lobules prominent

Conclusions