Altensteinia cundinamarcae S.Nowak, Szlach. & Mytnik 2014

TYPE Drawing by J Mytnik-Ejsmont and Polish Bot. J. 59: 12 Szlach. & Mytnik 2014

LATER

Common Name The Cundinamarca Altensteinia [A department of Colombia]

Flower Size Minute

Found in Cundinamarca department of Colombia at elevations of 3000 to 3200 meters as a medium sized, cold growing terrestrial with 6 leaves, the lower 5 in a basal rosette, oblong-lanceolat to linear-lanceolate, acutethe uppermost cauline leaves that blooms in the later summer on an erect, stout, almost glabrous, with 4 cauline bracts, 4 to 4.8" [10 to 12 cm] long, loosely several flowered inflorescence with ovate, acute, glandular-ciliate along margins only floral bracts and carrying non-resupinate flowers.

This species is unique for the suborbicular-quadrate lip with entire margins and although similar to Altensteinia virescens this one differs in the linear-falcate, truncate petals and the floral bracts with glandular margins.

"Altensteinia cundinamarcae undoubtedly is related to Altensteinia virescens , from which it differs by several features, the most striking of which is lip morphology. Unlike all other members of Altensteinia, in A. cundinamarcae and A. virescens the lip margins are not fimbriate, making them easily separable. The lip margin of the new entity is entire, whereas in A. virescens it is finely erose. Additionally, the lip of A. cundinamarcae is quadrate-suborbicular, densely pubescent on the inner surface, and without any basal auricles. The lip of A. virescens is spathulate, glabrous on the inner surface, and with prominent auricles at the base of the claw. The petals of A. cundinamarcae are apically truncate and the floral bracts are glandular along the margins. The petals of A. virescens are acute and the floral bracts are glabrous." S.Nowak, Szlach. & Mytnik 2014

Synonyms

References W3 Tropicos, Kew Monocot list , IPNI ;

* Polish Bot. J. 59: 12 Szlach. & Mytnik 2014 Drawing fide

Materials to the Orchid Flora of Colombia Vol 2: 49 Szlachetko & Kolanowska 2019 drawing fide

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