Systematics of Lobelioideae (Campanulaceae): review, phylogenetic and biogeographic analyses

Lobelioideae, the largest subfamily within Campanulaceae, includes 33 genera and approximately1200 species. It is characterized by resupinate flowers with zygomorphic corollas and connate anthers and is widely distributed across the world. The systematics of Lobelioideae has been quite challenging over the years, with different scholars postulating varying theories. To outline major progress and highlight the existing systematic problems in Lobelioideae, we conducted a literature review on this subfamily. Additionally, we conducted phylogenetic and biogeographic analyses for Lobelioideae using plastids and internal transcribed spacer regions. We found that former studies have reached agreement on the southern African origin of Lobelioideae, herbaceous habit and Asian origin of giant lobelioids, the convergent evolution of giant rosette lobelioids, and lastly, the multiple cosmopolitan and independent radiation of lobelioids in Africa, Pacific Basin, and the Hawaiian Islands. Also, Apetahia Baill., Sclerotheca A.DC., and Cyanea Gaudich. are paraphyletic, while Lobelia L., Pratia Gaudich., Centropogon C.Presl, Siphocampylus Pohl, and Isotoma Lindl. are polyphyletic. The taxonomy of these genera, especially Lobelia, is particularly quite frustrating. This calls for further reappraisals using both morphological and molecular data.

Taxonomic revision of the genus Cranichis (Orchidaceae, Cranichideae) in Colombia

The geographical range of the orchid genus Cranichis extends from USA, Central America, and the Caribbean to Bolivia and Argentina—with the greatest diversity observed in the Andean region. This taxon embraces herbs with the scape and basal leaves developing from a single, terminal bud and having the scape enclosed in several sheaths. The small, non-resupinate, flowers are arranged in a racemose inflorescence. The petals and lip are free from the column part and their gynostemium is short and massive. In this paper, the synopsis of Cranichis in Colombia is presented. Each species occurring in the country is characterized and illustrated. The information about habitat and distribution of national genus representatives are provided. Several groups of species that are very similar in their morphology are delineated to facilitate process of species identification. A total of 10 species are described here as new. Lectotypes for the six species Cranichis ciliata, C. fendleri, C. mandonii, C. tenuis, C. viereckii, and C. wageneri have been selected. Additionally, two new nomenclatorial combinations within Ocampoa are proposed.

Senyumia granitica (Gesneriaceae) from Johor, Malaysia, the second species of Senyumia

The genus Senyumia was previously known from a single species, S.minutiflora (Ridl.) Kiew, A.Weber & B.L.Burtt, from a limestone karst, Gunung Senyum, in Pahang, Malaysia. Senyumiagranitica Kiew, here described and illustrated, is the second species of the genus. It differs from S.minutiflora, not only in its habitat, but also in its shorter leaves, larger, non-resupinate or only partially resupinate flowers and smaller seeds. It is known from a small, fragmented population from a low range of hills. Therefore, under the IUCN Red List Categories & Criteria, it is assessed as Critically Endangered.

Aphyllorchis maliauensis (Orchidaceae), a new species from the Maliau Basin, Sabah, Borneo

Aphyllorchis Blume (1825: 16) comprises approximately 30 species distributed from Sri Lanka, the western Himalayas, and China through Indochina, Malaysia, Indonesia, Taiwan and the Philippines eastward to New Guinea and Australia (Hsieh et al. 2013, Tian et al. 2013). Aphyllorchis species are leafless and mycoheterotrophic, with erect, unbranched stems, racemose inflorescences, multiple resupinate flowers, petals similar to sepals but shorter and narrower and lips divided into hypochile and epichile (Tian et al. 2013). As in most other mycoheterotrophs (Suetsugu 2017, Suetsugu & Nishioka 2017, Suetsugu et al. 2017), the diversity of Aphyllorchis species could be underestimated since the short flowering season and inconspicuous habit make them easily overlooked in the wild (Hsieh et al. 2013).

EPIDENDRUM YANATILENSE (ORCHIDACEAE: LAELIINAE), A NEW SPECIES, FROM CUSCO, PERU

A new species of Epidendrum from southern Peru is described and illustrated. Epidendrum yanatilense is similar to Ecuadorian E. pucunoënse, but differs in the small habit; non-resupinate flowers; small flowers; sepals oblong-lanceolate; petals apex rounded; 3-lobed lip and; two calli, large, laminar, rhomboid, leaning inwards, without mid-rib in the middle. Information on its distribution, habitat, phenology, conservation status, as well as traits that distinguish it from similar species are provided.

Mormodes salazarii (Orchidaceae, Catasetinae), a new species with greenish-white flowers from Costa Rica

Mormodes salazarii (Orchidaceae, Catasetinae), a new species apparently endemic to Costa Rica, is described and illustrated. It is similar to M. fractiflexa because of its non-resupinate flowers, entire lip and revolute margins of sepals and petals, but differs from that species by its erect flowers (vs. pendulous) and strongly reflexed lateral sepals without colored lines (vs. widely open or slightly reflexed lateral sepals with red blurred lines).

The world upside down: the first Kefersteinia (Orchidaceae: Zygopetalinae) with non-resupinate flowers

A new species of Kefersteinia (Orchidaceae, Zygopetalinae), K. carolorum, from the state of Táchira, Venezuela, is herein described, illustrated, and characterized based on morphological features. Kefersteinia carolorum is similar to K. lactea from Costa Rica, but it differs in the non-resupinate flowers and the longer callus. The labellum in the upper-most position that distinguishes this species is unique in the genus but has evolved independently in Zygopetalinae at least three times. Evolutionary, ecological, and functional implications of this character are explored. The conservation status of the new taxon is assessed as DD according to IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) criteria. We also provide a key to identify the genera of the Zygopetalinae with labellum in an upper-most position. In addition, we offer a key for the Kefersteinia species from Venezuela, a figure, and a map showing their geographical distributions.