Epidendrum mambe O. Perdomo, A. Lizcano-M. & Hágsater, 2025

Rojas-P, Albeiro, Lizcano, Alejandro, Trujillo, Edwin Trujillo, Hágsater, Eric & Perdomo, Oscar, 2025, New species of Epidendrum (Orchidaceae: Laeliinae) from Caquetá, Colombia, Phytotaxa 705 (2), pp. 173-182 : 177-179

Epidendrum mambe O. Perdomo, A. Lizcano-M. & Hágsater , sp. nov.

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Type:— COLOMBIA. Caquetá: Florencia, Zona Urbana, Barrio Bellavista , creciendo sobre un árbol de “cobre” ( Andira inermis — FABACEAE ), 1°35'N- 75°36'W, 250 m, 10 October 2024, O. Perdomo et al. 546 (holotype: HUAZ!; isotypes: JBB) .

Similar to Epidendrum platypetalonocturnum Hágsater & L.Sanchez (2016: 1591) but differing by sepals (36–37 × 6.4–7.6 mm vs. 40–44 × 8.5–9.0 mm) and petals (35–36 × 4.8–5.0 mm vs. 40–42 × 9–10 mm) shorter and narrower, petal adnation (free vs. adnate to the base of the column), the longer and narrower central lobe of the lip (24 × 1.8–1.9 mm vs. 18.5–20.0 × 2.3–3.0 mm), and the longer calli (8 mm vs. 4–5 mm).

Description:— Epiphytic, caespitose, erect to pendulous herb, 25–50 cm tall, including inflorescence. Roots 2–3 mm in diameter, basal, fleshy, white velamen, green cortex. Stems 20–45 × 0.7–1.0 cm, simple, cane-like, laterally compressed, ancipitose towards apex. Leaves ca. 6–10, distributed along stem (basal ones smaller), coriaceous, suberect, alternate, green, concolor; sheaths 25–28 mm long, laterally compressed, ancipitose; blade 6.0–11.6 × 2.0– 4.5 cm, ovate-elliptic, apex bilobed, dorsal keel prominent, margin entire, spreading. Spathe lacking. Inflorescence apical, recemose, producing up to seven flowers, one flower at a time, 40–45 mm long. Floral bracts 9.25 × 1.75 mm, shorter than ovary, triangular, acute, embracing, green or brown (dry). Flowers sucesive, resupinate, sepals and petals pale yellow-green, lip white, column light green turning white in apex, calli yellow; fragrance not registered. Sepals 36–37 × 6.4–7.6 mm, spreading, free, narrowly ovate, acuminate, margin entire, revolute. Petals 35–36 × 4.8–5.0 mm, free, spreading, elliptic, acute, margin entire, spreading. Lip 16 × 29 mm, united to column, 3-lobed, bicallose, calli prominent, yellow, laminar, oblong, 8 mm long; lateral lobes 16.5–17.0 × 6.3–6.5 mm, narrowly semi-ovate, inner side straight, apex rounded, outer margin undulate; mid-lobe 24 × 1.8–1.9 mm, linear, acuminate, apex slightly curved and greenish. Gynostemium 13 × 5.3 mm, straight, thin at base and gradually wider at apex. Ovary 32 × 3.5 mm, terete, shorter than sepals, not inflated, with three grooves on external face of ovary. Clinandrium-hood short, without surpassing the body of column. Anther reniform, 2.4 × 1.8 mm, sides convex, top and bottom sinuate, 4-celled. Pollinia 4, yellow, obovoid, 1.0– 1.2 mm long, laterally compressed, caudicles soft and granulose. Rostellum apical, slit; viscarium semi-liquid, transparent. Cuniculus short, without exceeding perianth, wide, not inflated, unornamented. Lateral lobes of stigma not seen. Capsule 51 × 20 mm, ellipsoid, persistent perianth, green, pedicel 5 mm long, body 39 × 20 mm, apical neck 7 mm long.

Distribution and ecology:— The type of material and the paratypes were collected in the municipality of Florencia, in the Colombian Amazon. Specimens were found growing on trees in parks of the city at 250 m asl. Flowering plants were observed along the year.

Etymology:— Named after the “Mambe Festival” (Festival Mambe), created, and developed by local filmmaker Fabio Enrique Valderrama Martínez, and held in the city of Florencia, where the plant was discovered. We hope this new species highlights the vital role urban trees play in supporting urban biodiversity and generate protection strategies to safeguard this orchid and the epiphytes growing in these trees.

Taxonomic discussion:— Epidendrum mambe is morphologically similar to E. platypetalonocturnum , particularly in its overall habit and three-lobed lip structure. However, detailed morphological comparison reveals consistent and significant differences that justify its recognition as a distinct species. The most notable distinctions are found in the dimensions and morphology of the floral parts: E. mambe has consistently shorter and narrower sepals (36–37 × 6.4–7.6 mm vs. 40–44 × 8.5–9.0 mm) and petals (35–36 × 4.8–5.0 mm vs. 40–42 × 9–10 mm), which are also free rather than adnate to the base of the column. Additionally, E. mambe possesses a longer and narrower central lobe of the lip (24 × 1.8–1.9 mm vs. 18.5–20.0 × 2.3–3.0 mm) and notably longer calli (8 mm vs. 4–5 mm), features that are taxonomically relevant within the genus. Although further molecular studies are needed to elucidate its phylogenetic relationships within the genus, the characters described here provide a solid basis for its segregation.

Epidendrum mambe , discovered on urban trees, belongs to a group of epiphytic orchid species that have successfully colonized phorophytes within the urban environment of Florencia. Surveys conducted on other urban trees in the city revealed more than ten orchid species representing various genera, including Epidendrum , Catasetum Rich. ex Kunth (1822: 330) , Cohniella Pfitzer (1889: 194) , Cyrtopodium R. Br. (1813: 216) , Dichaea Lindl. (1833: 208) , Polystachya Hook. (1824: 103) , and Scaphyglottis Poepp. & Endl. (1836: 58) , among others. This is a phenomenon registered in other environments ( Baltazár-Bernal et al. 2024; Izuddin et al. 2019 a; Izuddin et al. 2019 b; Rewicz et al. 2017) In 2023, Catasetum caquetanum R.A.Calderón-Álvarez & M.Bonilla (2023: 470) was described from an individual found growing on a tree within the campus of the Universidad de la Amazonia, also located in Florencia. It is likely that this species, along with others, also occurs in nearby forest fragments, from which wind-dispersed seeds may colonize trees in urban areas.

Figures

FIGURE 3. Epidendrum mambe O. Perdomo, A. Lizcano-M. & Hágsater. A. Habit, B. ¾ side view, C. Side view, D. Dissected perianth, E. Gynostemium and labellum, F–H. Gynostemium side, ¾ side and front view, I. Capsule, J. Anther cap ventral and dorsal view, and K. Pollinarium. LCDP by A. Rojas-P.