Lepanthes ganesha T.Arias & J.S.Moreno, 2025

Arias, Tatiana, Moreno, Juan Sebastián, Restrepo, Eugenio, Alegría-Valencia, Melisa, Cadavid-Morales, David Emilio, Alarcón-Vinasco, Sergio Fernando, Davila, Camila & Zuluaga, Alejandro, 2025, Expedition Lepanthes (Orchidaceae) of Colombia: discovery of six new species and observations on a curious case of flower polymorphism, Phytotaxa 705 (2), pp. 115-148 : 129-132

3. Lepanthes ganesha T.Arias & J.S.Moreno , sp. nov. ( Figures 9–11 , 21 )

Type:— COLOMBIA. Putumayo: Páramo de Bordoncillo, carretera vía Santiago-La Cocha-recorrido llegando al alto, 3,000 m, 27 October 2021, T. Arias et al. 808 (holotype: CUVC!, isotype: SEL! spirit).

Lepanthes ganesha is most similar to Lepanthes callisto Luer & Hirtz (1987: 287) , but it can be distinguished by its concave, glabrous, lateral sepals with prominent veins giving a folded appearance (vs. lateral sepals that are pubescent within and convex above the middle). The petals in Lepanthes ganesha are minutely pubescent, transversely bilobed, with the upper lobe triangular and obtuse, longer than the lower lobe (vs. orange petals, suffused with red medially, also transversely bilobed but with narrowly triangular, acute upper lobes much larger than the lower lobes). The lip of Lepanthes ganesha is bilaminate, ovate asymmetrical with pubescent apices (vs. bilaminate, narrowly ovate, and glabrous).

Description:— Medium to small in size, epiphytic, caespitose, up to 12 cm tall. Roots slender, flexuous, filiform, 0.38–0.46 mm in diameter. Ramicauls 6.96–7.4 cm long, enclosed by 6–7 large, setose, lepanthiform sheaths. Leaves erect, coriaceous, prominently concave, green suffused with purple, ovate, acuminate 3.7 × 4.3 cm, rounded base, petiole 0.6–1.0 cm long. Inflorescence congested, distichous raceme of up to 2.7 cm, successively flowering, with up to 24 flowers, growing in the concave, abaxial surface of the leaf by a filiform peduncle 1.55 cm long; floral bracts acuminate, imbricate, lanceolate with truncate base, 1.89–1.99 mm long, pedicel 2.4 mm long. Ovary costate 2.75– 3.13 mm long. Flowers with lateral sepals red towards the apex and pale green to yellow towards the basis, with rose margins, dorsal sepal pale green to yellow, suffused with red, lateral petals with lower lobes from orange, to sometimes changing towards the base to dark pink or suffused with this color, and sometimes extending towards the internal margins of the upper lobes or towards the apex, central part of the lower lobes and external margins orange suffused with dark pink or sometimes all orange. Dorsal sepal ovate, longitudinal halve concave, attenuate, 5.36–5.86 × 3.97– 4.05 mm, 3-veined, main veins prominent that they are visibly elevated above the sepal surface, connate to the lateral sepals 2.15–2.34 mm. Lateral sepals, broadly ovate, obtuse, concave, acute, apiculate, the apex diverging, 5.22–5.48 × 3.86–4.31 mm, connate by 2.26–2.59 mm at its base, 3-veined, main veins prominent that they are visibly elevated above the sepal surface, giving it a strongly ribbed appearance. Petals minutely pubescent, transversely bilobed, 4 × 1.23 mm long, the upper lobe narrowly triangular, obtuse, more than two times longer than the lower lobe, 3 mm long, the lower lobe short, oblique, triangular, obtuse up to 1.19 mm long. Lip bilaminate, the blades glabrous and shiny, the blade ovate asymmetrical towards the lower portion, pubescent in the apices, 0.81 × 2.91mm, the connectives thick, broadly oblong, adnate to the base of the column, the sinus broad; the appendix short, oblong in the middle part, with two vertices in each side. Column pink to orange, 2.05 mm long, the anther dorsal, the stigma ventral. Anther cap cordate, 0.53 mm wide. Pollinia pyriform, lanceolate, 0.77 mm long.

Distribution and ecology:— Lepanthes ganesha is known only from the type locality in the Páramo de Bordoncillo, along the road between Santiago and La Cocha, in the department of Putumayo, southern Colombia. It was found growing epiphytically at an elevation of approximately 3,000 meters above sea level. This area marks a transitional zone between upper montane cloud forest and páramo vegetation, characterized by high humidity, frequent fog, and low temperatures throughout the year. The species grows in elfin forest and páramo-edge habitats, where stunted trees and shrubs are heavily covered in mosses, liverworts, and other epiphytes.

Etymology:— The specific epithet for this species has been chosen in honor to one of the most widely worshiped deities in Hinduism. He is recognizable by his distinctive elephant-headed appearance, and it is referred to as the “remover of obstacles.” The shape of the flower in this new species resembles an elephant and the colors of the flowers are also associated with this deity. Ganesha elephant heads also symbolize wisdom and intelligence. Ganesha is seen as a symbol of unity and harmony, as he is believed to bring people together.

Taxonomic discussion:— Lepanthes ganesha is similar to Lepanthes callisto , Lepanthes llanganatensis Luer & Hirtz (1990: 161) and Lepanthes teaguei Luer (1996: 165) , these species are native to Ecuador. Lepanthes llanganatensis , described in 1990, inhabits the Llanganates range of Tungurahua at an elevation of 3,000 meters. This medium-sized species features yellow sepals, red-yellow petals, and an orange lip, with stout ramicauls enclosed by blackish, coarsely ciliate sheaths. On the other hand, Lepanthes teaguei , discovered in 1996, is found in the Cordillera del Cóndor in Zamora-Chinchipe at 1,650 meters. It is distinguished by its large, red flowers with yellow-red lips, produced on congested racemes, and slender ramicauls enclosed by closely fitting, glabrous sheaths.

Lepanthes ganesha stands out from these two species due to its prominently veined, ribbed lateral sepals that are dark pink towards the apex and pale green to yellow towards the base. It has a pink to orange column measuring 2.05 mm long. The petals are minutely pubescent, transversely bilobed, with the upper lobe triangular and obtuse, longer than the lower lobe. Its lip is bilaminate with pubescent apices, unlike the glabrous lip of Lepanthes callisto , to which it bears some similarity. This combination of traits, particularly the ribbed appearance of the lateral sepals and the multicolored floral parts, distinguishes Lepanthes ganesha from all other known Lepanthes species.

Figures

FIGURE 9. In-situ photographs of Lepanthes ganesha T. Arias & J.S. Moreno. A. Frontal view of inflorescence and flower. B. Frontal view of leaf, inflorescence and flower. C. Frontal view of inflorescence, floral bud and flower. D. Lateral view of leaf, inflorescence and flower. Photographs by A–B: Brayan Coral, C–D:Andreas Kay.

FIGURE 10. Taxonomic illustration of Lepanthes ganesha T. Arias & J.S. Moreno. A. Habit and plant. B. Frontal view of flower. C. Frontal view of dissected perianth including appendix. D. Lateral view of lip, column, appendix, and ovary. E. Frontal view of expanded lip and appendix. F. Pollinia and anther cap. Drawing by J. S. Moreno based on the holotype.

FIGURE 11. Comparison Lepanthes ganesha T. Arias & J.S. Moreno with a species with taxonomic affinities. A. Lepanthes ganesha. B. Lepanthes callisto. Photographs by Andreas Kay.

FIGURE 21. Currently known geographical distribution of new species collected during the Lepanthes de Colombia expedition. The country highlighted in grey is Colombia. The map was created in R, based on code adapted from Testo (2021).