A new species of Ponthieva (Cranichidinae, Orchidaceae) from Bolivia

Abstract

A new species of Ponthieva, P. boliviensis, is described and illustrated based on Bolivian material. The novelty resembles P. pilosissima and P. hermiliae characterized by pilose leaves and free lateral sepals. From P. pilosissima the new species differs in the shallowly concave lip, ovate-triangular basal lip auricles which are more or less parallel to the claw and ovate lip disc. Unlike in P. boliviensis, the lip of P. hermiliae is yellowish-green to greenish-white, lanceolate-triangular, lacking basal lobes, concave on the proximal half, with a 6-toothed callus placed horizontally in front of the basal cavity.