Novelties in Orchidaceae from the Brazilian Amazon

The Amazon Basin is the largest forest area in the world and most portions remain under-collected (Hopkins 2007), specially because of the difficulties in field work within this large area, such as lack of transport infrastructure. Orchidaceae are one of the largest families of plants with about 24.500 species (Dressler, 2005) and 725 genera (Dressler, 1993), it is represented by 764 species within the Brazilian portion of the Amazon region (Barros et al. 2013). However, Silva and Silva (2000) pointed out that additional collection efforts along the border with the Guyanas and Venezuela (Guayana Shield), the upper courses of rivers, and the central inaccessible areas could result in an increase to the already rich orchid flora. The aim of this study is to present some new occurrences of Orchidaceae for the Brazilian Amazon. The plants studied here have been previously reported from the Venezuelan portion of the Guayana Shield, close to the border with Brazil. The species are described, illustrated, and their taxonomic affinities are discussed. The samples were deposited at INPA and UFP herbaria.

The Amazon Basin is the largest forest area in the world and most portions remain under-collected (Hopkins 2007), specially because of the difficulties in field work within this large area, such as lack of transport infrastructure.Orchidaceae are one of the largest families of plants with about 24.500 species (Dressler, 2005) and 725 genera (Dressler, 1993), it is represented by 764 species within the Brazilian portion of the Amazon region (Barros et al. 2013).However, Silva and Silva (2000) pointed out that additional collection efforts along the border with the Guyanas and Venezuela (Guayana Shield), the upper courses of rivers, and the central inaccessible areas could result in an increase to the already rich orchid flora.

Duckeella pauciflora
Duckeella Porto and Brade is a small genus with three species (Chase et al. 2003), from which D. adolphii Porto and Brade and D. alticola C. Schweinf.are cited for Brazil by Barros et al. (2013).D. pauciflora were previously found in Venezuela and Colombia (Govaerts 2003), and here the first record for Brazil is provided.It is morphologically similar to D. adolphii, but differs by having broader petals and lip with acute apex.This terrestrial orchid is not frequent in the area of collection, and can be found in open areas, on sandy soils of Amazonian "campinas" vegetation.
The Neotropical genus Notylia Lindl.has ca.60 species (Chase et al. 2003) with 24 species found in Brazil by Barros et al. (2013).Notylia angustifolia occurs in Trinidad and Tobago, French Guyana and Venezuela (Govaerts 2003).This is the first record for Brazil.Due to its small size, N. angustifolia can be confused with N. longispicata Hoehne and Schltr.but it differs by a having shorter inflorescence (5-6,5 cm long), greenish-white flowers, whereas the flowers are yellowish in N. longispicata, and lip acute, it is truncate in the second species.cm long, pollinia 2. Ovary + pedicel ca.0.1 cm long.
Specklinia Lindl.has ca.200 species (Pridgeon et al. 2006), seven of which are cited by Barros et al. (2013) for the Brazilian Amazon.Specklinia aristata is morphologically related to species placed by Luer (2006) in the genus Muscarella.It can be easily differentiated from S. samacensis (Ames) Pridgeon and Chase and S. semperflorens (Lindl.)Pridgeon and Chase by the longcaudate sepals.It is found from Central America to northwestern South America (Govaerts 2003), and the material cited here is a new record for Brazil, growing in Montane Ombrophilous Forest (1200 m elev.), close to the border with Venezuela.

Figure 1 .
Figure 1. A. Duckeella pauciflora, habit and flower in detail.B. Notylia angustifolia, habit and flower in detail.C. Specklinia aristata, habit and flower in detail.D. Trichocentrum recurvum habit and flower in detail.