Schiedeella bajaverapacensis (Orchidaceae, Spiranthinae), a New Orchid Species from Guatemala

• Published in: International journal of molecular sciences Vol. 24; no. 6; p. 5362
• Main Authors: Archila Morales, Fredy L, Lipińska, Monika M, Dudek, Magdalena, Szlachetko, Dariusz L
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 10.03.2023; MDPI
• Subjects: Bayes Theorem; Bayesian analysis; Central America; Classification; Flowers & plants; Genera; Guatemala; Humans; Morphology; new species; Orchidaceae - anatomy & histology; orchids; Phylogeny; Spiranthes; Taxonomy; Topology; Guatemala; new species; orchids; Central America; Spiranthes; phylogeny; taxonomy
• ISSN: 1422-0067; 1661-6596; 1422-0067
• DOI: 10.3390/ijms24065362

Guatemala is recognized for its diverse and rich flora and fauna. It is estimated that over 1200 orchid species, classified in 223 genera, are known to occur in this rather small, yet megadiverse country. While studying the diversity of this plant group in the department of Baja Verapaz, we found individuals that clearly belonged to the genus , but whose features did not fit any previously known species. At that time, nine terrestrial taxon representatives were known to occur in Guatemala. We conducted the morphological analysis in accordance with the standard procedures of classical taxonomy. For phylogenetic reconstruction, 59 sequences of the ITS region and 48 of the L- F marker were applied. The topology of trees was obtained based on the Bayesian inference. was described and illustrated based on morphological evidence, and its taxonomic position was confirmed by phylogenetic analyses. The new entity is the 10th representative known from Guatemala.