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2- New species and natural hybrids in
Hoffmannseggella - 1
This is a transcript of a paper that was published
in Orchids magazine, November 2003 issue. For this transcript, formatting was changed and latin diagnosis removed.
The rest of the text remains basically the same.
New Taxa in Hoffmannseggella
(Laeliinae - Orchidaceae)
- 1
The genus Hoffmannseggella includes the species of Laelia section
Parviflorae, also known as 'rupiculous laelias'. Since Schlechter, the
genus Laelia was always accepted as having seven distinct sections, 3
exclusively Mexican and the remanining 4 Brazilian. These sections are quite distinctive, and there was never a
problem in placing any of the species in them. Although this seemed to be a perfect organiztion for practical purposes,
the relationships between the groups and other accepted genera in the Laeliinae
were always a bit troublesome. Especially the Mexican and Brazilian groups were considered not to be that close.
Recent DNA studies are adding data to reorganize these affinities, but for the purposes here is enough to say that
we accept the genus Hoffmannsegella at this point based on its morphology. This is a very distinct
and uniform group of species (although Jones didn't really well circunscribe it when he created the genus), and
was always well isolated inside Laelia. Our views of the status of thie group can change in the
future as more info is available, but it seems that any way one look at it this is a very clearly delimited genus.
This said, we decided to describe these new Taxa in Hoffmannsegella instead of Laelia or
Sophronitis. In another time we'll digress more on the subject.
The species here described are known for a very long time. For varied reasons they have not been dealt with until
now, bus as they are very clearly distinct there is not a reason for any more delays in describing them. The natural
hybrids are especially interesting and expected, as most of the species in the group are very plentiful in their
habitat. All of these here described were found more than once and never left a doubt about their parentage. The
info here has been collected by me for more than 20 years and more recently also by my good friend and co-author
Kleber Garcia de Lacerda, Jr., a very methodic naturalist.
1- Hoffmannseggella flavasulina
Miranda & Lacerda sp. nov.
Rupiculous, robust in the genus. Roots to 0.25 cm. in diameter. Pseudobulbs formed by 4-6 internodes, cillindrical,
abruptly thickened at their base, progressively attenuated to the apex, slightly flattened laterally and thus with
elliptical section, medium-green more or less pigmented in medium-purple, up to 12 cm. in lenght and 2.2 cm. in
diameter at the base, covered with tight sheaths that dry out and fragment at the end of their development. Leaves
linear-lanceolate, strongly leathery and transversely rugose, irregularly flattened, erect to slightly reflexed,
with margins sometimes reflexed, medium-green to dark-green, up to 15 cm long and 4 cm wide. Flower sheaths well
developed, slightly leathery and strongly flattened, linear-oblanceolate, slightly ventricose, up to 9 cm long
and 1.2 cm wide. Inflorescences with flowers opening in very short succession, up to 12+ flowered, light-green,
erect, with rachis up to 65 cm long and 0.4 cm in diameter. Flower bracts tightened to the pedicels, triangular,
up to 0.4 cm long. Pedicels cillindrical, green but darker on the portion with the ovary, up to 3.5 cm long and
0.3 cm in diameter on the portion including the ovary. Sepals light to medium but always bright yellow, linear-lanceolate,
erect-patent, flat to slightly reflexed, at first forming an equilateral triangle but the laterals slightly falcate,
the dorsal up to 2.8 cm long and the laterals up to 2.4 cm long, up to 0.9 cm wide. Petals with the same coloration,
linear-lanceolate, erect-patent, slightly falcate, flat to slightly reflexed, up to 2.8 cm long and 0.8 cm wide.
Labellum with the same coloration but sometimes with red venulations at the base, subelliptic when distended, strongly
trilobed with lateral lobes falcate and frontal lobe deeply incised, in natural position forming tube curved down
and backwards that envelops completely the column and hide it in frontal view, opening frontally in subtriangular
shape with margins strongly ondulate, lateral lobes decurrent and slightly distended and front lobe flattened,
in the interior with 4 low, fleshy, verrucose and parallel keels that originate at the base of the labellum, the
2 external ones less pronounced at the base and at 1/3 of the labellum lenght originate 2-4 acessory, divergent
and higher keels that end at the junction with the frontal lobe, the 2 internal ones extending almost to the middle
of the front lobe, with globose to conical, small, low and rigid cells throughout the whole internal surface, up
to 2 cm long and 1.7 cm wide. Column yellowish-green, subcillindrical, wider at the base and then progressively
narrowing, gibbous at the apex, linear to almost slightly falcate, subtriangular in section, with inferior face
flatenned and depressed in a cavity delimited by the lateral ridges and rostellum, with 2 short side extensions
covering the sides of the anther to more than half of it, up to 0.8 cm long and 0.32 cm wide at the base and 0.25
cm at its apex; anther with 4 subdivided cavities, whitish, with 8 bright yellow pollinia, 4 larger and 4 1/3 smaller;
stigmatic cavity deep, subtriangular, separated from the anther by rostellum thickened into a protruding, fleshy
at the apex and flexible membrane, up to 0.15 cm long and 0,14 cm wide. Fruits with pronounced crests at the junction
of the carpels and less pronounced at their median portions, up to 6.5 cm long and 1.8 cm in transverse section.
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ETIMOLOGY: From the latin flavus, a, um + sulinus, a, um, meaning 'yellow' and 'southern', for two
reasons, the first being that this is the southernmost species of Hoffmannseggella
in Minas Gerais State and the second due to the fact that these plants have been long-known as ''Laelia flava sulina''
or southern L. flava.
TYPE: BRASIL, Minas Gerais, São Tomé das Letras, 1250-1300 meters elevation, coll.
Brade 20449, 13 July 1950 (HOLOTYPE: RB).
MAT. EXAM.: Minas Gerais; São Tomé das Letras, coll. J.Mattos & H.Bicalho 10295, 20 Jun 1962,
SP; Conceição do Rio Verde, between it and Cambuquira, 900 meters elevation, coll. G.F.J.Pabst 4126,
16 Jun 1957, HB 3663; São Tomé das Letras, coll. L.Monteiro 190, Jan 1969, GUA 06803; São
Tomé das Letras, coll. L.Monteiro 192, Jan 1969, GUA 06805; São Tomé das Letras, quartzit,
1440 meters elevation, coll. L.Monteiro s/n, 28 Mar 1970, GUA 07651; São Tomé das Letras, coll. L.Monteiro
120, 29 Sep 1968, GUA 06411; São Tomé das Letras, 1500 meters elevation, coll. L.Monteiro 46, 5 Jul
1968, GUA 06216; São Tomé das Letras, coll. L.Monteiro 137, 29 Sep 1968, GUA 06453 (only with fruits);
São Tomé das Letras, 1440 meters elevation, coll. L.Monteiro s/n, 28 Mar 1970, HB 57337 ( ex GUA
7651); São Tomé das Letras, coll. L.Monteiro s/n, 19 Dec 1971, GUA 08337 (only with fruit).
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These plants have been collected since more than 50 years ago and have been well-known in cultivation for many
years as ''Laelia flava sulina''. Although at a quick glance the species is very similar to Hoffmannseggella crispata (better known as Laelia flava), there are several important differences that separate them.
First of all, in this group of plants the geographic distribution plays a especially important role in speciation,
and the areas of ocurrence of the two are very distinct. Hoffmannseggella flavasulina
has its main population in São Tomé das Letras and the distribution spreads north to the area of
the so-called ''Estancias Hidrominerais'' (due to their mineral water fountains) cities of São Lourenço,
Cambuquira and Caxambu, all in the Serra da Mantiqueira; Hoffmannseggella crispata,
on the other hand, occurs much more to the northeast, with its widespread main distribution centered around Belo
Horizonte (although there is a southern population in the Ibitipoca mountains, very well separated and distant
from those of Hfglla. flavasulina). The rock is basically quartzit in São Tomé
das Letras and iron ore, sandstone or granite around Belo Horizonte and to its east and northeast. The plants are
also quite different and easilly identifiable without flowers, something that cannot be said for many species in
the genus. The psudobulbs in Hoffmannseggella
flavasulina are stouter and of a
light green color, sometimes with a pinkish suffusion, while in Hfglla. crispata
they are of a very dark green almost always with intense dark purple tint. The leaves are flattened and straightened
in Hoffmannseggella flavasulina and curved backwards in Hfglla. crispata;
coloration is as on the pseudobulbs. Inflorescences are similar in both species, with long spikes and flowers bunched
at the top, and this is (together with flower color, to an extend) one of the reasons why the two species were
considered the same. Flowering season is very different, with Hoffmannseggella flavasulina
usually producing inflorescences around March-April while Hfglla. crispata
produce them from july to September. The flowers are quite similar at a first glance, but there are important differences.
To begin with, Hoffmannseggella flavasulina
has them on average with much better
shape, meaning broader and more linear segments, especially the lateral sepals. In Hoffmannseggella crispata,
segments are on average narrower and the lateral sepals are more falcate; petals are also more progressively narrowing
to their bases. Flower color is usually of a lighter yellow in Hoffmannseggella flavasulina,
with no reported orange-yellow tones as in Hfglla.
crispata.
2- Hoffmannseggella pabstii
Miranda & Lacerda sp. nov.
Rupiculous, intermediate in the genus. Roots to 0.25 cm. in diameter. Pseudobulbs formed by 4-6 internodes, cillindrical,
thickened at their base, then quite abruptly and then more progressively attenuated to the apex, circular in section,
light-green but often strongly and diffusely pigmented in reddish-purple, up to 12 cm. in lenght and 2.5 cm. in
diameter at the base, covered with tight sheaths that dry out and fragment at the end of their development. Leaves
linear-lanceolate, strongly leathery and slightly transversely rugose, lightly boat-shaped and slightly reflexed
but with apex turning inside, medium-green frequently with diffused purple pigmentation that can vary from only
at the borders to the inferior and even to the superior surfaces, up to 15 cm long and 3 cm wide. Flower sheaths
well developed, slightly leathery and strongly flattened, linear-oblanceolate, slightly ventricose, up to 8 cm
long and 1 cm wide. Inflorescences with flowers opening in succession, up to 8+ flowered, green with purple shades,
erect, with rachis up to 60 cm long and 0.4 cm in diameter. Flower bracts tightened to the pedicels, triangular,
up to 0.3 cm long. Pedicels cillindrical, purplish-green but darker on the portion with the ovary, up to 3.5 cm
long and 0.2 cm in diameter on the portion including the ovary. Sepals purple-magenta, linear-lanceolate, erect-patent,
flat to slightly reflexed, at first forming an equilateral triangle but the laterals slightly falcate, the dorsal
up to 2.5 cm long and 0.5 cm wide, the laterals up to 2.2 cm long and up to 0.6 cm wide. Petals with the same coloration,
linear-lanceolate, erect-patent, slightly falcate, flat to slightly reflexed, with borders smooth to slightly undulate,
up to 2.3 cm long and 0.5 cm wide. Labellum white with purple venulations, diffusely purple with stronger purple
venulations on the sidelobes and white with dark purple border on the frontlobe, sublanceolate when distended,
strongly trilobed with lateral lobes sublanceolate falcate and frontal lobe subcircular and deeply incised with
a short and slightly distinct isthmus, in natural position forming tube curved down and backwards that envelops
completely the column and hide it in frontal view, opening frontally in subelliptic shape with margins ondulate,
lateral lobes decurrent and slightly distended and front lobe slightly reflexed, in the interior with 4 low, fleshy,
verrucose and parallel keels that originate at the base but that get progressively more visible from half the distance
to the front lobe incision and reach their maximum elevation on the front lobe, the 2 external ones extending almost
into half of the front lobe where they end irregularly originating lateral verrucose ramifications, the 2 internal
ones extending a bit more further into the front lobe, with globose, small, low and rigid cells throughout the
whole internal surface, up to 1.7 cm long and 1.4 cm wide. Column whitish-green sometimes with purplish pigmentation,
subcillindrical, almost imperceptively wider at the base and then barely and progressively narrowing, gibbous at
the apex, slightly falcate, subtriangular in section, with inferior face flatenned and depressed in a cavity delimited
by the lateral ridges and rostellum, with 2 short side extensions covering the sides of the anther to more than
half of it, up to 0.9 cm long and 0.28 cm wide at the base; anther with 4 subdivided cavities, white, with 8 bright
yellow pollinia, 4 larger and 4 almost half smaller; stigmatic cavity subtriangular, separated from the anther
by rostellum thickened into a protruding, fleshy at the apex and flexible membrane, up to 0.25 cm long and 0.22
cm wide. Fruits with pronounced crests at the junction of the carpels and less pronounced at their median portions,
up to 5.5 cm long and 1.6 cm in transverse section.
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ETYMOLOGY: Name honoring Guido F. J. Pabst, competent studious of the
Laelia sect. Parviflorae (Hoffmannseggella), and one of the greatest Brazilian orquidologists of all
time.
TYPE: BRASIL, Minas Gerais, Itutinga, on horizontal ledge with sand deposits at about 1200 meters
elevation, coll. Miranda 1369, 30 August 1991 (HOLOTYPE: HB).
MAT. EXAM.: MINAS GERAIS: Itutinga, 1200 meters elevation, coll. Miranda 1368, 30 Aug 1991, HB; Itutinga, 1200
meters elevation, coll. Miranda 1370, 30 Aug 1991, HB; São João del Rei, surroundings of, coll. S.Salvado
s/n, Aug 1970, HB 57127.
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Plants of Hoffmannseggella (Laelia sect. Parviflorae)
pabstii have been known for a long time, but the species was never described due to the fact that
these plants were always identified as Laelia
mantiqueirae Pabst. However, Pabst
probably never had a chance to examine material of the species or the confusion would have been cleared before
even made. Pabst, when describing Laelia
mantiqueirae, used material from
around Belo Horizonte that in reality is of Laelia
caulescens (L. crispilabia), and the type of Laelia
mantiqueirae leaves no doubts about
this. All this happened because Pabst, when examining material of the most abundant species of the genus, concluded
that these plants from Belo Horizonte were different from the type of Laelia crispilabia
and thus pertained to a new undescribed species that he called Laelia mantiqueirae.
According to him, Laelia crispilabia was a very rare species found only once. With the study
of the variation in the populations around Belo Horizonte, it is safe to say that the types of Laelia crispilabia and L. mantiqueirae are from the same species, but this is in fact irrelevant
because the type of L. caulescens (at KEW) is also from the same species. With this, Laelia caulescens is the oldest and correct name for these plants from around Belo Horizonte. Why the name
Laelia caulescens was not adopted from the beginning is another fairly long
story, but here it is enough to say that Laelia
mantiqueirae is a later synonym of
it. All this leaves us with another problem, which is how to call the plants from Itutinga, Tiradentes and arredores
that were always called Laelia mantiqueirae. Or better, it solves the problem. Now these plants, that
were always considered as different from the ones from Belo Horizonte, can be here described. As for the name,
nothing better than honor Guido Pabst for everything he has done for the study of Brazilian orchids, especially
these rock growing plants.
Plants of Hoffmannseggella pabstii are very common at Itutinga growing together with Hfglla. endsfeldzii, and with them produce natural hybrids. Flowering season is quite different though, being
around May for Hoffmannseggella endsfeldzii and September for Hfglla. pabstii.
Quite interestingly, plants from the two species rarely are found mixed, but instead inhabit different microhabitats
in the same area. In terms of affinities, the plants of Hoffmannseggella
pabstii are very similar to those
of Hfglla. endsfeldzii, with their transversely rugose leaves and purple pigmentation,
and are very different from the ones of Hfglla.
caulescens. So are the long inflorescences
with fairly small and well-spaced flowers. Individual flowers resemble those of Hoffmannseggella caulescens,
but are smaller, have a wider, flatter, shorter (in relation to the sidelobes) lip frontlobe and are produced on
much longer inflorescences.
3- Hoffmannseggella
xCristinae Miranda & Lacerda hyb. nat. nov.
(Hoffmannseggella briegeri x Hfglla. rupestris)
Rupiculous, robust in the genus. Roots to 0.25 cm. in diameter. Pseudobulbs formed by 3-5 internodes, cillindrical,
abruptly thickened at their base, progressively attenuated to the apex, circular in section, yellowish-green but
with slight purplish pigmentation when growing and that further disappears, up to 20 cm. in lenght and 2 cm. in
diameter at the base, covered with tight sheaths that dry out and fragment at the end of their development. Leaves
linear-lanceolate, strongly leathery and slightly rugose, irregularly boat-shaped, erect and very slightly reflexed,
light to medium-green, up to 15 cm long and 2.7 cm wide. Flower sheaths well developed, slightly leathery and strongly
flattened, linear-oblanceolate, slightly ventricose, up to 8 cm long and 1 cm wide. Inflorescences with flowers
opening in very short succession, up to 10 flowered, light-green, erect, with rachis up to 45 cm long and 0.5 cm
in diameter. Flower bracts tightened to the pedicels, triangular, up to 0.3 cm long. Pedicels cillindrical, green
but slightly darker on the portion with the ovary, up to 5.3 cm long and 0.4 cm in diameter on the portion including
the ovary. Sepals white to light pink with darker pink-magenta tones to their tips, lanceolate, erect-patent, flat
to slightly reflexed, at first forming an equilateral triangle but the laterals slightly falcate, the dorsal up
to 2.2 long and 0.9 cm wide and the laterals up to 2.1 cm long and 1 cm wide. Petals with the same coloration,
linear-lanceolate, erect-patent, very slightly falcate, flat to slightly reflexed, up to 2.2 cm long and 0.8 cm
wide. Labellum with the same coloration on the sidelobes, bright yellow around the keels throught the isthmus and
front lobe disc magenta on front lobe margin and red-magenta at the base of the keels, sublanceolate when distended,
strongly trilobed with lateral lobes slightly falcate and frontal lobe deeply incised, in natural position forming
tube curved down and backwards that envelops completely the column and hide it in frontal view, opening frontally
in subcircular shape with margins ondulate, lateral lobes decurrent and slightly distended and front lobe flattened,
in the interior with 4 low, fleshy, verrucose and parallel keels that originate near the base of the labellum,
the 2 external ones originating the nearest to the base and ending before reaching the front lobe, the 2 internal
ones extending to the junction area of the front lobe, up to 1.6 cm long and 1.6 cm wide. Column pinkish-green,
subcillindrical, wider at the base and then progressively narrowing, gibbous at the apex, linear to almost slightly
falcate, subtriangular in section, with inferior face flatenned and depressed in a cavity delimited by the lateral
ridges and rostellum, with 2 short side extensions covering the sides of the anther to more than half of it, up
to 1.1 cm long and 0.5 cm wide at the base; anther with 4 subdivided cavities, purplish, with 8 bright yellow pollinia,
4 larger and 4 smaller; stigmatic cavity deep, subtriangular, separated from the anther by rostellum thickened
into a protruding, fleshy at the apex and flexible membrane, up to 0.26 cm long and 0.23 cm wide. Fruits not observed.
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ETIMOLOGY: Name honoring Maria Cristina Miranda, discoverer of this
showy natural hybrid.
TYPE: BRASIL, Minas Gerais, Serro-Datas road, about 900 meters elevation, coll Miranda 1385a,
flowered in cultivation October 1991 (HOLOTYPE: HB).
Hoffmannseggella x Cristinae
is a natural hybrid between Hfglla.
briegeri and Hfglla. rupestris, and this hybrid is quite rare as both species, although abundant, have only little overlap
in distribution. Regardless, on the same location 2 plants were originally found, and throughout the years at least
2 more were found in the surrounding ledges, and this leaves no doubt about their origin. There is a bit of variation
among these plants, and basically it reflects which species shows more influence on the hybrid. With this, flowers
showing more influence of Hoffmannseggella
briegeri have rounder segments and
lighter color, and are produced on taller inflorescences. On the other hand, more influence of Hoffmannseggella rupestris shows with darker flowers and shorter inflorescences. In any case, the hybrid origin is
absolutely clear. Vegetatively, plants are intermediate between those of both parents which in turn are fairly
similar in this respect. The plants are of a very light green and light pruplish pigmentation is observed only
during the development of new growths. The very long inflorescences are very strong and have the flowers opening
in short succession. They can then be all open at the same time and the effect is ver showy. The flowers are loosely
grouped at the fourth top section of the inflorescence and are smaller than those of Hoffmannseggella briegeri,
and their color is what is expected from this hybrid. The pink suffusions on the segments are similar to what we
see in Hoffmannseggella rupestris and are probably inherited from it. The intensity of this
suffusions is influenced by the ammount of light the plants ate grown under, being more intense under heavy exposure.
This is an extremely showy hybrid which is also very easy to grow. Flowering season is September-November, intermediate
between that of both parents.
4- Hoffmannseggella
xFeldmanniana Miranda & Lacerda hyb. nat. nov.
(Hoffmannseggella endsfeldzii x Hfglla. pabstii)
Rupiculous, intermediate in the section. Roots to 0.25 cm. in diameter. Pseudobulbs formed by 3-4 internodes, cillindrical,
abruptly thickened at their base, progressively attenuated to the apex, circular in section, medium-green but with
more or less intense and diffuse purplish pigmentation, up to 4.5 cm. in lenght and 2 cm. in diameter at the base,
covered with tight sheaths that dry out and fragment at the end of their development. Leaves lanceolate, strongly
leathery and slightly rugose, slightly boat-shaped, erect, medium-green with light purple pigmentation on the borders,
up to 6.5 cm long and 2.5 cm wide. Flower sheaths well developed, slightly leathery and strongly flattened, linear-oblanceolate,
slightly ventricose, up to 4 cm long and 0.8 cm wide. Inflorescences with flowers opening in fairly short succession,
up to 5 flowered, medium-green, erect to slightly arching with the weight of the flowers, with rachis up to 35
cm long and 0.3 cm in diameter. Flower bracts tightened to the pedicels, triangular, up to 0.3 cm long. Pedicels
cillindrical, green to reddish but slightly darker on the portion with the ovary, up to 3.5 cm long and 0.2 cm
in diameter on the portion including the ovary. Sepals cream-yellow to whitish to light pink sometimes with darker
reddish tones, lanceolate, erect-patent, flat to fairly reflexed, at first forming an equilateral triangle but
the laterals somewhat falcate, the dorsal up to 1.8 cm long and 0.5 cm wide and the laterals up to 1.6 cm long
and 0.55 cm wide. Petals with the same coloration, linear-oblanceolate, erect-patent, slightly falcate, flat to
slightly reflexed, up to 1.8 cm long and 0.4 cm wide. Labellum with the same coloration on the sidelobes, cream
yellow around the keels throught the isthmus and front lobe disc, sometimes light reddish to magenta on front lobe
margin and light red-magenta at the base of the keels, sublanceolate when distended, strongly trilobed with lateral
lobes slightly falcate and frontal lobe deeply incised, in natural position forming tube curved down and backwards
that envelops completely the column and hide it in frontal view, opening frontally in subcircular shape with margins
ondulate, lateral lobes decurrent and very slightly to not distended and front lobe flattened to reflexed, in the
interior with 4 low, fleshy, verrucose and parallel keels that originate near the base of the labellum but become
really visible midway to the incision with front lobe, the 2 external ones originating first and subdividing to
originate the internal ones, the 2 external ones ending at about one fourth the distance into the front lobe and
the 2 internal ones extending more than halfway into the front lobe, with globose, small, low and rigid cells throughout
the whole internal surface, up to 1.2 cm long and 0.95 cm wide. Column whitiish sometimes figmented in redish,
subcillindrical, wider at the base and then progressively narrowing, gibbous at the apex, linear to slightly falcate,
subtriangular in section, with inferior face flatenned and depressed in a cavity delimited by the lateral ridges
and rostellum, with 2 short side extensions covering the sides of the anther to half or slightly more of it, up
to 0.7 cm long and 0.28 cm wide at the base and 0.24 cm at its apex; anther with 4 subdivided cavities, whitish
sometimes with redish or purplish pigmentation, with 8 bright yellow pollinia, 4 larger and 4 about half smaller;
stigmatic cavity deep, subtriangular, separated from the anther by rostellum thickened into a protruding, fleshy
at the apex and flexible membrane, up to 0.2 cm long and 0.18 cm wide. Fruits not observed.
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ETIMOLOGY: Name honoring Ronaldo Feldman, frequent trip companion of
geneticist Almiro Blumenschein, and collector of a fine representative of this natural hybrid.
TYPE: BRASIL, Minas Gerais, Itutinga, on lightly sloped ledge at about 1200 meters elevation,
coll Miranda 1367, flowered in cultivation August 1991 (HOLOTYPE: HB).
We first found plants of this natural hybrid more than ten years ago, at the same location near Itutinga where
Hoffmannseggella endsfeldzii is very common together with Hfglla. pabstii.
Considering the quantity of plants of both species, finding this hybrid had to be expected. The distribution of
plants is also quite interesting, as Hoffmannseggella
endsfeldzii inhabits the steeper
ledges while Hfglla. pabstii is found below, on flatter ledges. The two species never
mix, although their habitats are very close, and the very few plants found in between proved to be of the hybrid.
We never found them in bloom in the habitat, as our trips were on May (for Hoffmannseggella endsfeldzii)
and September (for Hfglla. pabstii), and plants of the nybrid were collected only because they
were not in flower at any of the two species flowering seasons and looked suspicious. They proved to be of the
hybrid only when they flowered in cultivation the following year and since then we never went back to the area.
Also, none of the plants found was really robust, probably because they were growing in exposed locations and thus
developed shorter plants than those of the parent species.
Plants of both species are fairly similar (although Hoffmannseggella
endsfeldzii has them usually more
pigmented with purple), so it is quite difficult to distinguish the hybrid when not in flower. When in flower,
on the other hand, it is very easy. As Hoffmannseggella
endsfeldzii has yellow flowers and
Hfglla. pabstii has purple ones, the flower color for the hybrid is expected
to be creamy-yellow to whitish to pink, and indeed this is exactly what happens. The two plants collected by us
have light pink flowers, and the one collected later by Ronalso Feldman has creamy-yellow flowers with pink shades
on the segments. Flower size is also intermediate between the two species. Flowering season is around July, and
all said, this is another interesting addition to a group that is proving more and more to be subject to extensive
natural hybridization.
5- Hoffmannseggella
xRaganii Miranda & Lacerda hyb. nat. nov.
(Hoffmannseggella bradei x Hfglla. rupestris)
Rupiculous, medium-sized for the genus. Roots to 0.25 cm. in diameter. Pseudobulbs formed by 2-3 internodes, cillindrical,
abruptly thickened at their base, progressively attenuated to the apex, circular in section, yellowish-green, up
to 4.1 cm. in lenght and 1.2 cm. in diameter at the base, covered with tight sheaths that dry out and fragment
at the end of their development. Leaves lanceolate, strongly leathery, irregularly boat-shaped, erect and very
slightly reflexed, medium-green, up to 6.8 cm long and 1.7 cm wide. Flower sheaths well developed, slightly leathery
and strongly flattened, linear-oblanceolate, slightly ventricose, up to 2.6 cm long and 0.8 cm wide. Inflorescences
with flowers opening in very short succession, up to 5 flowered with flowers on the upper ¼ of it, medium-green,
erect, with rachis up to 29.5 cm long and 0.3 cm in diameter. Flower bracts tightened to the pedicels, triangular,
up to 0.2 cm long. Pedicels cillindrical, light yellowish-green but slightly darker on the portion with the ovary
and slightly redish at the base, up to 3.8 cm long and 0.15 cm in diameter on the portion including the ovary.
Sepals white to light pink with darker pink-magenta tones to their tips, lanceolate, erect-patent, flat to slightly
reflexed, at first forming an equilateral triangle but the laterals slightly falcate, the dorsal up to 2.2 long
and 0.75 cm wide and the laterals up to 2.cm long and 0.85 cm wide. Petals with the same coloration, linear-lanceolate,
erect-patent, very slightly falcate, flat to slightly reflexed, up to 2.1 cm long and 0.8 cm wide. Labellum whitish
on the sidelobes, light yellow around the keels throught the isthmus and front lobe disc where it progressively
fades to whitish, with a purple triangle at the base and light purple at the frontlobe margins, sublanceolate when
distended, strongly trilobed with lateral lobes sublanceolate falcate and frontal lobe subcircular and deeply incised
with a indistinct isthmus, in natural position forming tube curved down and backwards that envelops completely
the column and hide it in frontal view, opening frontally in subelliptic shape with margins ondulate, lateral lobes
decurrent and slightly distended and front lobe noticeably reflexed, in the interior with 4 low, fleshy, verrucose
and parallel keels that became apparent only at about midway from the base to the frontlobe incision and reach
their maximum elevation on the front lobe, the 2 external ones extending barely into the front lobe where they
disappear after becoming progressively lower, the 2 internal ones extending further into the front lobe to about
its lenght, up to 1,5 cm long and 1.4 cm wide. Column pinkish-magenta, subcillindrical, wider at the base and then
progressively narrowing, gibbous at the apex, linear to almost slightly falcate, subtriangular in section, with
inferior face flatenned and depressed in a cavity delimited by the lateral ridges and rostellum, with 2 short side
extensions covering the sides of the anther to about half of it, up to 0.85 cm long and 0.3 cm wide at the base
and 0.25 cm at its apex; anther with 4 subdivided cavities, whitish, with 8 bright yellow pollinia, 4 larger and
4 smaller; stigmatic cavity deep, subtriangular, separated from the anther by rostellum thickened into a protruding,
fleshy at the apex and flexible membrane, up to 0.2 cm long and 0.2 cm wide. Fruits not observed.
ETIMOLOGY: Name honoring Marvin Ragan, fellow orchid researcher and
good friend from Orange Park, Florida, who found with us one of the plants of this interesting natural hybrid.
TYPE: BRASIL, Minas Gerais, Diamantina, BR-367 road between Diamantina and Couto de Magalhães
de Minas, on sedimentary rock ledge at 1100 meters elevation, coll. Kleber Garcia de Lacerda, Jr. 103, flowered
in cultivation August 1999 (HOLOTYPE: BHCB).
Hoffmannseggella xRaganii is a natural hybrid between Hfglla. briegeri
and Hfglla. rupestris, and such hybrid has been found on more than one occasion.
Besides the fact that both species are plentiful in the habitat, there is a large overlapping distribution between
the two species and so this is not really surprising. The flower color is also what one would expect from parents
with yellow and pink-lavender-purple flowers. The interesting thing about this hybrid is how long the inflorescence
is, considering Hoffmannsegella bradei has it very short and Hfglla. rupestris
has it not that long considering the size of the plants. The resulting plant has an inflorescence that is quite
long considering the size of the plant. Flower shape and size is strictly intermediate between the parents.
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