| Restrepia guttulata | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Flower of Restrepia guttulata | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Monocots |
| Order: | Asparagales |
| Family: | Orchidaceae |
| Subfamily: | Epidendroideae |
| Genus: | Restrepia |
| Species: | R. guttulata |
| Binomial name | |
| Restrepia guttulata | |
| Synonyms | |
Restrepia guttulata, commonly called the small-spotted restrepia, is a species of orchid occurring from Venezuela to Ecuador.
Restrepia guttulata, commonly known as the small spotted restripia, is an epiphytic orchid in the family Orchidaceae. It is native to the South American Andes and Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta mountain ranges in Colombia, Ecuador, and Venezuela. [1] It belongs to one of the largest subtribes in the orchid family, the Pleurothallidinae. [2] As the common name suggests, the flowers of this orchid are ornamented with spots or specks. Flowers are multicoloured, ranging from white, pink, purple, yellow, orange, burgundy, and brown. There is circumstantial evidence to support that flies act as pollinators to Restrepia guttulata. [3] Conservation of this orchid is crucial, as it is considered endangered or vulnerable in most of its range. It is thought to have been extirpated entirely from Venezuela, now being considered extinct in the wild there. This is due to habitat loss and fragmentation. This has also caused serious declines in R. guttulata’s ability to cross pollinate with other members of its species. [4] Ex situ conservation, which is any conservation effort which harbours plant material away from its native habitat, is crucial for such endangered orchids as Restrepia guttulata. [3]
Like many orchids, Restrepia guttulata is a herbaceous, epiphytic plant, growing on other plant surfaces like branches and stems. [5] Its vegetative body is small and grows in clusters or tufts. It grows to 30 cm in height and has erect rigid leaves that are leathery in appearance and texture. Leaves are elliptic or ovate in shape with a cuneate base and acute apex. Leaves generally grow to 6 by 3 cm and up to 8 by 3 cm. [6] The leaf margin, or edge, is sharp. The midvein is recessed into the leaf blade, creating a conspicuous channel down the centre of the leaf. This causes the leaf to resemble the bottom of a boat, and is thus termed a keeled leaf. The stems are 11 cm in length and covered in white papery sheaths ornamented in dark brown spots near the base.
R. guttulata’s flowers grow solitarily and successively upon a thin, light green, up to 7 cm peduncle. The leaves are twisted such that flowers emerge and are positioned behind the leaf. Flowers consist of a purple ovary, a free dorsal sepal, translucent petals, an oblong lip, fused sepals, a column, and male and female reproductive organs. Sepals are membranous and translucent to white, purple, pink, or yellow and ornamented with purple to pink markings and a purple to brown or yellow midvein. The dorsal sepal is 24 by 3mm in size and has a fleshy pink apex. The lateral sepals are almost entirely fused, with a small part near the tip. This fused lamina is 23 by 10mm in size. The lamina’s apex is truncate or retuse due to the splitting of the sepals. It is green to yellow, pink, and/or light orange/brown in colour. It is ornamented with purple, pink, and/or burgundy spots or specks. Spots begin heavy and round at the base of the lip and gradually become finer near the apex. Petals are membranous and translucent with purple veins along the entire length, from the apex to the base. They are 13 by 1mm in size with minutely serrated margins. The coloration of the petals is the same as the dorsal sepal, and also shares the characteristic of having a fleshy apex. The lip is up to 10mm in length with a light brown coloration and patterned in pink spots. The column is off-white to cream coloured and has a burgundy coloured portion near the base on the underside. The anther is cream coloured and the four pollinia attached to it are yellow and hard.
R. guttulata has been observed flowering in January, March, May, August, and December. [7] Upon flowering, the individuals of the species require pollen from another individual to achieve successful pollination and seed production. This reproductive strategy, known as self-incompatibility, was confirmed to be a shared characteristic in the genus Restrepia by a 2015 study. [8] Pollination is thought to occur with the help of flies. The subtribe Pleurothallidinae in which R. guttulata is situated has been described as a fly pollinated group as a whole and some studies have shown evidence of pollination in Restrepia. [3] This evidence includes the presence of appendages called osmophores which help to guide the fly into the flower as well as the production of fly attracting aminoid fragrances. [3]
The genus Restrepia is named in honour of the Colombian politician and historian, Don José Restrepo, who was also an early investigator of the flora of his home county. [9] The specific epithet of Restrepia guttulata comes from the adjective guttate, meaning “in the form of drops; furnished with drops, which originates from the latin ‘guttātus’ meaning spotted or speckled. [10] This refers to the conspicuous spotted lip and fused sepals of the flower.
Restrepia guttulata grows in cold and humid cloud forest habitats at elevations of 1700 to 2800 metres above sea level. [11] In Venezuela, R. guttulata has been recorded growing at 1200 metres in open trees in the forest near the city of El Consejo. [6] It’s adult lifespan, including germination from seed, vegetative growth, flowering, and reproduction, occurs on branches or otherwise situated in aerial habitats in the forest canopy. The production of tiny, dust-like seeds enables wind powered seed dispersal. Seeds fly away from their parent plant on the wind before coming to rest on a suitable branch to grow.
R. guttulata’s native range spans across Colombia, Ecuador, and Venezuela. The species grows in the Andes and Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta mountain ranges. It is found in the Colombian departments of Antioquia, Caldas, Cuaca, Chocó, Cundinamarca, Magdalena, Santander, and Tolima. [11]
Restrepia guttulata is an early discovered species in the genus Restrepia, having been first described in the early 1800s. [4] The species resides in the family Orchidaceae, one of the most species rich plant families on earth. [12] Within this family, the Restrepia genus is situated in the Epidendroideae subfamily, Epidendreae tribe, and Pleurothallidinae subtribe. [12] A comprehensive overview of the subtribe and genus was published in 1986, however, this does not include more recently recognized species which are closely related to R. guttulata. [4] A complete, up to date monograph of Restrepia is thus needed to reflect these new additions to the genus.
The genus Restrepia is united in a common flower architecture and appearance as well as in their pollination methods. They share in common non-nectar rewarding flowers, fly pollination, and a reproductive strategy of obligate outbreeding, meaning they cannot self pollinate. The phylogenetic history of the Restrepia genus has yet to be fully realised. The evolutionary relationships between R. guttulata and other constituents of the Pleurothallidinae subtribe have also yet to be fully reconstructed. One study carried out genetic analysis of Restrepia guttulata’s plastid gene ycf1 and DNA region matK and showed two possible evolutionary trajectories. [13] The ycf1 region analysis resulted in R. guttulata being placed as sister to Restrepiopsis norae, another orchid species in the subtribe Pleurothallidinae. The clade containing these two species was shown to be sister to a clade comprising Dresslerella portillae and Barbosella cucullata. The matK analysis and resulting phylogenetic tree placed R. guttulata as sister to a clade containing Dresslerella portillae, Barbosella cucullata, and Restrepiopsis norae. Bootstrap support was stronger for the tree constructed with the plastic gene analysis, suggesting this relationship more closely reflects true evolutionary history. This study considered genetic material from only from representative species from genera within Pleurothallidinae, and thus a full understanding of these genera’s relationships to one another cannot be gleaned. A 2021 study considered plastid genes from a much broader array of species from Pleurothallidinae species and reconstructed a phylogeny placing Restrepia as sister to Barbosella and this clade as sister to Dresslerella. [2] Further phylogenetic study is needed to fully understand the relationships of Restrepia species to one another, as well as the genus’ relationship to other genera in the subtribe. The subtribe Pleurothallidinae has evolved at a rapid pace over a short period of geological time. [2] Some 5000 species have radiated into biogeographical regions spanning across the America tropics. Restrepia guttulata represents just one of these successful radiations into numerous varied habitats.
Small-spotted restrepia and the fifty six other species of Restrepia face extinction due to the combination of habitat destruction, deforestation, and obligate out-breeding reproduction. [14] Their inability to self pollinate combined with habitat fragmentation could potentially cause a serious decline or altogether cessation of successful reproduction. [14] A major driver of habitat loss for Restrepia has been the construction of the Pan American highway. [3] It has allowed increased access to previously undisturbed areas and thus permitted new land use change and increased habitat fragmentation. Sites with recorded Restrepia occurrence have suffered a 28% decrease in Colombia, 36% in Ecuador, and 45% loss in Venezuela. [4] Considering these losses, it is unsurprising that in Venezuela R. guttulata as well as two other Restrepia species are considered extinct. In neighbouring Colombia, R. guttulata is categorised as endangered. In Ecuador the species is considered vulnerable.
Conservation efforts are needed to prevent small-spotted restrepia from becoming extinct in its native range. Sites of conservation importance in Colombia have been determined based on high levels of endemic orchids, known as Sites of Special Importance for the Conservation of Threatened Orchid Species in Colombia (SSICO). [15] Ex situ cultivation and storage strategies are crucial in conservation efforts, and include micropropagation, tissue culture, seed banking, and living collections. Together, these methods are utilised to safeguard Restrepia species from extinction. [16] These collections represent a genetic backup and may be used to augment, or add to wild populations, in areas where their numbers have become severely declined.
As with most orchids, R. guttulata is classified under CITES appendix II, which legally restricts international trade. Species protected under appendix II include those which are not necessarily currently at risk of extinction but could be in the future, as well as so-called “look-alike species”. These are species which are difficult to differentiate from rare, seriously threatened species. [17]
The uses of R. guttulata include trade as an ornamental by collectors and orchid enthusiasts. [7]
Orchids are plants that belong to the family Orchidaceae, a diverse and widespread group of flowering plants with blooms that are often colourful and fragrant. Orchids are cosmopolitan plants that are found in almost every habitat on Earth except glaciers. The world's richest diversity of orchid genera and species is found in the tropics.
Ophrys apifera, known in Europe as the bee orchid, is a perennial herbaceous plant of the family Orchidaceae. It serves as an example of sexually deceptive pollination and floral mimicry, as well as of a highly selective and highly evolved plant–pollinator relationship.
Pleurothallis is a genus of orchids commonly called bonnet orchids. The genus name is derived from the Greek word pleurothallos, meaning "riblike branches". This refers to the rib-like stems of many species. The genus is often abbreviated as "Pths" in horticultural trade.
Restrepia, abbreviated Rstp in horticultural trade, is a small genus of 50 species in the orchid family (Orchidaceae), closely related to Pleurothallis. Named in honor of Don Jose Restrepo, it tends to be more showy than most other Pleurothallids. They are found primarily at higher altitudes in the cool, damp montane forests of the Andes and Venezuela, with some into Central America up to southern Mexico.
The Pleurothallidinae are a neotropical subtribe of plants of the orchid family (Orchidaceae) including 29 genera in more than 4000 species.
Restrepia chocoensis is a species in the orchid family (Orchidaceae), named for the Department of Chocó, Colombia, where it was discovered.
Calypso is a genus of orchids containing one species, Calypso bulbosa, known as the calypso orchid, fairy slipper or Venus's slipper. It is a perennial member of the orchid family found in undisturbed northern and montane forests. It has a small pink, purple, pinkish-purple, or red flower accented with a white lip, darker purple spottings, and yellow beard. The genus Calypso takes its name from the Greek signifying concealment, as they tend to favor sheltered areas on conifer forest floors. The specific epithet, bulbosa, refers to the bulb-like corms.
Anacamptis morio, the green-winged orchid or green-veined orchid, is a flowering plant of the orchid family, Orchidaceae. It usually has purple flowers, and is found in Europe and the Middle East.
Rhizanthella, commonly known as underground orchids, is a genus of flowering plants in the orchid family, Orchidaceae and is endemic to Australia. All are leafless, living underground in symbiosis with mycorrhizal fungi. The inflorescence is a head of flowers held at, or just above the ground but mostly covered by soil or leaf litter and little is known about the mechanism of pollination.
Microtis, commonly known as onion orchids or mignonette orchids is a genus of about 20 species of plants in the orchid family, Orchidaceae. Onion orchids are terrestrial herbs with a single leaf at the base of the plant. They are similar to orchids in the genus Prasophyllum in that they have an onion-like leaf. The flowers are small but often scented and attractive to their insect pollinators. They are widespread in Asia, Australia and some Pacific islands.
Prasophyllum, commonly known as leek orchids, is a genus of about 140 species of flowering plants in the orchid family, Orchidaceae and is found in Australia and New Zealand. The Australian species are found in all states but have not been recorded in the Northern Territory. The common name arises from their having a hollow, leek- or onion-like leaf. Some species only flower after summer fires and have flowers similar to those of Xanthorrhoea which flower at the same time, suggesting that they employ the same pollinating insects. Leek orchids are similar to those in the genus Genoplesium except that the free part of the leaf is cylindrical and the labellum has a solid connection to the column. They range in size from the little laughing leek orchid at about 15 cm (6 in) to the king leek orchid which grows up to 2 m (80 in) tall.
Dactylorhiza maculata, known as the heath spotted-orchid or moorland spotted orchid, is an herbaceous perennial plant of the family Orchidaceae. It is widespread in mountainous regions across much of Europe from Portugal and Iceland east to Russia. It is also found in Algeria, Morocco, and western Siberia.
Epidendrum frutex is a high-altitude species of reed-stemmed Epidendrum orchid native to Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela.
Calochilus, commonly known as beard orchids, is a genus of about 30 species of plants in the orchid family, Orchidaceae. Beard orchids are terrestrial herbs with a single leaf at the base of the plant, or no leaves. Their most striking feature is a densely hairy labellum, giving rise to their common name. Beard orchids, unlike some other Australian orchids, do not reproduce using daughter tubers, but self-pollinate when cross-pollination has not occurred. Most species occur in Australia but some are found in New Zealand, New Guinea and New Caledonia.
Genoplesium commonly known as midge orchids, is a genus of about 50 species of flowering plants in the orchid family, Orchidaceae and is found in Australia, New Zealand and New Caledonia. Midge orchids are terrestrial herbs with a single leaf at the base of the plant. They are similar to orchids in the genus Prasophyllum in that plants without flowers have a hollow, onion-like leaf. The flowers are small but often scented and attractive to their insect pollinators. There is disagreement about which species belong to this genus and some taxonomists suggest that most belong in the genus Corunastylis.
Vanilla polylepis is a climbing orchid species in the plant family Orchidaceae. It is native to tropical Africa, with a range spanning the width of the continent, from Kenya to Angola. It grows in high-altitude evergreen and swamp forests between 1,200–1,500 m (3,900–4,900 ft) and is often found growing on trees bordering rivers and waterfalls. Plants produce bright green, fleshy stems, 10–12 mm (0.39–0.47 in) in diameter, with large, glossy leaves. White, aerial roots form on the stems allowing the orchids to attach themselves to trees for support. As with many orchids, they produce showy flowers, which in the case of V. polylepis are white and yellow with a pink to maroon blotch. This differentiates them from similar species. They have seedpod-like fruits, called capsules, which produce a distinctive aroma as they dry. They are closely related to the well-known species Vanilla planifolia, whose seed pods are used commercially in the production of vanilla flavouring.
Thelymitra ixioides, known as the spotted sun orchid or dotted sun orchid, is a species of orchid that is native to southern and eastern Australia and to New Zealand. It has a single long, thin, dark green leaf and up to ten flowers which occur in a range of colours, most commonly blue to purple but usually with small, dark blue spots. It is a variable species, similar to T. juncifolia which has smaller flowers.
Spiranthes diluvialis is a rare species of orchid known as Ute lady's tresses. The species name diluvialis means "of the flood". It is native to the western United States, where there are scattered, mostly small occurrences in the states of Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming. An occurrence was recently discovered in southern British Columbia. The plant faces a number of threats to its existence. It is a federally listed threatened species of the United States.
Cypripedium passerinum is a species of lady's slipper orchid known by the common names sparrow's-egg lady's-slipper, spotted lady's-slipper, and Franklin's lady's-slipper.
Caladenia abbreviata, commonly known as the coastal spider orchid, is a plant in the orchid family Orchidaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It has a single erect, hairy leaf and up to three pale, creamy-yellow flowers on a flowering stem up to 35 cm (10 in) high. Although the flowers have long, thread-like petals and sepals, they are shorter and darker than those of other spider orchids. It is a rare, relatively recently discovered species although often found near human activities.
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Media related to Restrepia guttulata at Wikimedia Commons
Data related to Restrepia guttulata at Wikispecies