08.08.2016 change 08.08.2016

New, diabolical orchid species discovered by Polish scientists in Colombia

New orchid species, the flower of which resembles a face of the devil, has been discovered by Polish scientists in southern Colombia. Due to the characteristic appearance it has been given the name: Telipogon diabolicus. It is classified as a critically endangered species.

Previously unknown species has been described by Dr. Marta Kolanowska and Prof. Dariusz L. Szlachetko of the Faculty of Biology, University of Gdańsk, in collaboration with Ramiro Medina Trejo from Colombia. The researchers looked for orchids in the cloud forest and mountain forests. Then they prepared documentation: they took pictures of selected specimens, recorded location data, stated the population size. Based on the analysis of the collected materials they described several previously unknown species of orchids, including Telipogon diabolicus.

"Due to the location of the only known population of T. diabolicus near the main road connecting Pasto and Mocoa - two cities that are capitals of departments (respectively Nariño and Putumayo) and the sensitivity of alpine plant formations to climate change, the orchid has been classified as critically endangered" - reported the University of Gdańsk press team.

Many species of orchid resemble animals and characters. Good examples are the Dracula simia resembling a monkey, Ophrys bomybliflora resembling a bumblebee and Habenaria radiata resembling a white heron. The name Telipogon diabolicus refers to the column - structure resulting from the fusion of stamens and pistil- which resembles the face of the devil.

According to the researchers, the most intriguing question concerning T. diabolicus remains its pollination. "Previous studies indicate that in orchids of the genus Telipogon pollinia are transmitted by insects during pseudo-copulation. Pollinia are attached to the body of male insect, when it tries to copulate with the flower that resembles the female, but no materials to support this assumption have been published to date. It would be extremely interesting to observe the insect, to which the +diabolical+ column looks like the female of the species" - the discoverers wrote.

Southern Colombia has become the object of interest of researchers from the University of Gdańsk in recent years due to the large diversity of habitats in the region, as well as the low level of knowledge of the local flora. The discovery of this extraordinary species near the main road proves how many orchid are still waiting to be discovered.

In the last three years the employees and doctoral students of the Department of Plant Taxonomy and Nature Conservation UG described more than 50 previously unknown orchid species discovered in Colombia. Exhibition of the Department of Biology UG includes more than 500 species of plants, especially orchids (Orchidaceae). These are species characteristic primarily for tropical and subtropical areas. Plants in the collection are a valuable material for research in the field of morphology, histology, phenology and plant taxonomy, including molecular taxonomy.

PAP - Science and Scholarship in Poland

ekr/ krf/ agt/ mrt/

tr. RL

Przed dodaniem komentarza prosimy o zapoznanie z Regulaminem forum serwisu Nauka w Polsce.

Copyright © Foundation PAP 2024