The Andean mountains of South America are the most species‐rich biodiversity hotspot worldwide with c. 15% of the world's plant species, in only 1% of the world's land surface. Orchids are a key element of the Andean flora, ...

The phylogenetic relationships within Specklinia (Pleurothallidinae; Orchidaceae) and related genera are re-evaluated using Bayesian analyses of nrITS and chloroplast matK sequence data of a wide sampling of species. ...

Two new species of Platystele allied to P. oxyglossa complex are described from Costa Rica. Platystele carl-lueriana can be distinguished from P. catiensis and P. oxyglossa by the compact inflorescence that barely exceeds ...

Taxonomic delimitations are challenging because of the convergent and variable nature of phenotypic traits. This is evident in species-rich lineages, where the ancestral and derived states and their gains and losses are ...

The present paper focuses on the systematics of the Specklinia glandulosa species complex. Traditionally, S. glandulosa has been considered a widely distributed and variable species, ranging from Mexico to the guiana Shield. ...