A rare and extraordinary new species of Trichopilia from Costa Rica

Abstract

A new species belonging to the popular orchid genus Trichopilia is described from southern Costa Rica. Trichopilia gustavoi appears to be rare, and is known only from the type locality, a pristine forest in Finca Las Alturas de Cotón on the outskirts of La Amistad national Park, close to the border between Costa Rica and Panama. The new species is vegetatively similar to T. marginata, but is unusual in the petals that are falcate, a lip that is boat-shaped, with a tuft of scattered, low verrucae in the center of the disc, and a column that is distinctly sigmoid. The extraordinary T. gustavoi honors the rector of the University of Costa Rica, Gustavo Gutiérrez Espeleta, for his support of biological research and conservation of Costa Rican biodiversity.