Three new species of Dracontia (Pleurothallidinae, Orchidaceae) from Costa Rica

Abstract

Three new species of Dracontia are described and illustrated from Costa Rica and comparisons with close relatives are made. A short discussion for the preference of describing them in Dracontia instead of Stelis is given. The three species are afterwards described: Dracontia montis-mortense, a species with a unique whitish lip with three purple stripes, which is found along the Pan-American Highway on the Cerro de la Muerte, and has been confused with Dracontia dracontea; Dracontia pileata, recognized by its hat-like dorsal sepal, and Dracontia viridi-flava, recognized by its all green-yellow flowers and erose lip. The latter species are both native to the south-Pacific watershed of the Talamanca Cordillera and closely related to Dracontia conochila and Dracontia hydra. A key to the Costa Rican species of Dracontia is given, accompanied by a discussion of the included species.