Telipogon villonacoensis (Orchidaceae: Oncidiinae), a new species with an unexpectedly wide distribution from the northern and central Andes of South America

Telipogon villonacoensis (Orchidaceae: Oncidiinae), a new species with an unexpectedly wide distribution from the northern and central Andes of South America Marco M. Jiménez1, Luis Baquero1, Henry X. Garzón-Suárez2,3,4, Carlos Martel5,6, James A. Chamaya G.7,8, Nadia Lapo-González4,9, Florian A. Werner10,11, Gabriel A. Iturralde1 1 Grupo de Investigación en Biodiversidad, Medio Ambiente y Salud (BIOMAS), Carrera de Ingeniería Agroindustrial, Facultad de Ingenierías y Ciencias Aplicadas, Universidad de Las Américas (UDLA), Quito, Ecuador 2 Herbario HUTPL, Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Técnica Particular de Loja, Loja, Ecuador 3 Jungle Dave’s Science Foundation, San Juan Bosco, Ecuador 4 Grupo Científico Calaway Dodson, Investigación y Conservación de Orquídeas del Ecuador, Quito, Ecuador 5 Trait Diversity and Function, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, United Kingdom 6 Instituto de Ciencias Ómicas y Biotecnología Aplicada, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú, Lima, Peru 7 Universidad Nacional de Cajamarca, Cajamarca, Peru 8 Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Chota, Chota, Peru 9 Floplaya, Compañía de flores y plantas Yantzaza S.A., El Pangui, Ecuador 10 Functional Ecology, Institute of Biology and Environmental Sciences, University of Oldenburg, Oldenburg, Germany 11 Corporate Evaluation Unit, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), Bonn, Germany Corresponding author: Gabriel A. Iturralde (gabriel.it[email protected]) Academic editor: Igor Kessous  ♦ Received 30 April 2025  ♦ Accepted 27 August 2025  ♦ Published 14 October 2025 Abstract Background and aims – Telipogon is an orchid genus with a main diversity centre located in the tropical Andes. Some small-flowered Telipogon species, formerly classified under Stellilabium, remain poorly known. During recent fieldwork in southern Ecuador, an undetermined species of a miniature Telipogon was recorded and collected. We aimed to taxonomically identify the orchid and understand its phylogenetic relationships. Material and methods – We conducted field work in diverse parts of Ecuador and Peru, revised material deposited at various herbaria, and records available on iNaturalist. Furthermore, we extracted, amplified, and sequenced DNA sequences to evaluate the phylogenetic position of the undetermined species. Key results – The unidentified species turned out to be an undescribed Telipogon species, which we describe and name here as T. villonacoensis. It has also been recorded in Colombia and Peru, an unusually wide distribution for a Telipogon species. Telipogon villonacoensis is distinguished by its pale green to yellow flowers, the elliptic petals and lip, minute lobes and red coloration at its basal third. This species appears to have a patchy distribution and specialized habitat preferences, growing as an epiphyte in montane shrublands and forests. Although fewer than 200 individuals have been documented so far, and its habitats face ongoing threats, our conservation assessment indicates the species could be classified as not threatened. Phylogenetic analyses resulted in a well-resolved tree, in which T. villonacoensis is placed within the clade of the South American miniature Telipogon and sister to, but genetically distinct from, T. pogonostalix, though it is morphologically more similar to T. alexii, a species placed in another subclade of South American miniature Telipogon. Conclusion – Our results highlight the underestimated diversity and distribution range of miniature Telipogon and underscore the need for continued collaborative exploration and conservation in Andean ecosystems. These findings will contribute to a better understanding of orchid diversity and evolution of Telipogon species. Keywords Colombia, Ecuador, new taxon, orchids, Peru, Stellilabium, taxonomy Plant Ecology and Evolution 158 (3): 392–402, 2025 https://doi.org/10.5091/plecevo.157554 Copyright Marco M. Jiménez, Luis Baquero, Henry X. Garzón-Suárez, Carlos Martel, James A. Chamaya G., Nadia Lapo-González, Florian A. Werner, Gabriel A. Iturralde. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY 4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. Plant Ecology and Evolution is published by Meise Botanic Garden and the Royal Botanical Society of Belgium. RESEARCH ARTICLE Plant Ecology and Evolution 158 (3): 392–402, 2025 393 INTRODUCTION Telipogon Kunth is a neotropical genus in the Orchidaceae that includes approximately 250 species, distributed across humid montane forests from southern Mexico throughout Central America and the Tropical Andes up to northern Bolivia (Dodson 2004; Martel and Nauray 2013; Baquero et al. 2022). Whereas most Telipogon species are characterized by bearing large and showy flowers (i.e. colourful flowers of more than 2 cm in diameter), some Telipogon species bear small and dull flowers of around or less than 1 cm in diameter. The latter have therefore been called miniature Telipogon (Martel et al. 2017). These small-flowered Telipogon were formerly classified under the genus Stellilabium Schltr. (Dressler 1999). However, phylogenetic studies (Williams et al. 2005; Chase 2009) have shown that Stellilabium species are nested within Telipogon, and have therefore been transferred to that genus. Telipogon exhibits its highest richness, including numerous miniature species, in the tropical Andes. For instance, 10 species of miniature Telipogon species in Colombia (Martel pers. comm.), 14 species in Ecuador (Iturralde and Baquero pers. comm.), 10 species in Peru (Carlos Martel pers. comm.), and 7 species in Bolivia (Zárate and Martel 2024). However, the representation of miniature Telipogon species in herbaria is scarce because they are usually overlooked in the field. This resulted in the absence of comprehensive taxonomic treatments, leading to challenges in species identification and classification. Nevertheless, new species of this group have been discovered over the last years (e.g. Telipogon leisberthvelezii Iturralde, M.M.Jiménez & H.Garzón by Jiménez et al. 2024; T. minutus M.Zárate & C.Martel by Zárate and Martel 2024). During our exploratory work over the past two years, one of the authors (MJ) found populations of one unknown species of miniature Telipogon in southern Ecuador, which underscores the rich biodiversity of the country’s montane forests and highlights the importance of continued botanical exploration in the region. Surprisingly, the same species has also been collected and recorded in Colombia and Peru by other researchers, which emphasizes the importance of collaborative work in the Neotropics. In this study, we provide a formal description of this species, accompanied by illustrations, photographs, and information on its distribution, habitat, phenology, and conservation status. Furthermore, we provide information to differentiate the new taxon from the most similar species, T. pogonostalix Rchb.f. and T. alexii N.H.Williams & Dressler. MATERIAL AND METHODS Field sampling and taxonomic analysis We carried out field explorations in different areas of Ecuador and Peru between 2015 and 2024, where we found plants of the new entity. Floral and vegetative structures were photographed (i.e. Panasonic FZ300 camera with Raynox DCR-250 mm Super Macro lens, Nikon D5100 camera with an AF-S DX Micro Nikkor 40 mm f/2.8G lens, Canon A-1 camera with a Canon FD 50 mm F3.5 lens, Canon EOS Rebel T5 with a Canon 100 mm F2.8 lens). Specimens were collected and pressed as voucher material, although for some specimens, only detailed photographs were taken in situ when a single plant was spotted in the area. Flowers were preserved in a 70% ethanol, 29% water, and 1% glycerol solution. Leaf samples of specimens from Ecuador were dried in silica gel for molecular analysis. Voucher specimens were deposited in the herbaria of the Universidad Técnica Particular de Loja herbarium (HUTPL), the Museo Ecuatoriano de Ciencias Naturales (QCNE), and the Universidad Nacional de Cajamarca (CPUN). Protologues, photographs, and illustrations from previous taxonomic works (e.g. Dodson 2004; Dodson and Dodson 1984; Bennett and Christenson 1993, 2001; Ortiz Valdivieso and Uribe Vélez 2007) and specimens of similar species gathered at diverse herbaria (e.g. QCNE, CUZ, USM, HUTPL) were revised to compare against the new proposed species. In addition, the iNaturalist platform (https://www. inaturalist.org/) was reviewed in detail in search of records of the species for other locations. We used herbarium and iNaturalist records to prepare a distribution map, generated using the software ArcGIS (GIS v.10.8: Redlands, CA: Environmental Systems Research Institute, Inc. https://www.esri.com/). We also used this database to determine the extent of occurrence (EOO) and area of occupancy (AOO) of the new entity by using the GEoCAT tool (Bachman et al. 2011), providing the basis for a preliminary assessment of its conservation status under IUCN criteria (IUCN 2024). Figures were prepared using the software Adobe Photoshop® 2019 (San Jose, CA, USA). Plant collection was conducted under different collecting permits issued by the Ministry of Environment and Water – MAATE (No. MAATE-DBI-CM-2022-0248 and CM-20210187) in Ecuador, and by the Ministry of Agricultural Development and Irrigation (No. AUT-IFL-2022-051) in Peru. Taxon sampling A total of 23 Telipogon species were included in the phylogenetic reconstruction. DNA sequence data of six Ecuadorian species (i.e. Telipogon alexii, T. cf. alticola (Dodson & R.Escobar) N.H.Williams & Dressler, T. astroglossus Rchb.f., T. pogonostalix, T. williamsii P.Ortiz, and the undescribed species) were generated and deposited Jiménez et al.: Telipogon villonacoensis, a new species from South America394 on GenBank. Additional DNA sequences of ITS and matK regions for Central and South American Telipogon species were obtained from GenBank (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih. gov/genbank/). In addition, Hofmeisterella eumicroscopica (Rchb.f) Rchb.f. and Trichoceros antennifer (Bonpl.) Kunth, both of which belong to the Telipogon alliance (Williams et al. 2005; Martel et al. 2020), and Fernandezia sanguinea (Lindl.) Garay & Dunst. were selected as the outgroups (Table 1). DNA extraction, amplification, and sequencing Genomic DNA was isolated following a rapid extraction procedure (Kasajima et al. 2004) in the laboratories at the Universidad de Las Américas (UDLA). Nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and plastid Maturase K (matK) were amplified (PCR: 7.5 μL GoTaq Green Master Mix 2X (Promega), 3 μL of extracted DNA, 7.5 μL ultra-pure water, and 0.75 μM of each primer). Primers sequences and PCR conditions are the same as in Iturralde et al. (2023). PCR products were purified and Sanger sequenced (ABI 3500xL Genetic Analyzer, Applied Biosystem). DNA sequences were aligned, trimmed, and Table 1. Species list, distribution, and details of the GenBank accessions or sequenced plant vouchers for the phylogenetic reconstruction. Distribution: Alpha-2 ISO country codes. * Indicates sequenced vouchers for this study. Taxon Distribution rITS matK Fernandezia sanguinea (Lindl.) Garay & Dunst. CO, EC, PE, VE FJ565526 FJ565009 Hofmeisterella eumicroscopica (Rchb.f.) Rchb.f. BO, CO, EC, PE, VE DQ315823 AF350589 Telipogon acicularis (Dressler) N.H.Williams & Dressler CR, PA DQ315837 DQ315896 *Telipogon alexii N.H.Williams & Dressler EC PV983249 / GI-2309-2107 (QCNE) PV988129 / GI-2309-2107 (QCNE) *Telipogon cf. alticola (Dodson & R.Escobar) N.H.Williams & Dressler CO, EC, PE, VE PV983250 / GI-2310-2608 (QCNE) PV988130 / GI-2310-2608 (QCNE) *Telipogon astroglossus Rchb.f. EC, PE PV983251 / GI-2207-4030 (QCNE) PV988131 / GI-2207-4030 (QCNE) Telipogon ariasii Dodson & D.E.Benn. PE DQ315852 DQ315902 Telipogon boliviensis (R.Vásquez & Dodson) N.H.Williams & Dressler BO DQ315839 - Telipogon bowmanii Rchb.f. BO, CO, EC, PE DQ315880 DQ315912 Telipogon butcheri Dodson & R.Escobar CR DQ315855 DQ315904 Telipogon bombiformis Dressler CR DQ315854 FJ564866 Telipogon dalstromii Dodson EC, PE DQ315861 DQ315906 Telipogon hausmannianus Rchb.f. EC, PE OR689558 OR689580 Telipogon helleri (L.O.Williams) N.H.Williams & Dressler CR MF962882 MF962888 Telipogon hystrix (Dodson) N.H.Williams & Dressler EC DQ315841 DQ315899 Telipogon maduroi Dressler PA DQ315867 FJ564867 Telipogon pillaropatatensis Iturralde, Monteros & Baquero EC OR689556 OR689582 Telipogon nervosus (L.) Druce CO DQ315870 DQ315907 Telipogon octavioi Dodson & R.Escobar CO OR689559 OR689579 *Telipogon pogonostalix Rchb.f. CO, EC, PE AF239392; PV983252 / GI-2211-6702 (QCNE) AF239488; PV988132 / GI-2211-6702 (QCNE) Telipogon pulcher Rchb.f. CO, EC DQ315875 DQ315910 Telipogon smaragdinus (Pupulin & M.A.Blanco) N.H.Williams & Dressler CR DQ315844 FJ565034 Telipogon venustus Schltr. EC, PE FJ565183 FJ564703 *Telipogon villonacoensis M.M.Jiménez, Iturralde & C.Martel CO, EC, PE PV983253 / MJ-1560 (QCNE) PV988133 / MJ-1560 (QCNE) *Telipogon williamsii P.Ortiz CO, EC PV983254 / GI-2310-2655 (QCNE); PV983255 / GI-2212-7942 (QCNE) PV988134 / GI-2310-2655 (QCNE); PV988135 / GI-2212-4001 (QCNE) Trichoceros antennifer (Bonpl.) Kunth BO, CO, EC, PE DQ315883 FJ564953 Plant Ecology and Evolution 158 (3): 392–402, 2025 395 concatenated in the software Geneious Prime v.2022.1 (https://www.geneious.com/). The MUSCLE tool (Edgar 2022) was used for the alignment of multiple sequences. Phylogenetic analysis Phylogenetic analyses were conducted under both Bayesian Inference (BI) and Maximum Likelihood (ML) approaches. For the Bayesian analysis, we used BEAST v.1.10.4 (Suchard et al. 2018), applying a GTR+G substitution model, a Yule process speciation prior, and an uncorrelated lognormal relaxed clock. The Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) was run for 10 million generations, sampling every 10,000 generations. Resulting trees were combined using LogCombiner v.1.10.4, discarding the first 25% as burn-in. A maximum clade credibility tree was then produced using TreeAnnotator v.1.10.4 and visualized in Geneious Prime. Maximum Likelihood inference was carried out using the PhyML plugin (Guindon et al. 2010) within Geneious Prime, under the GTR+G model with 1000 bootstrap replicates. The bestfit substitution model was selected based on model testing in MEGA v.11.0.13 (Tamura et al. 2021). TAXONOMIC TREATMENT New species Telipogon villonacoensis M.M.Jiménez, Iturralde & C.Martel, sp. nov. urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:77370218-1 Figs 1–4, 5A–B Type. ECUADOR – Loja • Western cordillera of the Loja basin, near Loja; 2565 m; coordinates omitted for conservation reasons; detailed data on the holotype; 21 Feb. 2023; M. Jiménez 1560; holotype: HUTPL!. Diagnosis. Telipogon villonacoensis is similar to T. pogonostalix by the miniature, acaulescent habit, pale green to yellow flowers, and oblong and ecallose lip, but the first differs by its lip stained with purple-brown at the basal third, ending abruptly in an almost straight line (vs green-yellow at the base), lateral lobes of the lip ca 0.25 mm long (vs lateral lobes 1.0–1.3 mm long), the pink-purple column (vs white) with 2–7 setae per tuft, 0.2 mm long (vs 9–13 setae per tuft, 0.7–0.8 mm long), dark purple and coralloid setae with bifid to trifid apex (vs white and acicular setae with stellate apex). Description. Epiphytic herb, erect, ca 8 cm tall including the inflorescence. Roots 1.1–1.7 mm in diameter, thick, cylindrical, basal. Stem inconspicuous, 3–4 × 2–3 mm, surrounded by the leaf sheaths. Leaves 13–40 mm long, 2–5 per stem, subcoriaceous, distichous, articulated, decurrent, conduplicate; leaf blade 12–37 × 3–6 mm, oblong to narrowly elliptic, acute, slightly falcate, minutely and sparsely pustulose-papillose along the adaxial surface. Inflorescence up to ca 7 cm long, apical or rarely lateral, 1–2 per stem, erect, racemose, unbranched, green, with 4–10 flowers, spirally arranged, successive, rarely two open at the same time; peduncle 27–32 mm long, terete, progressively and very narrowed towards the base, sometimes with 1 amplexicaul triangular bract apically; rachis 19.3–36.2 mm long, slightly compressed, sub-verrucose, partially enveloped by the floral bracts; floral bracts 2.0–2.3 × 1.2–1.5 mm when extended, conduplicate, triangular-ovate, acute, decurrent, translucent. Ovary 3.3–3.5 long × 0.9 mm wide, light green, terete, sub-verrucose, grooved; pedicel ca 3.5 mm long. Flowers ca 6.6 × 7.4 mm, non-resupinate; sepals translucent, shallow, pale green to yellow stained with brownish purple at the base, the longitudinal mid-vein dark green to brownish; petals white or yellow, with a greenish coloration between the veins, light brownpurple at the base, veins green or brown-purple; lip white with green or brown-purple veins, the basal third stained purple-brown, ending abruptly in a straight line. Sepals subtriangular-ovate, subacute, reflexed, entire, 1-veined, membranous, papillose, sparsely verrucose abaxially; dorsal sepal 2.9–3.9 × 1.2 mm; lateral sepals 3.1–3.9 × 1.2– 1.3 mm, oblique. Petals 3.4–4.7 × 1.4–1.8 mm, ellipticoblong to elliptic-obovate, subacute, asymmetrical, entire margins, 3-veined (midvein reaching the apex, lateral veins reaching only halfway), minutely papillose, shallow, slightly incurved. Lip 3.2–4.7 × 1.5–1.6 mm, oblongovate, obtuse, involute at the apex, entire margins, the base partially surrounds the column, shallow in most of its length, slightly convex at the apex, surface papillose, margins retrorse ciliate, 5-veined (midvein reaching the apex, internal pair reaching the apical fourth, external pair reaching only halfway), 2-auriculate at the base; auricle 0.2 mm long, with obtuse angles. Column 1.6–1.7 long × 1.2 mm wide, terete, slightly dorsoventrally compressed, pink to purple, densely papillose, the ventral edge slightly protruding and swollen, forming a minute obtuse bump, with two sparsely dense tufts of setae on each side of the anther; setae 2–7 per tuft, up to 0.2 mm long, dark purple (rarely purely white) with white, tips, stellate or coralloid apex; stigma apical, transversely elliptic; rostellum erect; clinandrium almost straight, not hooded. Anther cap dorsal, 0.8 × 1.0 mm, widely sub-cordiform, bilocular, purple suffused with white. Pollinarium 1.5 mm long, with two pairs of unequal, narrowly ovoid pollinia, with a stipe 0.4 mm long, and an uncinate viscidium. Fruits capsule 10 × 4.7 mm, sub-triquetrous with rounded angles. Distribution, habitat, and ecology. According to confirmed records in Ecuador, Telipogon villonacoensis is distributed in the inter-Andean valleys of the Loja Province and the south-eastern slope of the Andes in the Zamora Chinchipe Province, between 2350–2650 m. In Peru, it has been reported in Cajamarca, in the north, and in Cusco, in the south, between 2500 and 3000 m. However, several records on iNaturalist suggest that this species is widely distributed from west-central Colombia, through east and west Ecuador, to south-east Peru (Fig. 3). Thus, the species can be found between 2300 and 3000 m and has one of the largest distributions among Telipogon species, Jiménez et al.: Telipogon villonacoensis, a new species from South America396 Figure 1. Telipogon villonacoensis. A. Habit with a close-up of the floral bract (A1) and apical portion of the leaf (A2). B. Flower in lateral view. C. Dissected perianth. D. Column, lip, and ovary in lateral view with a close-up of the setae (D1), and ventral edge of the column (D2). E. Frontal view of the column. F. Lip with a close-up of the marginal teeth (F1) and the basal, stained region (F2). G. Anther cap and pollinarium. Plate made by Nadia Lapo-González based on the type specimen (A, C-lip, D, E, F) and on M. Jiménez, G.A. Iturralde & H. Garzón-Suárez 2190 (HUTPL) (B, C-sepals and petals, G). Plant Ecology and Evolution 158 (3): 392–402, 2025 397 Figure 2. Individuals of Telipogon villonacoensis from different localities. A–B. Type collection near Loja, Ecuador (M. Jiménez 1560 [HUTPL!], in situ). C. Mount Villonaco, Ecuador (F. Werner et al. 2253 [photo-voucher], taken in the lab right after collecting). D. Loja–Zamora road, Ecuador (M. Jiménez et al. 2190 [HUTPL!], in situ). E. Quispicanchis–Cuzco, Peru, in situ. F. Chota–Cajamarca, Peru (J. Chamaya G. s.n. [CPUN!], ex situ). Photos by Marco M. Jiménez (A, D), Gabriel A. Iturralde (B), Florian Werner (C), Carlos Martel (E), James Chamaya (F). comparable with T. bowmanii Rchb.f. and T. astroglossus Rchb.f., which can be found from Colombia to Bolivia (Martel 2016). According to the Ministerio del Ambiente del Ecuador (2013), the ecosystems where specimens of T. villonacoensis have been found correspond to montane forests (BsMn04 and BsMn03). Telipogon villonacoensis grows as an epiphyte on small branches and twigs of trees or shrubs, which can Jiménez et al.: Telipogon villonacoensis, a new species from South America398 Figure 3. Distribution of Telipogon villonacoensis, T. alexii, and T. pogonostalix in the northern and central Andes. Map made by Henry X. Garzón-Suárez. be covered in mosses and lichens. The vegetation of the type locality reaches a maximum of 6 meters and is dominated by Clethra revoluta (Ruiz & Pav.) Spreng., Oreocallis grandiflora (Lam.) R.Br., Clusia cf. alata Planch. & Triana, Viburnum triphyllum Benth., Baccharis latifolia (Ruiz & Pav.) Pers., and Siparuna muricata (Ruiz & Pav.) A.DC. Most individuals of T. villonacoensis were found on the twigs and stems of Clethra revoluta and Clusia cf. alata; plants are less commonly found on Ceratostema loranthiflorum Benth., Cavendishia bracteata (Ruiz & Pav. ex J.St.-Hil.) Hoerold, Baccharis obtusifolia Kunth, and rarely on Arcytophyllum thymifolium (Ruiz & Pav.) Standl, Alnus acuminata Kunth, and Chaetogastra laxa (Desr.) P.J.F.Guim. & Michelang. The new species can be found near streams, roads, or grasslands. Telipogon villonacoensis grows together with Cyrtochilum macranthum (Lindl.) Kraenzl., Oncidium cruentoides M.W.Chase & N.H.Williams, Epidendrum jaramilloae Hágsater & Dodson, and Passiflora mathewsii (Mast.) Killip. Phenology and flower variation. We observed flowering specimens of Telipogon villonacoensis between February and July, whereas those with capsules were observed in January, September, and November. Two colour variations have been observed in the flowers of T. villonacoensis. Individuals with opaque greenish-white flowers and paler veins sparsely suffused at the base with pink. Others have a yellow perianth with darker veins intensely stained at the base with brownish purple, especially the petals (Figs 1, 2). Etymology. The new species is named after Cerro Villonaco, one of the highest peaks of southern Ecuador’s western Cordillera of the Loja basin and where the new species was first found. This mountain is home to patches of highly threatened evergreen montane shrub forests which harbour unique species of flora such as Passiflora Plant Ecology and Evolution 158 (3): 392–402, 2025 399 Figure 4. Reconstructed phylogenetic tree of concatenated markers rITS and matK to evaluate the position of Telipogon villonacoensis within Telipogon. The tree on the left is based on Bayesian inference (BI) analysis (numbers at side of nodes represent posterior probability values). The tree on the right is based on Maximum Likelihood (ML) analysis (numbers at the side of nodes represent bootstrap values). Abbreviation of the genera as follows: F = Fernandezia, H = Hofmeisterella, Tr = Trichoceros, T = Telipogon. Scale bars represent the mean number of nucleotide substitutions per site. brachyantha L.K.Escobar and Aphelandra villonacensis Wassh. Preliminary IUCN conservation assessment. So far, nine localities of Telipogon villonacoensis have been identified in secondary and primary forests of the high Andes in Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru. However, only a few dozen individuals have been spotted in each locality, which were restricted to specific phorophytes. The total number of observed individuals in all the localities is around 200 plants. Unfortunately, individuals of the new species are threatened by the frequent forest fires in Ecuador and the expansion of crop areas in Ecuador and Peru. The extent of occurrence (EOO) and area of occupancy (AOO) calculations resulted in 740,746 km2 and 9,000 km2 (cell width of 2 km2), respectively. Based on these values and applying the IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria (IUCN 2024), the species would not currently qualify as threatened under criterion B. However, there is no ongoing monitoring of population size, trends, or threats, and the condition of the fragmented habitats is uncertain across most of the known localities; therefore, some populations might be at risk of disappearing. Additional material examined. ECUADOR – Loja • Cerro Villonaco, cerca de la vía antigua a Catamayo; 2629 m; 22 Feb. 2024; M.M. Jiménez León, G.A. Iturralde & H. Garzón-Suárez 2190; HUTPL!, QCNE! spirit. – Zamora Chinchipe • Vía Loja-Zamora, cerca de un afluente del río San Francisco; 2351 m; 25 Jun. 2024; M.M. Jiménez León 2314; HUTPL!. PERU – Cajamarca • Chota, Comunidad La Palma, Bosque La Palma; 2835 m; 10 Sep. 2024; J. Chamaya G. s.n.; CPUN!. Observations. Colombia, Antioquia, Municipio de Jardín, ProAves Loro Orejiamarillo Reserve, Apr. 2023; obs. by danielmesa1 (https://www.inaturalist.org/ observations/153411209). Ecuador, Imbabura, Apuela, Siempre Verde Reserve, 28 Jan. 2021, obs. by bosquenublado (https://www.inaturalist. org/observations/68746177). Loja, Cerro Villonaco, F. Werner et al. 2253 [photo-voucher], in situ. Peru, Cusco, Quispicanchis, Marcapata, 28 Sep. 2024, obs. by georgevf (https://www.inaturalist.org/ observations/244444854, https://www.inaturalist.org/ observations/244444309); Perus, Cusco, Quispicanchis, Marcapata, 3000 m, 25 Aug. 2015, obs. by C. Martel (Fig. 2E). Jiménez et al.: Telipogon villonacoensis, a new species from South America400 Figure 5. A, B. Telipogon villonacoensis, type specimen M. Jiménez 1560 (HUTPL). C, D. T. pogonostalix, G. Iturralde GI-2406-2870 (QCNE). E, F. T. alexii, G. Iturralde GI-2207-4061 (QCNE). Photos by Marco M. Jiménez (A–B) and Gabriel A. Iturralde (C–F). Additional species of Telipogon examined Telipogon pogonostalix Rchb.f. Figs 3–4, 5C–D Material examined. COLOMBIA – Boyacá • Santa María, Sendero Hyca Quye; 1400–1600 m; 13 Feb. 2025; Eugenio Restrepo & Lyndon Carvajal 483; UDBC!. ECUADOR – Loja • Vilcabamba, Reserva El Bosque; 2214 m; 23 Feb. 2024; G. Iturralde GI-2406-2870; QCNE! flowers in alcohol. – Pichincha • Tandayapa; 1689 m, 20 Oct. 2023; G. Iturralde GI-2310-2763; QCNE!. BOLIVIA – Cochabamba • Carrasco, Parque Nacional Carrasco, cerca a la confluencia de los ríos Yana Mayu e Ivirizu; 1035 m; 13 Jan. 2020; M. Zárate 6892; BOLV!. Telipogon alexii N.H.Williams & Dressler Figs 3–4, 5E–F Material examined. ECUADOR – Napo • Cosanga, road to Las Caucheras; 2080 m; 30 Oct. 2023; G. Iturralde GI2309-2112; QCNE! • Baeza, Road to Cuyuja; 2110 m; 30 Oct. 2023; G. Iturralde GI-2310-2493; QCNE!. – Carchi • Gualchán, road to Chical; 19 Jan. 2022; G. Iturralde GI2207-4061; QCNE!. Phylogenetic analysis The reconstructed phylogenetic trees obtained with rITS, matK, and the combined datasets showed similar topology, both with BI and ML analyses, therefore we will focus on