a revision of the mexican and central american species of vanilla ...

308 LANKESTERIANA
hartii has slightly larger flowers (e.g., lip is 37-43 vs.
32 mm long) and the lip apex was described originally
as acute to subobtuse, not obtuse to widely rounded.
However, examination of flower of the type and
pictures from Trinidad and Mexico show that they are
indistinguishable, and that the floral differences may
due to the herborization process. Three collections
of V. hartii from the Pacific slope of Costa Rica are
vegetatively stouter than Mexican and Trinidadian
plants, and the flowers are also the largest examined.
We do not know if these differences may indicate that
they should be regarded as a distinct taxon; although
molecular data suggest that they are closely related
(see ITS analysis).
Vanilla leprieurii is here considered as a synonym
of V. hartii. Portères (1954) stressed that his V. leprieurii
was distinct because the nervation in the center of the
lip was denser, with the zone before the nervation
thicker, more imbricate scales in the penicillate callus,
and the apex of the lip more emarginate, apiculate and
pleated. Furthermore, the lip looks constricted, almost
trilobed in the published drawing. All these features
are variable in the material examined and again, they
seem to be the result of the way in which the flowers
were pressed.
Vanilla hartii is a relatively small vine similar
to the V. planifolia group. It is somewhat similar to
V. odorata but has shorter racemes, much smaller
flowers, a gibbous lip base, subentire lip, denticulateundulate
(not lacerate-fimbriate) lip margin, a cushionlike
thickening at the lip apex without retrorse papillae
(vs. the 3-4 longitudinal rows of apical, retrorse, big
papillae) and broader and shorter elliptic leaves (vs.
long triangular-ensiform). The elliptic leaves, shorter
than the internodes, and the slender stems make it
vegetatively similar to V. bicolor from the Caribbean
and Guyanas. However, V. bicolor has acute to
subacuminate lip, larger, tan-colored flowers with
yellow lip, and stouter, more elongate inflorescence.
Most Nicaraguan and several of the Central
American specimens previously assigned to V.
planifolia are actually V. hartii. Also the reports of wild
V. planifolia from Rio Palenque Center in Ecuador are
based apparently in V. hartii (P. Lubinsky, com. pers.).
Vanilla hartii is morphologically similar to
V. planifolia, and even confused with it in many
treatments. However, all the molecular data place it in
LANKESTERIANA 9(3), January 2010. © Universidad de Costa Rica, 2010.
a rather basal position among the American penicillate
vanillas. Vanilla hartii tolerates damper, more shady
conditions, but the fragrant fruits are much smaller,
and it is not a free-flowering plant.
OtHEr rEcords: MEXICO: CHIAPAS: Estación de
Biología de Chajul, selva alta perennifolia, selva de loma
con Calophyllum y sotobosque de cyperáceas altas y
helechos arborescentes, sobre el camino a Arroyo Miranda,
16°07’35’’N, 90°54’35’’W; 200 m s.n.m., 12-IV-1997,
M. Soto 8347 *AMO(sterile)! 8350 *AMO(fruit)! same
data 14 abril 2000, M. Soto *9727(x2), *9729(x2), S.
Maldonado, L. López y P. Schlütter AMO!; same data:
flor blanca, tépalos algo más verdosos, especialmente en
el engrosamiento apical, con líneas inconspicuas, cafés,
tenues en la garganta, sin fragancia aparente. Rondada por
Euglossa hembra, pero no capturada ni vista polinizando la
flor. Fruto maduro con olor característico a vainilla, muy
dulce M. Soto 9730, S. Maldonado, L. López y P. Schlütter
*AMO! Sobre la Vereda La Granja, Estación de Biología
de Chajul, selva alta perennifolia en zona de loma con
muchos arroyos, algo perturbada, ca. 16°07’N, 90°54’W,
200 m s.n.m. escasa, en floración, 15 de abril de 2000,
M. Soto 9731 y P. Schlütter *AMO! BELIZE: TOLEDO:
“Vianilla” Vine, flowers white, in broken Cohune Ridge,
between Orange Point and Moho River, April 28 1952, P.H.
Gentle 7673 MEXU(511492)! Southern Maya Mountains,
Bladen Nature Reserve, mountain, 1.7 airline north of
Ex Xux archeological site, 16°31’05’’N, 88°54’11’’W,
500-600 m, vine, flower white, in tree fall gap, 24 May
1996, G. Davidse 36251 BM! COROZAL: [cf.] “vanilla”,
vine, P.H. Gentle 328 F(713628)! GUATEMALA:
IZABAL: Leaves subcoriaceous, dark dull green above,
slightly paler dull green below. Stem terete, dull green.
Petals and sepals pale greenish-white. Lip white. Leaves
somewhat narrower than in typical V. fragrans. Swamps
of Salomón Creek, 1/2-1 mi. south of Bananera, alt. 50 m.
April 6, 1940. J.A. Steyermark 38944 *F(1043051)! [cf.]
Quebradas, 19-22, May 1919, H. Pittier 8589A NY(sterile)!
*US(1013493; sterile)! HONDURAS: ATLANTIDA: [cf.],
sterile Lancetilla Valley, near Tela, altitude 20 to 600 m;
“vainilla”, creeping on tree in wet forest; frequent, Dec. 6,
1927-Mar. 20, 1928, P.C. Standley 52824 *AMES(36946,
fruit)! F(582560)! *US(1407340; sterile)! NICARAGUA:
ZELAYA: Monkey Point; ca. 11°35’N, 83°39’W, elev 0-20
m; beach and bluff near village; vine on understory tree,
flower pale green, 7 Apr 1981, W.D. Stevens, B.A. Krukoff
20021 *SEL(047700)! [cf.] Ibo, drainage of Caño Sung
Sung, N of road between Puerto Cabezas and Río Wawa;
approximately 14°9-11’N, 83°29-31’W, elev. less than 10
m; gallery forest and adjacent savanna. Vine on tree trunk,
sterile. W.D. Stevens & B.A. Krukoff 10667 SEL(036668)!
[cf.] Caño Zamora on Río Rama; ca. 11°57’N, 84°16’W,