P.imitatrix: need help from a German speaker!

[Fernando Rivadavia]

Hello German speakers!

I am trying to better understand the supposed differences between P.imitatrix and P.heterophylla, as claimed by Casper. But in order to do this, I need the help of someone who reads German... Anybody?? :)

Thanks,

Fernando Rivadavia

[Martin Hingst]

Hi Fernando, here an attempt for a translation.

P. imitatrix is remarkable for its very distinct heterophylly. From outside the rosette towards the center the leaves get bigger in a discontinuously way . An outer ring of small, erect, flat leaves that are egg-shaped to lanceolate with a long tip is surrounding an inner ring of rel. long, slender leaves. The margins of the latter are strongly curved towards the underside so that they touch each other, giving the leaf base (that is covered by the outer rosette) a very broad, egg-shaped appearance. In this region the margins are covered with threadlike hairs. At my present specimen also parts of the dead old inner rosette leaves of the last season are existent, forming a ruffle around the plant.

The pretty flowers have a very long, curved, "pfriemlichen" [Ann. have never heard this word before, no idea what that means] spur that is longer than the half of the rest of the corolla. The lower corolla lip has more than twice the length of the upper corolla lip. The tubus is comparatively short, so the flower looks a bit like P. gypsicola BRANDEGEE.

At first glance there is a astounding similarity to P. heterophylla BENTH. The group was therefore identified by A. FERNANDEZ-PEREZ as P. heterophylla. But the differences are substantial.

P. heterophylla is also heterophyllous. But the leaves of the outer rosette are obovate to oblong, acute to obtuse, the inner ones being lanceolate and having the same hairy base.The flower is somewhat smaller and has a short spur. The tubus is relative long, the upper corolla lip only slightly shorter than the lower lip. There are no differences between the groups in the shape of the calyx and the hairs of the tubus.

The most important point with P. imitatrix is that it - like P. benedicta - confounds the Isoloba scheme in matters of flower morphology : the corolla has two lips; the tubus tends to a funnel shape, and the long spur is not forming an acute angle with the tubus, but points more or less in the same direction as the tubus. Therefore the similarities to P. heterophylla, as described above.

Originally I associated P. imitatrix with the section Orcheosanthus (Casper 1963 b), but stressed to be unsure with that classification. Now I think - though there are intermediate characteristics - the Isoloba-characteristics and most of all the relationship to the heterophyllous Isolobopsis-Types count stronger. The specific Orcheosanthos flower morphology is too different to the flower of P. imitatrix.

To stress the rel. large morphological distance to P. heterophylla and their relatives, I placed the group in an undersection. Further research will show if this is a valid classification.

There are no chorological, ecological or cytologigal data known.

Maybe someone can translate this into English

Regards

Martin

[Andreas Fleischmann]

Hello Martin, well done!

"pfriemlich" means 'subulate', it's a botanical term to describe the shape of a narrow leaf that tapers towards both base and apex. For seeds or spores of that shape, you would use the botanical term 'fusiform'. A "Pfriem" (engl. awl) is a device from a loom ("Webstuhl") that was used in order to put the thread from one side to the other. (Daher im Deutschen/Bairischen auch das Verb "pfriemeln"! ;))

All the best,

Andreas

[JanW]

Man lernt nie aus!

[Fernando Rivadavia]

Thanks guys!!!!!!! :):)

So what do you think? Is P.imitatrix a good species? The difference described in leaf shape doesn't seem like something that important, especially if you consider Casper only studied herbarium specimens, not live plants.

Now a difference in flower shape is probably more important -- but then again, we always see so much variation in natural Ping. populations in Mexico...

So P.imitatrix has slightly larger flowers overall, big deal. And the lower lip is longer, although the corolla tube is shorter...

Check it out and give me your opinions:

http://207.156.243.8/emuwebnybg/pages/comm...y.php?irn=74867

Best Wishes,

Fernando Rivadavia

[epbb]

Few years ago, I would say that it could be different only with the shape of leaves or flowers but now, with the huge work you did in Mexico, showing the variability in all part of plants, I would say that it could be a P. heterophylla.

Does Casper studied this herbarium sheet ? If so, he is a high skilled taxonomist because not easy to distinguish the parameters of the plants

[Fernando Rivadavia]

Hey Eric!

As far as I know, this is the ONLY herbarium sheet known for this species.

Best Wishes,

Fernando Rivadavia