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Three new Pleurothallis orchid species have been found in Costa Rica and western Panama’s cloud forests using prolification, an uncommon asexual reproduction mechanism.
The newly discovered Pleurothallis matrisilvae, pridgeoniana, and winkeliana are described in PhytoKeys from the chilly, foggy Talamanca range at elevations between 1400 and 2550 meters.
The process of prolification allows plants to avoid making seeds and instead spread vegetatively by creating small plantlets from their flowering stems.
Within this group of orchids, prolification is rarely a stable trait, but in hostile environments, it becomes prevalent. The ability may be useful in cloud forests, but it is understudied. Asexual reproduction may be significant when pollinators are limited.
The three new mountain species from Costa Rica and western Panama are unusually suited and prolific, producing lengthy chains or bushy growths. Despite initial clear similarities with other plants, these adaptations let researchers identify them as different species.
Costa Rica is noted for its orchid biodiversity, with about 1700 species, thirty percent of which are endemic. The finding of these orchids highlights the Talamanca range’s rich and undiscovered nature.
These species bring Costa Rica’s Pleurothallis count to 67, however researchers believe many more are undocumented. This richness emphasizes the need to protect these distinct habitats.
Local institutions, including the Lankester Botanical Garden of the University of Costa Rica, are able to discover and explain floristic wonders in an attempt to learn and preserve the country’s unique biodiversity, thanks to Costa Rica’s comprehensive network of protected areas.
Sources:
Adam P. Karremans et al. (2025).Three new species of Pleurothallis (Orchidaceae) from Costa Rica and Panama, with a note on asexual reproduction by prolification in Pleurothallidinae, PhytoKeys. DOI: 10.3897/phytokeys.256.140316
Three new orchid species endemic to Costa Rica and Panama discovered. https://phys.org/news/2025-06-orchid-species-endemic-costa-rica.html
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