Lepanthes zygicola (Orchidaceae: Pleurothallidinae), a new species from northeastern Cordillera Volcánica Central, Costa Rica

Lepanthes is a diverse Neotropical genus within the Orchidaceae and a significant component of Costa Rica's orchid flora. Despite extensive taxonomic studies, an ongoing need persists to explore and document the diversity of Lepanthes in unexplored regions of the country, such as the Cordillera Volcánica Central and Braulio Carrillo National Park. This study describes and illustrates a new species, Lepanthes zygicola, discovered on the Caribbean slope of Costa Rica within the ecotourism farm "Finca Jungla Paraíso," adjacent to Braulio Carrillo National Park. The new species exhibits distinct characteristics, including slightly convex, ovate leaves, shorter inflorescences remaining on the abaxial side of the leaf, larger pedicels, glabrous entire-margin sepals and pink-red proximal petals transitioning to amber distally, along with a ciliate lip apex. These features distinguish L. zygicola from its most similar species, L. ingramii and L. subdimidiata. The discovery of L. zygicola highlights the botanical richness of the Cordillera Volcánica Central and encourages further exploration in similar regions to unveil potentially undiscovered species. It also advocates for floristic and conservation initiatives to protect these unique orchid populations in their natural habitats, contributing to the broader understanding of orchid diversity in the country.

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