Abstract

The first natural hybrid of the genus Gongora is described for the department of Copán, Honduras, between Gongora truncata and Gongora batemanii (=Gongora cassidea). The nothospecies described here presents intermediate characteristics between both species, such as setaceous projections on the lip, a large callus, spatulate epichile, and a cucullate hard dorsal sepal. The identity of a specimen from the Herbarium Jany Renz Botanical Institute, University of Basel, Switzerland, corresponds to the same hybrid described here. It was erroneously determined as Gongora saccata (=Gongora seideliana). The clarification of the synonymy of Gongora saccata and relevant aspects regarding the pollination mechanisms and reproductive barriers of both parent species are also discussed.

Keywords: Cymbidieae; Cymbidieae; Euglossini; Gongora cassidea; Honduras; Orchidaceae