In the cold peaks of eastern Antioquia, the Sonsón Moor adds a new species to its biological inventory: Pleurothallis maitamae. This orchid, confirmed as endemic to the DRMI Páramo de Vida Maitamá – Sonsón, emerges as an emblem of the natural wealth that this strategic ecosystem of the Cornare region houses.
The species has been defined and presented to the scientific community in the journal Phytotaxa, in a work that links citizen science and specialized botanical studyThe name honors Chief Maitamá, historical leader of the Arma River canyon, in recognition of the cultural memory of the central Andes.
A discovery that was born in 2019
The starting point was a record made by students on NaturaLista Colombia during a hike through one of the hills of the Sonsón páramos complex. The photographs, reviewed by international specialists, raised concerns: this was a plant that had never been described before.
From that notice, a work team made up of botanists was consolidated. Yudy Gallego Franco, David Sánchez Gómez and Mark Wilson (world reference in Pleurothallidinae), who carried out the comparison, diagnosis and formal description of the new species.
Features and environment
Medium in size, this orchid stands out for its cream flowers flecked with dark purple, petals with a marked S-shaped curvature and a trilobed labellum whose lateral lobes resemble small horns. These are features that differentiate it from related taxa within the complex. P. crocodiliceps.
- Petals with an “S” silhouette.
- Cream coloration with dark purple spots.
- Trilobed lip with horn-like lateral lobes.
- Intermediate size within the Pleurothallidinae group.
Its habitat is located between 2.600 and 3.300 meters above sea level, right at the transition between the high Andean forest and the subpáramo. In these zones, the humidity, fog, and vegetation structure create ideal conditions for their development.
Careful morphological analyses of leaves, sepals, petals and labellum allowed the isolation of diagnostic and support its status as a new species for science, clearly separating it from related species.
Conservation, threats and citizen participation
Although grows within a protected area (DRMI Páramo de Vida Maitamá – Sonsón), its known distribution is very restricted. According to IUCN criteria, its preliminary assessment places it as Data Deficiency (DD), which requires more monitoring to estimate population size, trends and pressures.
Among the identified risks are uncontrolled tourism, forest fires, and the spread of invasive species. Cornare announced the reinforcement of actions to prevent threats and strengthen environmental research and education processes with the support of neighboring communities.
The environmental authority invites you to continue reporting observations of flora and fauna on open platforms such as Naturalist and remember that, as this is a new species with limited distribution, it should not be extracted or sold.
Anyone who wishes to delve deeper into the diagnosis, illustrations and technical details can consult the open access scientific article available online: see document.
The discovery of Pleurothallis maitamae It confirms that Andean moors still contain unknown species and underscores the value of combining community observation with academic rigor to protect a unique natural heritage.
