Two new species, nomenclatural notes and an updated checklist in Lepanthes (Orchidaceae, Pleurothallidinae) from Mexico

Two new orchid species from Mexico are described and illustrated here: Lepanthes luicitae, from the mountains of northern Oaxaca, and Lepanthes salvaterrae, from central Veracruz. Lepanthes luicitae is similar to L. thurstoniorum from which differs by its flexuous rachis (vs. zigzag), dorsal sepal as wide as the lateral ones (vs. lateral sepals almost 2/3 the width of the dorsal one), lateral sepals obliquely ovate and diverging from each other towards their apices (vs. obliquely triangular-ovate and subparallel to each other towards their apices), and petals forming butterfly wing-like blades (vs. forming oblong and oblique blades). Meanwhile, L. salvaterrae is similar to L. gabriellae but differs in having a peduncle shorter than the leaf (vs. equal or longer than the leaf), orbicular to orbicular-elliptic leaves (vs. narrowly elliptic), marginally glabrous sepals (vs. with reddish cilia), and petals with upper and lower lobes different in shape and size (vs. similar to each other). Lepanthes acuminata subsp. ernestii, is elevated to specific status, and it is reported for the first time for the Mexican states of Oaxaca and Veracruz, and for Guatemala. Meanwhile, L. machorroi and L. papilionacea are reported as new records for the flora of Veracruz. The richness of Lepanthes in Mexico has increased to 68 species, 39 of which have a distribution restricted to the country. Finally, an updated checklist, including accepted and synonym names for Lepanthes of Mexico, is present here.