Uncifera acuminata Lindley ( 1858: 40)

Averyanov, Leonid V., Thai, Tran Huy, Truong, Ba Vuong, Nguyen, Van Canh, Nguyen, Tuan Hoang, Maisak, Tatiana V., Nguyen, Khang Sinh & Nguyen, Van Khuong, 2022, New orchids in the flora of Vietnam (Orchidaceae, Aeridinae), Phytotaxa 555 (2), pp. 113-135 : 129-131

Uncifera acuminata Lindley ( 1858: 40) .

( Fig. 9 )

Type: — INDIA. Assam and Khasija, Griffith; base of Khasija , J .D. H. & T. T. 193 (syntypes K000895706 , K000895708 , K000895709 ) .

Habitat, phenology and conservation status: —Epiphyte. Broad-leaved evergreen montane forests on granite at 1800–1900 m a.s.l. Fl. July–August. Rare. Suggested IUCN Red List status – VU.

Distribution: —Northern Vietnam (Lao Cai Province), Nepal, NE India, China.

Note: —All three recorded localities of this species in Vietnam are adjacent to the Chinese part of the species range and slightly extend its area to the southeast. The area of the occurrence (EOO) of this species in Vietnam comprises highlands of Hoang Lien Son Range and adjacent mountains in parts of Lao Cai Province. The total extent of occurrence may be totally estimated as about 3200 km 2 where the species can survive on many steep mountain slopes inaccessible for the direct deforestation. Meanwhile, the species occupancy area (AOO) may be very small (far less than 500 km 2), as the species inhabit canopies of only the oldest emergent trees, which is why its subpopulations are highly fragmented. According to IUCN criteria the species conservation status in Vietnam may be estimated as nationally Critically Endangered – CR ab(iii) ( IUCN 2019).

Studied specimens: — VIETNAM, Lao Cai Province, flower yellow brown marked on tepals, lip side-lobes indistinct, spur terete, upcurved, nearly touching lip, 31 July 2018, Truong Ba Vuong BV 338 ( LE01073486 http:// en.herbariumle.ru/?t=occ&id=17629) . VIETNAM, Lao Cai Province, Bat Xat District, Y Ty Commune, Bat Xat Nature Reserve , 22°37’28.8”N 103°37′44.7″E, 1838 m a.s.l., 1 August 2019, Bui Hong Quang, Tran Duc Binh ( LE01090928 https://en.herbariumle.ru/?t=occ&id=82373) . VIETNAM, cultivated, wild collected plant originated from Lao Cai Province, herbarium specimen and photo prepared on 18 August 2020, Truong Ba Vuong, Ngo Quang Dang, Phan Trong Quyet, BV 790 ( LE01087405 https://en.herbariumle.ru/?t=occ&id=38804) .

Figures

FIGURE 9. Uncifera acuminata. A. Flowering plants. B. Leaf, adaxial and abaxial side. C. Intact inflorescences. D. Intact flower, frontal view. E. Intact flower, side view. F. Separated flower, side view. G. Median sepal, abaxial and adaxial side. H. Lateral sepal, adaxial and abaxial side. I. Petal, abaxial and adaxial side. J. Separated lip, side, half side view and view from above. K. Flattened lip, view from above. L. Lip apex, adaxial side. M. Column, side view. N. Anther cap, side view. O. Pollinarium, side view. All photos by Truong Ba Vuong (BV 338), photo correction and design by L. Averyanov and T. Maisak.