Spiranthes nivea T.P. Lin & W.M. Lin (2011: 320) var. nivea

Suetsugu, Kenji & Hsu, Tian-Chuan, 2023, Taxonomic revision of the genus Spiranthes (Orchidaceae) in Taiwan, Phytotaxa 578 (1), pp. 1-10 : 5

Spiranthes nivea T.P. Lin & W.M. Lin (2011: 320) var. nivea — Fig. 4 .

Type:— TAIWAN. Pingtung: Tahanshan , 20 May 2009, Y.F. Wang s.n. (holotype: TAI 270634 !) .

Synonym:— Spiranthes suishaensis auct. non ( Hayata 1916: 86) Schlechter (1919: 161): Lin (2016: 117).

Morphological descriptions and illustrations: —See Lin & Lin (2011: 320; f. 5), Surveswaran et al. (2017: 125; f. 4), Hsu & Chung (2016: 188), as Spiranthes suishaensis , and Lin (2019: 266; f. 117; pl. 13).

Distribution and ecology: —The typical variety species is only recorded from the type locality, Tahanshan (Mt. Tahan) in southern Taiwan. It grows on semi-open roadside slopes around 1400–1600 m elev. and flowers from March to April.

Additional specimens examined: — TAIWAN. Pingtung Co.: Mt. Tahan , 13 March 2013, T.-C. Hsu 6342 (TAIF!); Tahanshan, 9 April 2013, S.-S. Lin s.n. (TAI!) .

Taxonomic remarks: — Spiranthes nivea is most similar to S. hongkongensis , but it differs in having nearly glabrous labellum disc, smaller glabrous basal labellum callosities, and sparsely pubescent glabrous rachis, ovaries, and sepals.

Figures

FIGURE 4. Spiranthes nivea var. nivea collected at the type locality (Tian-Chuan Hsu 6342, TAIF). (A) Habit. (B) Flower, front view. (C) Flower, lateral view. (D) Dorsal sepal. (E) Petal. (F) Lateral sepal. (G) Labellum. (H) Labellum and column, lateral view. (I) Flattened labellum. (J) Close-up of basal callosities of labellum. (K) Ovary and column. (L) Column. Scale bars: 30 mm (A), 3 mm (B–I), 0.5 mm (J) and 1 mm (K–L).