Bulbophyllum xiajinchangense M.Y. Zeng & Ming H. Li, 2023

Zeng, Meng-Yao, Wu, Yu-Wei, Wei, Chun-Yi, Wu, Yu-Han & Li, Ming-He, 2023, Bulbophyllum xiajinchangense (Orchidaceae; Malaxideae), a new species from China: evidence from morphological and DNA analysis, Phytotaxa 629 (3), pp. 275-282 : 279

Bulbophyllum xiajinchangense M.Y. Zeng & Ming H. Li , sp. nov. (下ª厂Ƌāż; Figs. 2 , 3 )

Type: — CHINA. Yunnan (云南), Malipo (ñẹ坡), Xiajinchang (下ª厂), epiphytic on tree trunk in evergreen broad-leaved forest, elev. ca. 1800 m; 20 February 2022, voucher ( MHLi or128 ) (holotype, FJFC!; isotype, CSH!) .

Diagnosis: The new species is similar to B. scabratum and B. levinei . However, it can be distinguished from B. scabratum by its lateral sepals (free vs. convergent, 10.0–12.0 × 1.7–2.0 mm vs. 15.0–20.0 × 2.0–4.0 mm), the ratio of mean lateral/dorsal sepal length (ca. 2.0 vs. ca. 3.0), flowers color (purplish-red vs. pale yellow-ochre). Moreover, it differs from B. levinei by its longer leaf (5.0–9.0 cm vs. 3.0–4.0 cm), scape (7.0–12.0 cm vs. 3.0–5.0 cm) and lateral sepal (10.0–12.0 mm vs. 5.0– 5.5 mm).

Epiphytic herbs. Rhizomes creeping, slender, 0.8–1.0 mm in diam., branched. Pseudobulbs densely crowded, finely wrinkled, green to purplish-brown, conical, 1.2–1.6 × 0.5–0.7 cm, with a terminal leaf. Leaf base contracted into petiole-like, 0.8–1.8 cm long; blade narrowly oblong to obovate-lanceolate, 5.0–9.0 × 0.7–1.2 cm, thinly leathery, abaxially green tinged with purple, margin entire, apex subacute. Scape arising from base of pseudobulbs, erect, 7.0–12.0 cm, slightly longer than the leaves; peduncle slender, sparsely with 2 or 3 tubular sheaths, 7.0–8.0 mm long; umbel-like and shortened raceme, often 3–7-flowered. Flowers purplish-red, sepals and petals margins white; floral bracts narrowly lanceolate, 4.5–6.0 mm long; pedicel and ovary 6.0–8.0 mm, longer than floral bracts. Dorsal sepals ovate-lanceolate, concave, 0.6–0.7 × 0.2–0.3 cm, margins denticulate, apex acuminate and recurved; Lateral sepals free and obliquely ovate-lanceolate, 10.0–12.0 × 1.7–2.0 mm, basally adnate to column foot, basal margins denticulate, apex long caudate. Petals ovate, 3.5–4.0 × 1.7–2.0 mm, 3-veined, margins denticulate, basal white, apex purplish-red and acute; Lip recurved, oblong-lanceolate, orange with purplish-brown margins, ca. 1.3 mm, fleshy, basal half grooved, base attached to end of column foot, margins entire, apex obtuse and shallowly bifurcate. Column yellowishwhite, stout, ca. 2.0 mm long, with narrow wings; stelidia filiform, ca. 0.3 mm; column foot upcurved, purplish brown, ca. 1.5mm, with free part 0.4 mm; anther cap subglobose, white, with a densely finely papillate ridge centrally, apex rounded and beaked; pollinia 2. Capsules obovate, 1.5–1.7 × 0.5–0.7 mm.

Phenology: —Flowering March to April.

Etymology: —The specific epithet refers to type locality, Xiajinchang Town, Malipo County, Yunnan Province, China.

Distribution and habitat: — Bulbophyllum xiajinchangense is epiphytic on tree trunk of ca. 1800 m elevation at the edge of evergreen broad-leaved forests, known so far only from Xiajinchang Town, Malipo County, Yunnan Province, China.

Figures

FIGURE 2. Habitat and morphology of Bulbophyllum xiajinchangense. A. Habitat. B. Flowering plant and leave. C. Anatomy of the flower. D. Flower (front and lateral view). E. Column (front and lateral view). F. Lip (front and lateral view). G. Pedicel and ovary, floral bract. H. Anther cap (lateral view) and pollinarium (lateral view). I. Scape. J. Fruit.

FIGURE 3. Line drawings of Bulbophyllum xiajinchangense. A. Flowering plant. B. Scape. C. Flower (front and lateral view). D. Floral bract, pedicel and ovary. E. Dorsal sepal (upper left), lateral sepal (right) and petal (lower left). F. Column and lip (front and lateral view). G. Anther cap (lateral view) and pollinarium. H. Fruit.