Sunipia rimannii (Rchb.f.) Seidenfaden (1980: 8

Averyanov, Leonid V., Nguyen, Van Canh, Vuong, Truong Ba, Nuraliev, Maxim S., Nguyen, Khang Sinh, Maisak, Tatiana V., Yudova, Daria A., Saidov, Nikita T., Nguyen, Cuong Huu & Nong, Duy Van, 2024, New orchids in the flora of Vietnam VIII (Orchidaceae: Epidendroideae, tribes Malaxideae, Neottieae and Podochileae), Phytotaxa 658 (1), pp. 1-49 : 32

Sunipia rimannii (Rchb.f.) Seidenfaden (1980: 8 , 1986b: 177), Chen et al. (2009: 443), Averyanov (2013: 42).

( Fig. 15 )

≡ Acrochaene rimannii Reichenbach (1882: 796) .

≡ Monomeria rimannii (Rchb.f.) Schlechter (1914: 337) .

≡ Ione rimannii (Rchb.f.) Seidenfaden (1995a: 54) .

≡ Bulbophyllum rimannii (Rchb.f.) J.J.Verm., Schuit. & de Vogel ( Vermeulen et al. 2014: 105) , Aung et al. (2020: 66), Ormerod et al. (2021: 45) , Zhou et al. (2016: 20), Jin et al. (2023: 439).

Type: — THAILAND. Kanburi, Rimann s.n. Herb. Rchb. 49494 (holotype W, fide Seidenfaden 1986b, 1995a).

Habitat and phenology in Vietnam: —Creeping epiphyte. Evergreen broad-leaved and mixed montane forests. Very rare. Flowers in February–March.

Distribution: — Vietnam: Kon Tum Province (Ngoc Linh Mountains). Myanmar, S China (Yunnan), Thailand, Laos.

Conservation status in Vietnam: —The single known Vietnamese locality of Sunipia rimannii was discovered in Ngoc Linh Mountains, the highest mountain system of southern Vietnam. Many habitats in this area are currently severely disturbed by selective logging. Accordingly, we preliminarily estimate the national conservation status of the species as Critically Endangered (CR) following the criteria B2ab(iii). Jin et al. (2023) assessed the status of this species as Endangered (EN) but have not provided any details or reasons for their decision.

Notes: — Sunipia rimannii is reported here as a new record for the flora of Vietnam. The presence of this species in the Central Highlands of Vietnam was rather expectable, as this species was already known in surrounding areas including its recent finding in the highlands of Laos ( Averyanov 2013). In Eastern Indochina, populations of this species are likely to be highly fragmented, being confined exclusively to highland areas.

Studied specimen:— VIETNAM. Kon Tum Province: Ngoc Linh Mountains, flower has 2 separated pollinaria, lip with longitudinal callus from base, sepals and lip purple, petals white, 18 February 2022, Truong Ba Vuong, BV 1493 (VNM 00070004, photos LE LE01123545 https://en.herbariumle.ru/?t=occ&id=141852).

Figures

FIGURE 15. Sunipia rimannii. A. Flowering plant.B. Pseudobulb and basal part of peduncle.C. Leaf apex, adaxial side.D. Inflorescence. E. Floral bract, adaxial and abaxial side. F, G. Flower, side view. H. Flower, view from below. I. Flower, view from below, with lateral sepals (synsepal) removed. J. Ovary, lip and column, view from above. K. Ovary and lip, view from below. L. Median sepal, adaxial and abaxial side. M. Lateral sepals (synsepal), adaxial and abaxial side. N. Petals, adaxial and abaxial side. O. Lip, adaxial side and half-side view. P. Lip, abaxial side. Q. Column and lip, side view. R. Lip, side view. S. Callus at base of lip, adaxial surface and half-side view. T. Pedicel, ovary, column and column foot, side view. U. Column, front, half-side and rear view. V. Pollinarium and pollinium. Photos by Truong Ba Vuong from living plant prior to the preparation of the voucher herbarium specimen Truong Ba Vuong, BV1493. Photo correction and design by L. Averyanov and T. Maisak.