Kuhlhasseltia motuoensis X.H. Jin & C. Ye, 2023

Ye, Chao, Li, Jianwu, Tian, Huaizhen, Lin, Dongliang & Jin, Xiaohua, 2023, Kuhlhasseltia motuoensis (Orchidaceae, Orchidoideae, Cranichideae), a new species from Xizang, China, Phytotaxa 626 (2), pp. 141-144 : 141-142

Kuhlhasseltia motuoensis X.H. Jin & C. Ye , sp.nov. Fig. 1 & 2 墨ȐḄĝ兰

Type. China. Xizang Autonomous Region, Motuo County, elev. 1300 m, 1 August, 2023, Xiaohua Jin et al. 40400 (holotype PE!, isotype, PE!) .

Diagnosis. Kuhlhasseltia motuoensis is morphologically close to K. yakushimensis (Yamam.) Ormerod (2002) but differs from it by having yellow mesochile with two rows of dentate flanges along exterior margin on each side, lobules of epichile subcircular and with one green spot between them.

Terrestrial. Rhizome elongate, creeping, noded, fleshy, lacking normal roots, only with hairs around nodes. Stem ascending, glabrous, 3–10-leaved. Leaves ovate, 0.5–1.5 cm × 0.3–0.8 cm, alternate, green, tinged with reddish purple, fleshy, 3-veined, apex acute, petiole-like base 5–15 mm long. Inflorescence often purplish red, white pubescent, with 1–2 pinkish red sterile bracts; rachis pinkish, 1–5-flowered, sparsely pubescent; floral bracts purplish red, broadly lanceolate, 5–7 mm long, abaxially sparsely pubescent, margin ciliate, apex acuminate. Flowers small; sepals whitish green with green stripes on midvein; petals white with green stripes on midvein; mesochile yellow, epichile wihte; pedicellate ovary twisted, slightly curved, cylindric, ovary with pedicel 9–10 mm long, pubescent. Dorsal sepal oblong-ovate, forming a hood with petals, 5–7 mm × 2–3 mm, 1-veined, apex obtuse; lateral sepals falcate, 4–5 mm × 1–2 mm, 1-veined, apex obtuse, connate along inner margin to form a tube. Petals usually appressed to dorsal sepal, lanceolate, 5–6 mm × 1.5–2 mm, apex acuminate; lip T-shaped, ca. 14 mm long; hypochile saccate, containing 2 oblong appendages; mesochile with 2 rows of dentate flanges along exterior margin on each side, flanges composed of 11 or 13 shorter obtuse teeth; epichile divergently 2-lobed, lobules subcircular, 3–4 mm × 3–4 mm, with 1 green spot between lobules. Column 2–3 mm; anther obcordate, 2-locular, ca. 1.5 mm, apex acuminate; pollinia obovoid, attached to triangular viscidium; rostellum twisted at apex, 2-lobed, lobules unequal in size; stigma lobes connate, on ventral side of column below rostellum.

Etymology. The epithet “motuoensis ” refers to the type locality of the new species, Motuo County, Xizang Autonomous Region, China. The Chinese name is given as “ 墨ȐḄĝ兰 ”.

Distribution and habitat. Kuhlhasseltia motuoensis is currently known only from the type locality in Motuo, Xizang, China. It grows in mixed coniferous and broadleaved forests at elevations of 1300 m.

Phenology. Flowering in July to August.

Additional specimens examined (paratypes): China. Xizang Autonomous Region, Motuo County, mixed coniferous and broadleaved forests. E: 95˚16'; N: 29˚14', elev. 1128 m. 1 August 2023, Jianwu Li 7265 ( HITBC0094309 !, PE!) .

Conservation status. Kuhlhasseltia motuoensis grows in mixed coniferous and broadleaf forests in Motuo County. At least one population of about 25 plants was discovered during our fieldwork. The habitat has been significantly damaged due to the development of road construction. We tentatively assessed the risk of extinction of the Kuhlhasseltia motuoensis as Critically Endangered (CR) under criteria B2ab (i, ii, iii, iv, v) according to the IUCN criteria version 15.1 ( IUCN 2022).

Figures

FIGURE 1. Morphological characters of Kuhlhasseltia motuoensis sp. nov. A-C: top, lateral and ventral view of flower; D: flowering plant (Photographed by Chao Ye).

FIGURE 2. Morphological characters of Kuhlhasseltia motuoensis sp. nov. A: flower dissected (a: dorsal sepal, b: upper part of lateral sepals, c: petals, d: lip, lateral sepals connate below middle to form a tube, e: epichile, f: mesochile); B: column and ovary; C: lateral sepals; D: pollinia and viscidium (Photographed by Chao Ye).