Neottia linzhiensis X.H. Jin, 2023

Cai, Hong, Lin, Dong-Liang, Ye, Chao, Wang, Han-Chen, Yang, Bo-Yun & Jin, Xiao-Hua, 2023, Neottia linzhiensis (Orchidaceae, Epidendroideae, Neottieae), a new species from Xizang, China, Phytotaxa 629 (2), pp. 155-162 : 156-157

Neottia linzhiensis X.H. Jin , sp. nov. üîṅ叶Ĕ. Figs 2 & 3 .

Type — China. Xizang, Motuo Country , alt, 3640 m, 9 August 2023, Xiaohua Jin et al. 40835 (holotype, PE; isotype, PE).

Diagnosis — Neottia linzhiensis is similar to N. brevicaulis by sharing two opposite leaves nearly prostrate on the ground and a pair of auricles at base of lip. However, N. linzhiensis is distinguished from N. brevicaulis by having lip shallowly bilobed at apex, column not curve, and stigma nearly apical at column.

Description —Terrestrial herb, 15–20 cm tall. Roots and stem slender. Leaves 2, opposite, borne at the base of stem, almost prostrate on ground, broadly ovate, ca. 1.8 cm long, 1.0 cm wide. Scape 15-20 cm long; rachis 3–5 cm long, laxly 6–8 flowered, flowers spirally along rachis. Flowers green, glabrous; floral bracts ovate-lanceolate, ca. 3–4 mm long, 1.2 mm wide, apex acute; ovary and pedicel 5 mm long. Sepals and petals connate forming hood; dorsal sepal ovate-lanceolate, ca. 2.5 mm long, 0.8–1.0 mm wide, 1-veined, apex acute; lateral sepals obliquely ovate-lanceolate, ca. 2 mm long, 0.8–1.0 mm wide; petals slightly oblique, lanceolate, ca. 2.3 mm long, 0.8–1.0 mm wide; lip shallowly bilobed, ca. 3 mm long, ca. 1.7 mm wide at middle, base with a pair of auricles; auricles, ca. 0.5 mm long, 0.8 mm wide, apex obtuse. Column short, ca. 1.2 mm long, 0.8 mm in diam, not curve; pollinia 2; stigma nearly at apex of column.

Distribution and habitat — Neottia linzhiensis is currently found from the Motuo County and Milin County, Xizang, China. The new species grows on alpine grasslands, at an elevation of 3500–3700 m.

Phenology —Flowing from August to September.

Conservation status — Neottia linzhiensis occurs in Motuo County, Xizang. About five populations were discovered during the fieldwork. Up to now, the habitat is rarely affected by human activities. Therefore, Neottia linzhiensis is considered as LC according to the IUCN criteria version 15.1 (IUCN 2022).

Figures

FIGURE 2. Habitat and plants of Neottia linzhiensis X.H. Jin, sp. nov. A front view of Neottia linzhiensis; B roots and stem of Neottia linzhiensis; C habitat and plant of Neottia linzhiensis. (Photographed by Xiaohua Jin).

FIGURE 3. Neottia linzhiensis X.H. Jin, sp. nov. A lateral view of flower; B petal, sepal and lip, dorsal sepal (1), petal (2.6), lateral sepal (3.5), lip (4); C abaxially and adaxially view of column and ovary; D pollinia; E lip; F bract. (Photographed by Chao Ye).