Robiquetia, Gaudichaud-Beaupre, 1829

Kocyan, Alexander & Schuiteman, André, 2013, New combinations in Aeridinae (Orchidaceae), Phytotaxa 161 (1), pp. 61-85 : 68

ROBIQUETIA

Robiquetia Gaudichaud-Beaupré (1829: 426) . Type species: Robiquetia ascendens Gaudich.

Malleola J.J.Sm. & Schltr. in Schlechter (1913: 979). Type species: Not designated (Note: the lectotype proposed by Garay (1972), Malleola sphingoides J.J.Sm. , is not valid as type because this species was not mentioned in the protologue.).

Abdominea Smith (1914d: 52) Type species: Abdominea micrantha J.J.Sm.

Megalotus Garay (1972: 184) Type species: Megalotus bifidus (Lindl.) Garay (basionym: Saccolabium bifidum Lindl. ).

India Rao (1998 , publ. 1999: 701) India arunachalensis A.N.Rao.

Samarorchis Ormerod (2008: 106) Type species: Samarorchis sulitiana Ormerod.

Our analysis indicates that Robiquetia ( Fig. 1G, H ) should be expanded to include Abdominea , Malleola and Megalotus because Robiquetia would otherwise be paraphyletic. Morphologically, these species share a pendent inflorescense with minute to small (up to c. 2 cm diam.), spurred flowers. We also include here India and Samarorchis , even though neither genus has been sampled for DNA analysis and hence uncertainty remains. Given their overall similarities with Robiquetia , we believe that both genera are best placed in this genus.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Selected flower images of the newly combined taxa to illustrate floral diversity among Aeridinae. A, Brachypeza unguiculata; B, Dimorphorchis breviscapa; C, Grosourdya myosurus; D, Phalaenopsis difformis; E, Renanthera caloptera; F, Thrixspermum breviscapum; G, Robiquetia punctata; H, Robiquetia minimiflora; I, Renanthera porphyrodesme; J, Taeniophyllum javanicum; K, Trachoma phillipsii; L, Trichoglottis biglandulosa; M, Trichoglottis ventricularis. Photographs by A. Kocyan (A, B, D, E, G–M), P. O’Byrne (C) and P.T. Ong (F).