Apostasia fogangica Y.Y.Yin, P.S.Zhong & Z.J.Liu, 2016

Yin, Ya-Yi, Zhong, Ping-Sheng, Zhang, Guo-Qiang, Chen, Li-Jun, Zeng, Si-Jin, Li, Ming-He & Liu, Zhong-Jian, 2016, Morphological, genome-size and molecular analyses of Apostasia fogangica (Apostasioideae, Orchidaceae), a new species from China, Phytotaxa 277 (1), pp. 59-67 : 63-66

publication ID	https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.277.1.5
DOI	https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.13652872
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/6905F30D-013F-1020-FF14-FB58FC93FE0C
treatment provided by	Felipe
scientific name	Apostasia fogangica Y.Y.Yin, P.S.Zhong & Z.J.Liu
status	sp. nov.

Treatment

Apostasia fogangica Y.Y.Yin, P.S.Zhong & Z.J.Liu View in CoL , sp. nov. ( Figs. 3 View FIGURE 3 , 4 View FIGURE 4 ) (DZṆffifi)

Type: — CHINA. Guangdong (Ūľ): Fogang (DZ Ṇ), deep soils on the slopes of evergreen broad-leaved forests, 250 m, 16 June 2016, Liu 8640 ( holotype: NOCC).

This new species is similar to A. shenzhenica and A. nipponica , but can be distinguished by its narrow ovate-lanceolate leaves that are 5.0–7.0 × 1.5–1.8 cm, with a 5–6 mm long apicule. The inflorescences are 4–5 cm long, with 12–15 flowers. The largest flowers are 1.2–1.6 cm and have similar sepals and petals, each with a 2 mm long apicule. The flowers also have the inner margins of two anthers connivent to form a Solanum -like anther, one stigma with a cavity and three-ridged fruits.

Terrestrial herbs, sometimes shrub-like, 10–19 cm tall. Rhizomes bearing many rootlets, tubers scattered along the roots, 3–4 mm in diameter, globular. Stems erect, lignified, uniparously branched, 15–19 cm long, 3–5 mm thick, multinodal, with a cylindrical sheath at a length of 8–10 mm, upper part of the sheath with 10–14 or more leaves. Leaves narrowly ovate-lanceolate, approximately 5.0–7.0 × 1.5–1.8 cm, with a filiform-apex, 5–6 mm long, the base contracted into a 8–10 mm long petiole, the base dilated and clasping the stem. Panicle arising from stem or branch apex, obliquely pointing downwards, 4–5 cm long, 12–15-flowered; bracts broadly ovate, 4–5 mm long; pedicel and ovary 1.4–1.6 cm long; flowers yellow, fully opening, 1.2–1.6 cm in diameter; sepals 3, similar to each other, narrowly oblong, 9–11 × 2–3 mm, central portion with a keeled protrusion that elongates at the apex into a 2 mm apicule; petals 3, similar to the sepals but slightly wider; stamens 3, basal part of filament fused with style to a form a cylindrical column, 2–3 mm long; a subquadrate nectary, 2 × 2 mm, upper portion of column slightly longitudinally sulcate; fertile stamens 2, each with a 1 mm free filament; anthers narrowly elliptic, 5.0–6.0 × 2.5–3.0 mm, the two apices equal, clasping the style and staminode below, the inner margins of the two anthers fused to form a Solanum -like anther (buzz pollination), each two-locular with powdery pollen; staminode opposite the dorsal sepal, fused with and shorter than the style, apex fully separated from upper part of the style; style 2.4–2.8 mm long, slightly shorter than anthers, stigma 1 with a cavity. Berry-like fruits long, cylindrical, green, three-ridged, 1.4–1.6 cm long, 2.0– 2.5 mm in diameter. Fl. May–June, fr. June–February.

Distribution and habitat:— Apostasia fogangica is terrestrial and grows in loose, rocky soil in broad-leaved forests at an elevation of approximately 250 m in Fogang, Guangdong Province, China.

Conservation status:— Thus far, only one population consisting of not more than 300 individuals has been found. Using the World Conservation Union Red List Categories and Criteria ( IUCN, 2012), A. fogangica should be considered critically endangered.

Etymology:— The species epithet refers to type locality.

Discussion:— Apostasia fogangica is distinct among species in the genus because it has narrow ovate-lanceolate leaves with a long, needle-like apicule. This species is otherwise morphologically similar to A. shenzhenica and A. nipponica , but they differ in habit, leaf, flower and genome size.