Bulbophyllum yongtaiense, Liu, Jiangfeng, Li, Minghe, Lan, Siren & Liang, Yichi, 2018

Liu, Jiangfeng, Li, Minghe, Lan, Siren & Liang, Yichi, 2018, Bulbophyllum yongtaiense (Orchidaceae, Epidendroideae, Dendrobiinae), a new species from Fujian, China: Evidence from morphological and molecular analyses, Phytotaxa 349 (3), pp. 281-286 : 282-284

Bulbophyllum yongtaiense (ḟ⁂ṫ¨±) J.F. Liu, S.R. Lan & Y.C. Liang, sp. nov. ( Figs. 2 , 3 )

Type:— CHINA, Fujian: Yongtai, Geling Town, epiphytic on stone under evergreen broad forest, altitude 343 m, east slope, 11 August 2017, J. F. Liu 201708 (holotype FAFU!, isotype NOCC!).

Bulbophyllum yongtaiense is similar to B. kuanwuense , but it can be distinguished from longer scape (5.2–6.1 cm vs. 2.0–3.0 cm), fimbriate-ciliate (vs. ciliolate) on margins of dorsal sepals and petals, petals with obtuse (vs. acute) apex and a lip with finely papillose near base.

Epiphytic herb. Rhizome creeping, slender, ca. 1 mm in diam. Pseudobulbs 3.0–7.0 mm apart on rhizome, ovoidconic, 1.0– 1.2 cm long, 0.6–0.9 cm in diam., with a terminal leaf. Leaf sessile, blade ovoid to ovoid-elliptic, 2.0–4.0 × 1.0– 1.3 cm, apex obtuse. Scape arising from base of pseudobulb, 5.2–6.1 cm, umbel 3–5 flowered; peduncle slender, ca. 0.5 mm in diam., lower part with 2 sheath-like scales. Floral bracts triangular, ca. 2.5 mm. Pedicel and ovary ca. 6.0 mm. Flowers with dorsal sepal and petals white with red veins, lateral sepals white with red veins toward base, orange elsewhere, lip orange red with pale yellow toward apex. Dorsal sepals concave, ovate, ca. 5.5 × 3.0 mm, 5-veined, margin fimbriate-ciliate, apex acute to subcaudate; Lateral sepals lanceolate, ca. 1.4 × 0.3 cm, twisted near base, with their upper and lower edges often loosely adhering, apex obtuse. Petals obliquely ovate, ca. 3.0 × 1.8 mm, 3-veined, margins fimbriate-ciliate, apex obtuse. Lip recurved, ovate, ca. 2.5 mm, adaxially deeply grooved and finely papillose near base, base attached to end of column foot by a mobile joint. Column subterete, ca. 1.5 mm, with a distinct foot, ca. 2.0 mm, conspicuously winged; stelidia triangular, slender; anther cap subglobose; polliia 4, in 2 pairs, without appendages.

Phenology: —Flowering in August.

Distribution and habitat: — Bulbophyllum yongtaiense is so far only known within Yongtai, Fujian, China. It is epiphytic on steep rock in subtropical evergreen broad-leaved forest.

Etymology: —The species epithet refers to Yongtai County where this new species was found.

Conservation status: — Bulbophyllum yongtaiense is known only from the type locality, and only one population of ca. 30 individual plants was discovered during our botanical trips. However, it is expected that more populations may be found by further field survey. Therefore, we try to regard this species as Data Deficient (DD: IUCN 2012).

Figures

FIGURE 2. Bulbophyllum yongtaiense. A. Plant. B. Dorsal sepal. C. Petal. D. Lateral sepal, lip, column, side view. E. Lip. F.Anther cap and pollinarium. (Drawn by Bi-Dan Lai).

FIGURE 3. Bulbophyllum yongtaiense. A. Habitat and habit. B. Flowering plant. C. Flower, front view. D. Dorsal sepal. E. Lateral sepal. F. Petal. G. Lip and column, side view. H. Lip, front view. I. Lip, side view. J. Anther cap. K. Pollinarium.