Phalaenopsis putaoensis X.H.Jin & H.A.Mung, 2021

Aung, Mung Htoi & Jin, Xiaohua, 2021, Phalaenopsis putaoensis (Orchidaceae: Epidendroideae, Vandeae), a new species from Kachin State, Myanmar, Phytotaxa 484 (2), pp. 244-246 : 244-245

Phalaenopsis putaoensis X.H.Jin & H.A.Mung , sp. nov., Figure 1 .

Phalaenopsis putaoensis is similar to Phalaenopsis honghenensis F.Y. Liu and P. wilsonii Rolfe , but differs from them by having parallel lateral lobes adorned with antennae–like appendages and rhombic middle lobe adorned with two wartlike calli on disk.

Type:— MYANMAR. Kachin State: Putao Township, lowland tropical evergreen broad–leaved, 500 m, epiphytic on tree trunks, 7 June 2016, Xiaohua Jin et al., PT–2020 (Holotype, PE!)

Plants epiphytic on trunks, 15–25 cm tall. Roots elongate, depressed. Stem very short, purple, straight, ridged, usually enclosed in persistent 2 sheaths at base. Leaf not seen. Inflorescence 6–13 cm long, sparsely 7–14-flowered. Rachis 8–12 cm long; floral bracts purple, attached to pedicel, persistent, 2–3 mm long, ovate–attenuate, concave, 3–4 mm long, short, concave, ovate–attenuate, apex acute. Flowers fully opening; sepals and petals primrose (strong pale yellow), pedicel and ovary ca. 1.8–2 cm long, almost glabrous. Dorsal sepal oblanceolate, obtuse, concave, ca. 6.5 × 7.0 mm, 4–5 longitudinal veined, purple blotch near the base, margins entire, surface glabrous; lateral sepals slightly concave, ovate, ca. 5.0 × 2.5–6.0 mm, 5–6 longitudinal veined, purple blotch or stripe at base, margins entire, acute. Petals oblong, acute, ca. 6.5–7.0 × 4.5–5.0 mm, 4–5 longitudinal veined; lip three lobed; lateral lobes erect, subparallel, falcate, apex attenuate with purple blot in middle, 4 × 2 mm, adorned with antennae–like appendages and purple blotches at base; middle lobe rhombic, 5 × 8 mm, margin entire, disk with two wartlike white ridges ranging from base to apex, apex obtuse and somewhat recurved. Column ca. 4 mm long, foot ca. 2 mm long, pillose along the margin of the base; rostellum ovate–triagular, large, unlobed, extending outward; anther cap subglobose, apex slightly mucronulate. Pollinia 2, stipe spatulate and attached to the viscidium.

Distribution and habitat:— Phalaenopsis putaoensis is epiphytic on trunks under the tropical forest up to 500 m in elevation. Phalaenopsis putaoensis is only known from the type locality.

Relationships:— Phalaenopsis putaoensis is a distinct species and rather isolated in Phalaenopsis . During our fieldwork, we had not found the leaf. Therefore, it was tentatively placed in sect. Aphyllae. Morphologically, it is close to sect. Parishianae.

Phenology:— Flowering from June to July.

Etymology:— The new species is named after Putao, the northernmost town of Myanmar, where P. putaotensis was discovered in a strongly disturbed forest.

Conservation Status:—Critically Endangered (CR). Phalaenopsis putaoensis was discovered in Putao Township, Kachin State, Northern Myanmar. Until now, only one population, consisting of approximately five plants, has been discovered in a small area of strongly disturbed forest. On the basis of the extent of occurrence to be less than 200 km 2 and the area of occupancy less than 10 km 2, this new species is here preliminarily considered as a status of Critically Endangered (CR) according to IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria ( IUCN 2012, IUCN Standards and Petitions Subcommittee 2019).

Figures

FIGURE 1. Phalaenopsis putaoensis X.H.Jin & H.A.Mung. A. Habit. B. Lateral view of flower, showing 3-lobed. C. Dissected flower, showing dorsal sepal, lateral sepals, petals, lip, column and long pedicel. D. Front view of flower. Photographed by X.H. Jin.