Liparis meihuashanensis S. M. Fan, 2017

Fan, Shi-Ming, Liu, Jiang-Feng, Zhai, Jun-Wen, Yang, Cheng-Zi & Huang, Ze-Hao, 2017, Liparis meihuashanensis, a new orchid species from Fujian, China: Evidence from morphological and molecular analyses, Phytotaxa 323 (2), pp. 182-188 : 184-186

Liparis meihuashanensis S. M. Fan , sp. nov. (ȐAEƜ‡Hffi, Figs. 2 , 3 )

Type:— China. Fujian (DZü): National Nature Reserve of the Meihuashan of Fujian, on mossy rock, alt. 1770 m, 2 May 2016, S. M. Fan 2016015 (holotype: Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine ; isotype: NOCC) .

The new species is similar to L. auriculata Blume ex Miquel (1886: 203) and L. pauliana Handel-Mazzetti (1921: 65) , but it can be distinguished from them by the shorter inflorescence (4.0– 5.5 cm), triangular floral bracts, a lip with a truncate-emarginate and mucronate apex and 2 small subconical calli on contracted base.

Terrestrial or lithophytic herb. Plant 5.5–8.5 cm tall. Pseudobulbs clustered, ovoid, ca. 1.2 cm long, ca. 0.8 cm in diameter, ±enclosed by a few white membranous sheaths. Leaves 2; petiole sheathlike, 5–12 mm long, not articulate; blade ovate-elliptic, 2.0–3.5 × 1.0–2.0 cm, base contracted and decurrent into petiole, margin entire, apex acute. Inflorescence 4.0– 5.5 cm; rachis with 3–5-flowered; bracts triangular, ca. 2 mm long. Flowers green or purple; pedicel and ovary 5.5–7.0 mm long. Dorsal sepal broadly linear, ca. 9.0 × ca. 2.0 mm, apex obtuse; lateral sepals suboblong, ca. 8.0 × ca. 2.5 mm, slightly oblique; petals nearly filiform, ca. 8.0 × ca. 0.5 mm; lip broadly obovate, 7–8 × 7–8 mm, with 2 small subconical calli on contracted base, margin entire, apex subtruncate and mucronate. Column weakly curved, ca. 5.5 mm long, base dilated, apex with small subquadrate wings. Pollinia four in two pairs, yellow. Capsule ellipsoid-globose.

Phenology: —Flowering in May.

Distribution and habitat: — Liparis meihuashanensis is only known from the National Nature Reserve of Meihuashan in Fujian, China ( Fig. 3 ). The plants grow on the mossy rock on the edge of evergreen forest. Pleione formosana was found growing together with this new species.

Etymology: —The specific name refers to the Natural Reserve of Meihuashan where the new species was found.

Conservation status: — Liparis meihuashanensis is known only from one site, with one population of ca. 20 individuals was discovered during author’s botanical trip there. Probably more populations may be found by further botanical trips there. Therefore, it seems premature to conduct a full conservation assessment right now. We try to regard this species as Data Deficient (DD: IUCN 2012).

Notes: — Liparis meihuashanensis is closely related to L. auriculata , but it can be distinguished by having smaller (2–3.5 × 1–2 vs. 4–10 × 3–8 cm) ovate-elliptic leaves, a shorter inflorescence (4.0–5.5 vs. 20–30 cm), triangular (vs. lanceolate) flroal bracts, longer (ca. 9 vs. 6–7 mm) dorsal sepal with obtuse (vs. acute) apex, a bigger (7–8 × 7–8 vs. 5.5–6.0 × ca. 5 mm) lip with a truncate-emarginate and mucronate (vs. rounded or sometimes apiculate) apex and 2 small subconical (vs. subtriangular) calli on contracted base. The new species is also closely related to L. pauliana , but it can be distinguished by having a shorter inflorescence (4.0–5.5 vs. 7–28 cm), triangular (vs. ovate or ovate-lanceolate) floral bracts, a shorter pedicel and ovary (5.5–7.0 vs. 10–18 mm), a shorter (ca. 9.0 vs. 11.5–18.0 mm) dorsal sepal with an obtuse (vs. subacute) apex, shorter (ca. 8.0 vs. 11.5–18 mm) lateral sepals with an obtuse (vs. subacute) apex, a smaller (7–8 × 7–8 vs. 13–20 × 8–12 mm) lip with a truncate-emarginate and mucronate apex (vs. obuse or sometimes mucronate) and 2 subconical calli (vs. 2 short longitudinal lamellae, sometimes lamellae inconspicuous) on contracted base, longer column (ca. 5.5 vs. 3.5–4.5 mm) ( Table 2).

Figures

FIGURE 2. Liparis meihuashanensis S. M. Fan. A. Flowering plant. B. Flower, side view. C. Dorsal sepal, petal, lateral sepal, and lip. D. Column and anther cap. E. Pollinarium. F. Fruit.

FIGURE 3. Liparis meihuashanensis S. M. Fan.A. Flowering plant (green flower).B. Pseudobulbs.C. Flower (purple flower), front view. D. Lip (green flower). E. Column.F. Anther cap and pollinarium. G. Fruit.