Changnienia malipoensis D.H.Peng, Z.J.Liu & J.W.Zhai, 2013

Peng, Dong-Hui, Liu, Zhong-Jian & Zhai, Jun-Wen, 2013, Changnienia malipoensis, a new species from China (Orchidaceae; Epidendroideae; Calypsoeae), Phytotaxa 115 (2), pp. 55-58 : 55-56

Changnienia malipoensis D.H.Peng, Z.J.Liu & J.W.Zhai , sp. nov. ( Fig. 1 )

This new species is similar to Changnienia amoena , from which it differs by its adaxially purple-spotted leaves (versus leaves not purple-spotted); petals obovate-oblong, 1.6–1.7 cm wide (versus narrowly obovate-lanceolate, 1.2–1.4 cm wide); midlobe of its lip nearly reniform or oblong, 1.2–1.7 × 2.3–2.5 cm (versus broadly obovate, 0.8 × 1.2 cm), apex slightly bilobed (versus minutely acute or 1-toothed); labellum with 3 lamellae and small crested basal appendages on disc (versus with 5 lamellae, without appendage); spur cylindrical-funnel-shaped, 1.6–1.8 cm long (versus 2.5–3 cm long), apex 5 mm wide, inflated on both sides (versus narrowly long horn–shaped, apex 1.5 mm wide, not inflated on both sides).

Type:— CHINA. Yunnan: Malipo , in evergreen broad-leaved forest on slope along valley, elevation 350 m, 20 Jan 2011, Liu 5228 ( NOCC!) .

Terrestrial herbs. Pseudobulbs nearly ovoid, 1.6–2.3 × 1.0– 1.8 cm, 2-noded, with a membranous sheath. Leaf 1, broadly elliptic, 7.0–11.0 × 6.5–9.5 cm, acute at apex, base subtruncate, adaxially green with large purple spots, abaxially purple-red; petiole 4.0– 8.5 cm long. Scape 3–4 cm long, with three membranous sheaths, the uppermost broadly ovate, 3.5–4.0 × 2.0– 2.2 cm; floral bract broadly ovate, 3 × 4 mm; pedicel and ovary 8–9 mm long. Flowers fragrant; sepals and petals pale purple-red, lip white purple-spotted and midlobe tinged with pale purple; spur purple-spotted, inside yellow; column white, tinged with pale purple; dorsal sepal oblong-oblanceolate, 3.2–3.5 × 1.1–1.3 cm, obtuse at apex; lateral sepals narrowly elliptic, 3.2–3.5 × 0.9–1.0 cm, obtuse at apex; petals obovate-oblong, 3.0–3.1 × 1.6–1.7 cm, obtuse at apex; lip trilobed; side lobes obliquely ovate-triangular, 1.7–1.9 × 1.3–1.5 cm, erect, slightly obtuse at apex; midlobe nearly reniform or transversely suboblong, 1.2–1.4 × 2.3–2.5 cm, apex slightly bilobed, base with a short claw 3 mm long, upper margins slightly crisped; labellum with 3 lamellae and small crested basal appendages on disc; spur cylindrical-funnel-shaped, 1.6–1.8 × 1.1–1.2 cm, tapering at the tip to 5 mm wide, apex obtuse-rounded, inflated on the both sides; column 1.8 cm long, with wings 5 mm wide on the both sides. Pollinia 4, flattened ovoid, in 2 pairs. Fl. December–January.

Distribution and habitat:— This species is only found in Malipo, Yunnan Province, in evergreen broadleaved forests on the slope of a valley, at an elevation of about 350 m.

Etymology:— The species epithet refers to the locality where this new species was first found.

Notes:— Changnienia malipoensis was used as an unpublished name in Zhai et al. (2013), which was a treatment of a new genus, Danxiaorchis J.W.Zhai, F.W.Xing & Z.J.Liu in Zhai et al. (2013: 4), and its position in Calypsoeae (Epidendroideae) ; C. malipoensis was a close sister to C. amoena (bootstrap percentage 99 and Bayesian posterior probability 100). It is morphological similar to C. amoena , but they differ in the leaves of the new species being purple-spotted adaxially, petals obovate-oblong, 1.6–1.7 cm wide, midlobe nearly reniform or oblong, 1.2–1.7 × 2.3–2.5, apex slightly bilobed labellum with 3 lamellae and small crested basal appendages on disc and spur cylindrical-funnel-shaped, 1.6–1.8 cm long with the apex 5 mm wide, inflated on both sides.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Changnienia malipoensis D.H.Peng, Z.J.Liu & J.W.Zhai. A. Flowering plant. B. Flower, front view. C. Flower, side view.