Coelogyne magnifica Y.H. Tan, S.S. Zhou & B. Yang, 2017

Yang, Bin, Zhou, Shi-Shun, Liu, Qiang, Maung, Kyaw Win, Li, Ren, Quan, Rui-Chang & Tan, Yun-Hong, 2017, Coelogyne magnifica (Orchidaceae), a new species from northern Myanmar, PhytoKeys 88, pp. 109-117 : 111-113

Coelogyne magnifica Y.H. Tan, S.S. Zhou & B. Yang sp. nov. Figures 1 , 2

Diagnosis.

Coelogyne magnifica is similar to C. corymbosa and C. taronensis , but can be distinguished from these two species by its larger flowers (tepals 4.0-4.9 cm long), broadly lanceolate sepals and petals, narrowly ovate lip, which has two bright yellow patches surrounded by shiny brownish red and two fimbriate or erose-lacerate keels on the lip.

Type.

MYANMAR. Kachin State: Putao, Hponkan Razi Wildlife Sanctuary, 96°58'56.45"E, 27°36'32.42"N, alt. 2450 m, 11 May 2017, Myanmar Exped. 2046 (holotype, HITBC).

Description.

Epiphytic or lithophytic herb, 11-15 cm tall. Rhizome stout, 3-4 mm in diameter, covered by brown, scaly sheaths. Pseudobulbs clustered, developing serially, less than 1 cm apart from each other, ovoid or oblong-ovoid, strongly wrinkled when dried, 3-3.5 × 1.1-1.7 cm, covered with brown sheaths at the base, sheaths narrow triangular ovate, 1.5-4.5 × 0.7-1.5 cm long; bifoliate at apex. Leaf blade obovate-oblong or narrowly ovate, coriaceous, 8-11.2 × 1.8-2.6 cm, with 6-7 veins, acute; petiole grooved, 0.4-0.8 cm long. Inflorescence proteranthous to synanthous, peduncle arching, 5-6 cm long, embraced by sheaths below middle, rachis 1.5-2 cm long; raceme 2- to 3-flowered (simultaneously opening); floral bracts oblong-lanceolate, 1.9-2.1 × 0.4-0.5 cm, acute, caducous. Flowers fleshy, white, lip adaxially on mid-lobe with two bright yellow patches surrounded by shiny brownish red and connected to front part of each of the side lobes, keels consisting of two parallel crests with white fimbriate prominence. Pedicel and ovary ca. 1.8-2.5 cm long, glabrous. Dorsal sepal lanceolate, 4.0-6.0 × 1.0-1.3 cm, with 7-9 veins, acute or shortly acuminate; lateral sepals similar to dorsal sepal, somewhat narrower than dorsal sepal, 5.0-5.5 × 0.9-1.5 cm, with 5-7 veins, acute or shortly acuminate; petals lanceolate, 4.0-5.3 × 0.6-1.0 cm, acute or shortly acuminate; lip narrowly ovate when flattened, 3.8-4.9 × 1.7-2.2 cm, 3-lobed; lateral lobes erect, sub-orbicular, 2.0-2.5 × 0.7-1.0 cm, fimbriate or erose-lacerate on margin, adaxially with reddish brown longitudinal stripe; median lobe ovate-triangular or triangular-lanceolate, 1.8-2.5 × 1.0-1.2 cm, acute to apiculate, margin fimbriate or erose-lacerate; two low lateral keels, extending from lip base to base of median lobe, margin fimbriate or erose-lacerate; column arcuate, 2.0-2.5 × 0.4-0.6 cm long, yellow at front below apex, both sides winged, wings gradually broadening from the middle to the apex, apex margin white, irregularly toothed; anther cap elliptic triangular, adaxially light pale yellow-green, abaxially white, margin membranous at base, apex obtuse; pollinia two; rostellum ligulate-triangular.

Phenology.

Flowering from April to May and fruiting from June to July.

Etymology.

The species epithet refers to its large attractive flowers.

Distribution and habitat.

Coelogyne magnifica is currently known only from the type locality of Putao, Kachin State, northern Myanmar. It is a predominantly epi phytic species that grows on moss-covered branches and tree trunks and sometimes also on rocks, in humid montane forests, at an elevation 2400-2500 m a.s.l.

Conservation status.

The type locality of this new species is within the Hponkanrazi Wildlife Sanctuary, which is an officially protected area under the management of the Myanmar Forest Department. During field investigations in 2016 and 2017, three populations were found in the reserve area, each of which consisted of ca. 100 individuals. As found, inhabitants are well protected and almost undamaged and flowering individuals are not vulnerable to human interference or picking. Based on current information and according to IUCN Red List category ( IUCN 2012), Coelogyne magnifica is assigned a preliminary status of Least Concern (LC).

Additional specimens examined (paratypes).

Myanmar. Kachin State: Putao, Hponkanrazi Wildlife Sanctuary, 97°53'10.48"E, 27°41'17.60"N, alt. 2400 m, 4 May 2016, Myanmar Exped. 0100 (HITBC). Ibid., alt. 2450 m, 7 May 2016, Myanmar Exped. 0188 (HITBC).

Key to the species of Coelogyne sect. Ocellatae , adapted from Li and Dao (2014)

Figures

Figure 1. Coelogyne magnifica Y. H. Tan, S. S. Zhou & B. Yang sp. nov. A Habit B Flower (front view) C Flower (side view) D Dorsal sepal E Lateral sepal F Petal G Lip H Column (frontal view) I Column (lateral view). Illustration by Yunxi Zhu.

Figure 2. Coelogyne magnifica Y. H. Tan, S. S. Zhou & B. Yang sp. nov. A-D Habit E Anther cap (abaxial view) F Anther cap (adaxial view) G Tepals H Column (adaxial view) I Column (abaxial view) J Column (lateral view) K Lip (adaxial view, showing the two lateral keels and two patches) L Lip (abaxial view) M Pollinia. Photographed by Y. H. Tan, Q. Liu & X. L. Zeng.