Cheirostylis wenshanensis J. B. Chen, L. J. Chen & W. H. Rao, 2019

Chen, Gui-Zhen, Chen, Li-Jun, Rao, Wen-Hui, Zheng, Fang, Liu, Wei-Rong, Zhang, Pei-Wen & Chen, Jian-Bing, 2019, Cheirostylis wenshanensis, a new species of Orchidaceae from Yunan, China, Phytotaxa 404 (2), pp. 74-78 : 74-76

Cheirostylis wenshanensis J. B. Chen, L. J. Chen & W. H. Rao , sp. nov. (ẊƜẌȱ) ( Figs. 1 , 2 )

Type:— CHINA. Yunnan (ȓffi): wenshan ( ẊƜ), 2000 m, in forest. 27 September 2018, Z. J. Liu 11312 (holotype, NOCC!).

Taxonomic notes:— This specie is similar to C. pingbianensis ( Table 1), but differ in having leaf-like flora bract at bottom, to 2.3 cm long; Inflorescence raceme with 5 flowers; The rest part of lateral sepal 2.8–3 mm; front of lip 5–6 × 5–6 mm, both with 1 pale green spot at base of lip lobes, without denticulate between lobes.

Terrestrial herbs. Plants 6–7 cm tall. Rhizome flesh, lotus root-like, with nodes. Stem suberect, cylindrical, fleshy, brown, glabrous, with 5–6 leaves; leaves ovate, pale green, 2.1–2.8 × 1.3–1.9 cm, apex acute, base expanding into amplexicaul sheath, with 5–8 cm petiole. Inflorescence raceme with 5 flowers; flora bracts pale green, ovate-elliptic, 0.8–1.2 cm, the bottom one leaf-like, to 2.3 cm, apex acute; Pedicel and ovary 1–1.3 cm; flowers white, both with 1 pale green spot at base of lip lobes; sepal 1–1.2 cm, glabrous, 2/3 long of sepal adnate to tubular at base, the rest part free. The free part of dorsal sepal 3.5–4 mm, apex obtuse. The free part of lateral sepal 2.8–3 mm, apex slightly obtuse; petals long spatulate, 1–1.1 × 2.3–2.6 mm, apex obtuse, base gradually contracted, appressed to dorsal sepal; lip Tshaped, 1.2–1.4 cm, base slightly concave forming a sacculate, 2.4–2.6 mm, both sides of inner with 5–6 long papillate, with claw 4–4.5 × 2.3–2.5 mm at middle, expanding at front 5–6 × 5–6 mm, 2 lobes, with 6–7 lacerate-fimbriate edge of lobes; column 2–2.3 mm, with 2 brachial appendage at front of the top, appendage 3–3.2 mm, extending forward. Pollinia broadly ovate, 1.6 mm long; rostellum ovate, 3.3–3.5 mm long, deeply 2-lobed, 3 mm long, bifurcate; stigma 2, at lateral side of base of rostellum..

Etymology:— Named for the area in Yunnan Province where the species was found, derived from the Chinese wenshan.

Phenology:— Flowering September–October.

Distribution:— Yunnan Province, China.

Habitat:— On rocks at forest window in forest.

Conservation status:— We found several populations around 2000 m. It is at this time an endemic species, known only distributed from Yunnan Province, China.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Cheirostylis wenshanensis.A. Flowering plant. B. Flower, front view. C. Flower, side view. D. Lateral sepal and Dorsal sepal. E. Petal. F. Lip. G. Pollinarium.

FIGURE 2. Cheirostylis wenshanensis.A. Flowering plant. B. Plant. C. Inflorescence. D. Flower, front view. E. Flower, side view.