Scaphochlamys reticosa (Ridl.) Smith (1987: 209)

Hin, Ooi Im, Kalu, Meekiong & Yeng, Wong Sin, 2017, A review of Scaphochlamys (Zingiberaceae) from Borneo, with description of eleven new species, Phytotaxa 317 (4), pp. 231-279 : 271

21. Scaphochlamys reticosa (Ridl.) Smith (1987: 209) . ≡ Gastrochilus reticosus Ridley (1905: 195) . ≡ Boesenbergia reticosa (Ridl.) Merrill (1921: 122) . ≡ Borneocola reticosus (Ridl.) Sam (2016: 47) . Type:—Cultivated Singapore Botanic Gardens, originally from Borneo, Sarawak, Kuching (‘1st Division’), Bidi, 22 September 1904, H.N. Ridley s.n. (holo SING!), Figure 21

Terrestrial, perennial, rhizomatous herbs, to 10 cm tall. Rhizome creeping through the soil, slender. Elements c. 2 cm apart, 1-foliate; petiole 6–8 cm long, glabrous; leafless sheath c. 2, 1.5–4 cm, both tightly appressed against petiole, pale green when young, glabrous, apex mucronulate, becoming scarious with age; leaf sheath 2 cm long; ligule 1–2 mm long, thin and membranous, triangular, but not always visible as it rapidly decays with age; lamina 6–10 × 4.5–6 cm, ovate, base slightly cordate to rounded, shortly attenuate, apex acute, tufted, adaxial surface dark green, mid-vein sunken, all other venation raised, giving the surface a distinctly ridged and reticulate texture (tessellate), abaxial surface pale green, glabrous; peduncle c. 2 cm long, pale green. Inflorescence reduced, compact, with 5 imbricating bracts; first bract 1.8 × 0.5 cm, open to base, boat-shaped, glabrous, edges incurving, apex acute, each bract subtending c. 2 flowers; first bracteole 1.5 cm long, 2- keeled, subsequent bracteoles smaller; flowers calyx 14 mm long, covered in long fine hairs, apex bidentate and deeply cleft; floral tube 18 mm long, white; corolla lobes pale translucent yellow, dorsal corolla lobe 7 × 3 mm, apex hooded; lateral corolla lobes 6 mm long, linear, edges slightly incurling, apex rounded; staminodes 5 × 2 mm, short, club-shaped, apex rounded, narrowing towards the base, with glandular hairs, white; labellum 9 × 8 mm, clawed, adaxial surface covered with glandular hairs, pale lilac with pale yellow median band, apex rounded, with cleft 3 mm deep and overlapping; stamen overall white; anther thecae 4 mm long with rounded bases, spurless; crest 1–2 mm long, bidentate; stigma held just above the thecae, cup-shaped, edge shortly ciliate; ovary 14 mm long, covered in long fine hairs. Fruit and seeds unknown.

Distribution and ecology: — Bau, Kuching Division, Sarawak. This species occurs in shaded limestone foot hill on mollisolic black soil of c. 40 m elevation.

Additional specimens examined:— MALAYSIAN BORNEO. Sarawak: Kuching Division , Bau, Bidi, 15 July 1915, H.N. Ridley s.n. (K) ; Bau , Taiton, 01°23’41.8”N, 110°08’12.0”E, 48 m, 11 January 2014, I.H. Ooi & K. Jeland OIH79 (SAR) ; Bau , Gunung Juita, 01°23’48.7”N, 110°08’07.2”E, 35 m, 30 December 2014, P.C. Boyce & K. Jeland ZI-139 (SAR) ; cultivated in Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh , Garden location G65, 28 August 2008, M.F. Newman & J. Škorničková 2045 (E), originally from MALAYSIAN BORNEO. Sarawak: Kuching Division, Bau, Plaman Kaman, 50 m, 24 October 2000, K.G. Pearce SBC47 ; cultivated material: RBGE acc. no. 20040949, 1st Division , 1 October 2005, A.D. Poulsen C2382 (E) .

Conservation status:—The conservation status of this species is Critically Endangered (CR), and meets criteria B.1.a., B.1.b.(iii), B.1.b.(iv), B.1.b.(v), B.2.a., B.2.b.(iii), B.2.b.(iv), B.2.b.(v), C.2.a.(i), and D. The population is yet to be re-found in the type locality owing to conversion to residential, agricultural and several tourism spots. Only a small population of this species was found at the foot of Gunung Juita which is adjacent to a local farm.

Discussion:—The tertiary veins of the leaf lamina form a prominently raised tessellate reticulum.

Figures

FIGURE 21. Scaphochlamys reticosa. A. plant in habitat. B. lamina, adaxial surface, note prominently raised tessellate venation. C. inflorescence. D. flower. E. inflorescence. F. lamina, abaxial surface. A–F from OIH79.