Scaphochlamys penyamar Ooi, K. Meekiong & S.Y. Wong, 2017

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 : 241-243

5. Scaphochlamys penyamar Ooi, K. Meekiong & S.Y. Wong , sp. nov. Type:—MALAYSIAN BORNEO. Sarawak:

Sarikei Division, Pakan, Berasok, 01°54’36.4”N, 111°38’52.3”E, 56 m, 21 April 2014, I.H. Ooi & F. Bakong OIH137

(holo, SAR!), Figure 5

Diagnosis:— Scaphochlamys penyamar is similar to S. salahuddiniana and S. iporii in the laxly arranged inflorescences and small white flower, but readily distinguishable by the creeping habit and variegated leaf laminae.

Terrestrial, perennial, rhizomatous herbs, to c. 16 cm tall. Rhizome creeping above ground with stilt roots, c. 4 mm in diameter, externally light greenish brown, internally brownish white. Elements 3–5 cm apart, 1-foliate, juvenile not seen; petiole 4.5–6.5 cm long, canaliculate, medium green with scattered white dots, glabrous, base pulvinate, light green; leafless sheath c. 3, 0.8–5 cm long, light brown, glabrous, drying and shredding with age; leaf sheath c. 0.4 cm long, membranous, light green, glabrous, drying and shredding with age; ligule obscure; lamina 9–12 × 6.5–8 cm, ovate, chartaceous, margin slightly undulate, base attenuate, apex acute; adaxial surface matte, medium green, glabrous, variegated with two refractive grey broad longitudinal bands on each side of midrib, midrib sunken, medium green, glabrous, main lateral veins slightly visible; abaxial surface light green, sparsely pubescent, midrib raised, medium green, glabrous, main lateral veins inconspicuous. Inflorescence 3–4 cm long, emerging from near leaf base inside leaf sheaths, laxly arranged, comprised of c. 5, 2-flowered cincinni borne on a peduncle; peduncle c. 2 cm long, whitish green, glabrous, covered with marcescent leafless sheaths; bract c. 5, c. 4 × 2.5 mm, spirally arranged, ovate, brown, glabrous, apex acute, each bract subtending c. 2 flowers; bracteole c. 2, 7–9 mm long, longer than bracts but barely distinguishable from bract, brown; flower c. 2.5 cm long, floral odour reminiscent of torch-ginger ( Etlingera elatior ) tissues; calyx c. 10 mm long, light brown, sparsely pubescent, apex bidentate; floral tube 14–15 mm long, white to brownish white, sparsely pubescent; corolla lobes 8–10 mm long, lanceolate, white to slightly brownish white, glabrous, apex acute, hooded; staminodes 4–5 mm long, linear to slightly oblanceolate, adaxial surface covered with glandular hairs, light yellow, apex rounded; labellum 8–11 × 9–10 mm, spathulate, adaxial surface covered with glandular hairs, white with a light yellow median band, apex 2-lobed, slightly fan-shaped, indented c. 4 mm, lobes sometimes slightly overlapping; stamen c. 4 × 1.5 mm, covered with glandular hairs, white; filament c. 0.5 mm long; anther thecae c. 3 mm long, spurless, crest c. 0.5 mm long; stigma less than 1 mm long, club-shaped with 2 dorsal knobs, ostiole ciliate, forward facing; style c. 24 mm long, white, glabrous; ovary c. 2 mm long, 1-locular, light green, densely pubescent, placentation basal; epigynous glands 2, c. 1 mm long, free, needle-like, brownish white. Fruit and seeds not seen.

Etymology:—The specific epithet penyamar is a Malay word for masquerade, coined to reflect the overall similarity with Scaphochlamys salahuddiniana and S. iporii .

Distribution & ecology: — Scaphochlamys penyamar is known only from the type locality occurring along streams in shady kerangas (tropical heath) forest on podzolic black soil over sandstone, at an elevation of c. 55 m.

Conservation status:—Endangered, EN B2ab(iii). The type locality is not within a protected area and is furthermore close to a logging site. Based on the criteria in IUCN (2012), the species is listed as Endangered.

Discussion:—The adaxial surface of the lamina is variegated with two refractive grey broad longitudinal bands on each side of midrib. Several members in this group ( S. scintillans and occasionally S. lanjakensis ) also have a similar refractive variegation, but not as striking.

Figures

FIGURE 5. Scaphochlamys penyamar. A. plant in habitat. B. rhizome. C. lamina, abaxial surface. D. flower, side view. E. flower, artificially opened showing ovary, epigynous glands, floral tube, and labellum. F.inflorescence with leafless sheath artificially opened. G. flower, front view. H. stamen, note spurless thecae. I. Calyx and ovary.All from OIH137.