Calanthe taibaishanensis M. Guo, J.W. Zhai & L.J. Chen, 2017

Guo, Ming, Zhai, Jun-Wen, Wu, Xin-Yi, Li, Shuang-Xi, Wang, Meng, Li, Zhi-Jun & Chen, Li-Jun, 2017, Calanthe taibaishanensis, A New Orchid Species from China: Evidence from Morphological and Molecular Analyses, Phytotaxa 327 (2), pp. 184-190 : 189

1. Calanthe taibaishanensis M. Guo, J.W. Zhai & L.J. Chen , sp. nov. ( Figs. 2 , 3 ) (*ŮƜḄÿ±)

This species is similar to C. arcuata Rolfe ; they both have narrowly elliptic-lanceolate or narrowly lanceolate leaves and 3-lobed labellum with obviously 3–5 ridges, but the former one can be distinguished by yellowish to white flower inside, much smaller lateral lobes (1mm vs. 7mm long) of its lip.

Type: — CHINA. Shaanxi (Ŕffl): Taibaishan Mountain(* ŮƜ), 1775 m, terrestrial under forest. 15 June 2017, Liu 10464 (holotype NOCC!).

Terrestrial herb. Plant 19.0–24.0 cm tall. Pseudobulbs ovate or conical, small, with diam. 0.4–0.9cm. Leaves 5–6, 5.0– 16.0 cm long, narrowly elliptic-lanceolate or narrowly lanceolate, apex acuminate. Scape arising from leaf axil, erect, about 22.0 cm, pubescent; raceme 8–10.0 cm long, laxly ca. 5–7-flowered; flower bracts oblong-lanceolate, green, 0.8–1.0 cm long. Flowers 2.0–3.0 cm in diameter, yellowish to white; pedicel and ovary 1.2–1.5 cm, glabrous. Sepals subequal, ovate to oblong-ovate, 1.2–1.4 × 0.5–0.6 cm; dorsal sepal concave, a little cymbiform; petals subspatulate, 0.4–0.5 cm wide; lip slightly 3-lobed; mid-lobe ovate to rhombic, apex acuminate; disk with obviously 3–5 ridges, coliform at apex; lateral lobes small, horn-like, ca. 1mm long; spur clavate, white, 0.8–1.2 cm, glabrous. Column white, 0.3–0.4 cm long; pollinia 8, in 2 groups. Fl. July.

Ecology and related species: — Calanthe taibaishanensis is an endemic species, known only distributed in Taibai Mountain, Shaanxi Province.

It grows in ravine under mixed forest, with the associated species of Carya cathayensis , Abelia biflora , Oreorchis fargesii etc., and also with the elevation about 1775 m. This species is similar to C. arcuata ; they both have narrowly elliptic-lanceolate or narrowly lanceolate leaves and 3-lobed labellum with obviously 3–5 ridges, but the former can be distinguished by purple to pink flower inside, smaller lateral lobes (ca. 1mm long) of its lip.

Etymology: —The specific epithet of Calanthe taibaishanensis refers to its discovery in Taibaishan Mountain, Shaanxi province.

Figures

FIGURE 2 Illustration of Calanthe taibaishanensis M. Guo, J.W. Zhai & L.J. Chen: A. Flowering Plant; B. Front view of the flower; C. Lateral view of the flower; D. Dorsal sepal, lateral sepal and petal; E. Labellum.

FIGURE 3 Calanthe taibaishanensis M. Guo, J.W. Zhai & L.J. Chen: A. Habitat; B. Plant; C. Inflorescence; D. Flower, front view; E. Flower, side view.