Pleione jinhuana Z.J.Liu, M.T.Jiang & S.R.Lan, 2018

Jiang, Ming-Tao, Wu, Sha-Sha, Liu, Zhong-Jian & Lan, Si-Ren, 2018, Pleione jinhuana (Arethuseae; Epidendroideae; Orchidaceae), a new species from China based on morphological and DNA evidence, Phytotaxa 345 (1), pp. 43-50 : 48-49

Pleione jinhuana Z.J.Liu, M.T.Jiang & S.R.Lan , sp. nov. (ḮĻÊĬĔ, Figs. 3 , 4 )

Type:— CHINA. Zhejiang (Ṁã): Jinhua (ḮĻ), on the slopes of evergreen broad-leaved forests, 1100 m, 24 April 2013, Liu 7084 (holotype NOCC!; isotype NOCC!) .

This new species is similar to P. bulbocodioides and P. formosana but differs from them by having a lip with an erose apical margin and lateral lobes of the lip not enfolding the column. In addition, it can be distinguished from P. bulbocodioides by having two calluses and from P. formosana by having conical pseudobulbs and narrower sepals and petals.

Lithophytic herbs with dark green, ovoid pseudobulbs, 2.3–2.8 × 1.4–1.7 cm, each bearing a single leaf. Leaf developing at anthesis, elliptic-lanceolate, base attenuate into a petiole-like stalk 1.0–4.0 cm, apex acute. Inflorescence erect; peduncle ca. 6.0 cm, with 2 sheaths at base; flowers pale purple, with purple marks on the middle and apical regions of lip; ovary ca. 1.0 cm. Floral bracts narrowly elliptic, ca. 2.0 × 0.5 cm, exceeding ovary, apex acute. Dorsal sepal spatulate-oblanceolate, 4.1–4.5 × 0.5–0.6 cm, apex acute; lateral sepals narrowly elliptic-oblanceolate, slightly oblique, 4.0–4.5 × 0.7–0.9 cm, apex subacute. Petals linear-oblanceolate, 4.0–4.8 × 0.4–0.5 mm, apex subacute; lip broadly elliptic when flattened, 4.0–5.1 × 2.5–3.3 cm, apical margin erose, lateral lobes not enfolding the column, callus consisting of 2 interrupted lamellae with yellowish, erose margins and purple marks on the middle and apical regions of lip. Column ca. 3.3 cm, apex obscurely toothed.

Phenology:— Flowering April to May.

Distribution and Habitat: — Pleione jinhuana is lithophytic on the slopes of evergreen broad-leaved forests at 1100 m in Jinhua, Zhejiang Province, China.

Etymology: —The specific epithet refers to the locality where this new species was first found.

Figures

FIGURE 3. Pleione jinhuana. A. Plant with flower. B. Flower, front view. C. Sepal and petal. D. Lip. E. Pollinia. Drawn by P. W. Zhang from Liu 7084 (the holotype).

FIGURE 4. Pleione jinhuana. A. Plant with flower. B. Flower, front view. C. Flower, side view. D. Flower, back view. E. Anther cap. F. Pollinia.