Platanthera linzhiensis X.H. Jin, J.W. Li & D.L. Lin

Lin, Dongliang, Zhang, Liyue, Ye, Chao, Li, Jianwu & Jin, Xiaohua, 2024, Two new species of Platanthera (Orchidaceae, Orchidoideae) from Xizang, China, Phytotaxa 646 (2), pp. 203-212 : 204-206

Platanthera linzhiensis X.H. Jin, J.W. Li & D.L. Lin , sp. nov.

Type: — CHINA. Xizang Autonomous Region, Linzhi City, Motuo County, alpine conifer forests of Abies , elev. 3600 m, 9 August 2023, Xiaohua Jin, Jianwu Li, Dongliang Lin, Chao Ye & Haixia Wen 41207 (holotype PE!) .

Diagnosis: — Platanthera linzhiensis is similar to P. uniformis , but differs from it by having a yellowish green lip, yellow spur nearly as long as ovary, connective obtuse- truncate and not protruding from anther, column lateral appendages ovate to oblong and slightly shorter than anther.

Description: —Terrestrial herb, plants 10 cm tall. Rootstocks cylindric, short and stout, ca. 3 mm in diameter. Stem erect, terete, with 2 tubular membranous sheaths at the base. Leaf 1, basal at stem suborbicular, ca. 1.7 × 1.4 cm, basally contracted into a petiole-like amplexicaul sheath, apex obtuse-rounded, adaxially green, with bottle-green reticulate veins, abaxially pale green, midvein prominent; foliaceous sterile bracts 3, long elliptic, 0.7–1.0 × 0.1–0.3 cm, apex acute. Inflorescence densely 14-flowered, secund; rachis 4 cm long; floral bracts oblong-ovate, longer than ovary, ca. 7 × 2.5 mm, apex acute. Flowers greenish white; ovary twisted, slightly arching, fusiform, short and stout, ca. 5 mm long including pedicel. Dorsal sepal strap-like, ca. 5 × 1 mm, 1-veined, abaxial slightly yellowish-green, apex obtuse; lateral sepals lanceolate, ca. 4 × 1 mm, 1-veined, apex obtuse, abaxial slightly yellowish-green, lateral margins slightly erect. Petals ovate, ca. 5 × 2 mm, slightly green near base, 1-veined, apex obtuse, slightly reflexed; lip yellowish green, lanceolate, ca. 5 × 1.5 mm, decurved, green dilated at base, apex obtuse; spur urn-shaped, yellow, nearly as long as ovary, ca. 4 × 2mm, apex obtuse-rounded, contracted at neck. Column short, ca. 2 mm long; anther erect, 2-locular, obovate, ca. 1mm long, parallel; connective distinct, located at anther apex, apex obtuse-rounded, not protruding from anther; rostellum very small; lateral appendages ovate to oblong; pollinia obovate, ca. 0.8 × 0.4 mm, with short caudicle; viscidia elliptic, ca. 0.8 × 0.2 mm; stigma 1, strongly raised below the rostellum.

Etymology:— The name “ linzhiensis ” refers to the type locality of the new species, Xizang, China.

Distribution and habitat:— The new species is only distributed Motuo County Linzhi City, Xizang Autonomous Region, China, grows under the subtropical alpine conifer forests of Abies .

Phenology:— Flowering from August to September.