Cymbidium motuoense W.Hu, Q.Zhang & Z.J.Liu, 2021

Hu, Wenqi, Zhang, Qinghai, Chen, Guizhen, Zhu, Mengjia, Yu, Xia, Zhang, Diyang & Liu, Zhongjian, 2021, Cymbidium motuoense (Orchidaceae; Epidendroideae), a new species from China: evidence from morphological and molecular data, Phytotaxa 509 (1), pp. 106-112 : 110-111

Cymbidium motuoense W.Hu, Q.Zhang & Z.J.Liu , spec. nov. (DZDzẍ*兰) ( Figs 2 , 3 )

Type:— CHINA. Xizang (Ʊ̊): Motuo (ḆÊ), 2760 m, tree trunks and branches in forests and rocks by streamside, 14 Nov 2020, Hu001 (holotype: FAFU!) .

The new species similar to C. tracyanum L.Castle but differs in having yellow-green flowers with dark purple-red spots on veins, oblongelliptic sepals, lip side lobes with reddish-brown hairs along the veins and disc composed of three purple-red lamellae with long, purple-red hairs.

Epiphytic and lithophytic herbs. Pseudobulbs ellipsoid-ovoid or oblong-ovoid, 5–11 × 2–5 cm, mostly enclosed in persistent leaf bases. Leaves 4–7, lorate, 52.0–73.0 × 2.2–2.8 cm, apex acute, articulated 6–10 cm from the base. Scape arising from within the sheaths at the base of the pseudobulb, arching or suberect, 60–82 cm long; inflorescence with 7–9 flowers; floral bracts ovate-triangular, 3–5 mm long; pedicel and ovary 4–6 cm long; flowers 10–12 cm across, fragrant; sepals and petals yellowish green to olive-green, with many dark red-brown spots on veins; lip pale yellow with dark red-brown veins on the side lobes and vertical lines and scattered spots of the same colour on the midlobe; dorsal sepal oblong-elliptic, 5.2–5.4 × 1.8–2.2 cm, apex acute; lateral sepals oblique and twisted, 5.2–5.4 × 1.8–2.2 cm; petals falcate, 5.5–5.8 × 1.1–1.2 cm; lip ovate-elliptic in outline, 4.5–5.0 cm long, trilobed, base fused to the basal margins of the column for 4–5mm; side lobes erect, long-ciliate, with reddish brown hairs along the veins; midlobe elliptic, recurved, adaxially scatteredly hairy and with long suberect hairs 5–6 mm long on the lamellae; disc with three lamellae with long, purple-red hairs; column 3.5–4.0 cm long, arcuate, margins winged, ventrally minutely papillose below the middle; pollinia 2, deltoid, cleft, 3–4 mm long. Capsule ellipsoid, 7–8 cm long, 3–4 cm in diameter.

Etymology:—Referring to the area where the species was found.

Phenology:— Flowering September–April.

Distribution:— Southeastern Xizang, China.

Habitat:— Tree trunks and branches in forests and rocks by streamside at 2760 m.

Figures

FIGURE 2. Cymbidium motuoense. A. Flowering plant. B. Inflorescence. C. Lip and column, front view. D. Flower, front view. E. Pseudobulb and base of leaves. F. Sepals and petals, front view. G. Flower of C. tracyanum. H. Flower of C. iridioides.

FIGURE 3. Cymbidium motuoense. A. Flowering plant. B. Flower, front view. C. Sepals, petals and lip. D. Column, front view. E. Pollinarium, front view and back view.