Neottia lihengiae J.D.Ya, H.Jiang & D.Z.Li, 2023

Ya, Ji-Dong, Wang, Wan-Ting, Liu, Yun-Long, Jiang, Hong, Han, Zhou-Dong, Zhang, Ting, Huang, Hua, Cai, Jie & Li, De-Zhu, 2023, Five new and noteworthy species of Epidendroideae (Orchidaceae) from southwestern China based on morphological and phylogenetic evidence, PhytoKeys 235, pp. 211-236 : 211

1. Neottia lihengiae J.D.Ya, H.Jiang & D.Z.Li sp. nov.

(李恒对叶兰 Li Heng Dui Ye Lan) Fig. 4

Diagnosis.

Neottia lihengiae is morphologically similar to N. biflora (Schltr.) Szlach., but can be distinguished by its smaller plant size, ca. 5.5-9.0 cm tall (vs. 10-13 cm tall), its lax rachis of 2-5-flowered (vs. 1- or 2-flowered), floral bracts and sepals longer than their pedicel (vs. shorter than pedicel), smaller flowers with sepals and petals connivant and ca. 3.0 mm long (vs. spreading and ca. 6.0-7.0 mm long). The outer surfaces of the sepals are not carinate (vs. carinate). The labeullum is ligulate and its midvein is not thickened (vs. cuneate and midvein slightly thickened). The rostellum is almost equal to the anther (vs. distinctly shorter than the anther).

Type.

China. Yunnan Province, Diqing Prefecture, Shangri-La County, Tianbao mountain , 3800 m, under shrubs of a scree slope, 4 July 2020, J.-D. Ya et al. 20CS19095 (Holotype: KUN! isotype: KUN!)

Description.

Terrestrial, autotrophic herbs, 5.5-9.0 cm tall. Rhizome with many elongate, filiform roots. Stem erect, slender, usually with 1 or 2 membranous ca. 8.0 mm long tubular sheaths at its base. Leaves 2, opposite, borne above the middle of the plant, 7 veined from the base, subsessile, broadly ovate or broadly ovate-triangular, unequal in size, the larger leaf ca. 1.2 × 1.2 cm, the smaller one ca. 1.0 × 1.0 cm, with bases rounded and apices acute. Peduncle 0.7-1.2 cm, puberulous, rachis 1.2-1.8 cm, laxly 2-5-flowered; floral bracts ovate-lanceolate, concave, longer than the pedicel, 3-4 × ca. 0.8 mm, apex acute to acuminate. Flowers resupinate, uniformly green; pedicel and ovary 2.0-3.0 mm long, glabrous; sepals and petals connivent. Dorsal sepal ovate-lanceolate, ca. 3.2 × 1.1 mm, 1-veined, apex subacute; lateral sepals lanceolate, slightly oblique, ca. 3.5 × 0.8 mm, 1-veined, apex acute. Lateral petals linear-lanceolate, ca. 3.0 × 0.6 mm, 1-veined, apices subacute; labellum ligulate, ca. 4.0 × 1.6 mm, entire to shallowly notched or emarginate at apex, usually with a minute tooth in the notch. Column slightly arcuate, ca. 1.7 mm long, anther inclined toward rostellum, ca. 0.9 mm; rostellum spreading forward, nearly as long as the anther.

Phenology.

Flowers from June to July.

Etymology.

Named in honor of late Prof. Li Heng, a Chinese botanist who made significant contributions to our understanding of plant diversity and phytogeography of the Gaoligong Mountains at the border between China and Myanmar ( Guo et al. 2023).

Distribution and habitat.

It is known from Northwest Yunnan including Lijiang and Diqing. It grows under shrubs colonizing scree slopes at elevations of 3700-3800 m.

Additional specimen examined.

China. Yunnan Province, Lijiang City, Gucheng District, Dadong Xiang, 3192 m, in the scree slope area under the forest dominated by Pinus densata Mast. 17 June 2017, H. Jiang and W.P. Zhang 08835 (paratypes: YAF!); Yunnan Province, Diqing Prefecture, Shangri-La County, Tianbao mountain, 3719 m, under the shrub of scree slope, 15 Aug. 2018, C. Liu et al. 18CS17401 (paratypes: KUN!). N. biflora : China. Sichuan, Dongrergo, K. A. H. Smith 3656 (isotypes, PE00027184!). N. tianschanica : China. Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Tian-Shan, 18 July 1957, K.-Z. Guan 172 (holotype, LE 01012234!); China. Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Urumqi, Houxia Zhen, 2161 m, J.D. Ya et al. 17CS16209 (KUN1437961!).

Figures

Figure 4. Neottia lihengiae J. D. Ya, H. Jiang & D. Z. Li, sp. nov. A habitat B plant C inflorescence D leaves E flower (front view) F flower (dorsal view) G column and labellum H column I anther cap. Photographed by J. - D. Ya.