Neottia chawalongensis J.D.Ya & 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

2. Neottia chawalongensis J.D.Ya & D.Z.Li sp. nov.

(察瓦龙对叶兰 Cha Wa Long Dui Ye Lan) Fig. 5

Diagnosis.

Neottia chawalongensis is similar to N. pinetorum (Lindl.) Szlach., but differs in having floral bracts longer than its pedicel (vs. shorter or as long as pedicel), a reduced pedicel ca. 1.9 mm (vs. 4-6 mm), and a shorter but pubescent ovary, ca. 2.8 mm (vs. glabrous, 3-4.5 mm). The labellum is lanceolate (vs. obovate-cuneate, oblong-cuneate, sublinear-cuneate, or oblanceolate), densely papillate (vs. slightly papillate), with labellum lobes narrowly lanceolate and apices acuminate (oblong-ovate and apices obtuse-rounded) while its sinus usually lacks a short tooth between the lobes.

Type.

China. Tibetan Autonomous Region , Linzhi City , Chayu County, Chawalong Township, 3757 m, under the shrub of scree slope, 21 July 2022, J.-D. Ya et al. 22CS22851 (KUN!)

Description.

Terrestrial, autotrophic plants, 9.0-13.5 cm tall. Rhizome with many elongate, filiform roots. Stem 5.0-7.0 cm, erect, slender, ridged, usually with 1 or 2 membranous, long, tubular sheaths at its base. Leaves 2, opposite, borne in the middle of the plant, 5 veined from the base, subsessile, broadly ovate or broadly ovate-triangular, ca. 2.0 × 1.8 cm in diameter. Peduncle 1.8-2.4 cm, puberulous, rachis 2.7-4.3 cm, held laxly bearing 7-9-flowered; floral bracts ovate, concave, longer than the pedicel, 3-4 mm long with acute apices. Flowers resupinate, uniformly green; pedicel ca. 1.9 mm, glabrous to sparsely pubescent; ovary ca. 2.8 mm, pubescent with sepals and petals widely spreading. Dorsal sepal narrowly elliptical, ca. 3.5 × 1.3 mm, 1-veined, apex obtuse; lateral sepals narrowly elliptic-falcate, ca. 3.5 × 1.5 mm, with an obtuse apex. Lateral petals linear, ca. 3.0 × 0.4 mm, apices subacute; labellum pendulous, lanceolate, ca. 8.0 × 2.2 mm, margins densely papillate, apex deeply 2-lobed with lobes parallel, narrowly lanceolate, ca. 2.6 × 0.7 mm, and apices acuminate; disk with a thickened longitudinal channel extending from the base of the labellum almost to the sinus. Column slightly arcuate above the middle, 3.5 mm long; anther inclined towards the rostellum, ca. 0.8 mm; rostellum spreading forward.

Phenology.

Flowers from July to August.

Etymology.

The specific epithet “chawalongensis” refers to the type locality Chawalong (Cawarong) Township.

Distribution and habitat.

At present, this new species is only found in Chawalong, Chayu, Tibet (Xizang), China. It is a predominantly terrestrial species growing on the scree slopes under the forest of Abies and Picea at an elevation of 3757 m a.s.l. It appears to be locally abundant with other orchid species including Ponerorchis chusua (D. Don) Soó, Galearis spathulate (Lindl.) P. F. Hunt, Cypripedium wardii Rolfe, C. bardolphianum W.W.Sm. & Farrer and C. flavum P. F. Hunt & Summerh.

Additional specimen examined.

N. pinetorum : India. Sikkim, 10-11000 feet., J. D. Hooker 355 (holotype, K000974204!, isotype, AMES 00101020!); China. Yunnan, upper Kiukiang valley, 2500 m, T.T.Yu 19644 (PE00027188!). N. bambusetorum : China, Yunnan, Prope fines Tibeto-Birmanicas inter fluvios Lu-djiang (Salween) et Djiou-djiang (Irrawadi or. sup.), in jugi Tschiangschel, 27°52', lateris orientalis regione (frigide) temperata in bambusetis, 3275-3350 m, Hand.-Mazz.9238 (holorypus, WU0061594!)

Figures

Figure 5. Neottia chawalongensis J. D. Ya & D. Z. Li, sp. nov. A, B plant C leaves D inflorescence E flower (front view) F adaxial sepals, petals and lip G abaxial sepals, petals and lip H column and lip I column J anther cap. Photographed by J. - D. Ya.