Cymbidium densiflorum

Lan, Siren, Chen, Lijun, Chen, Guizhen, Wu, Xinyi, Rao, Wenhui, Zhang, Peiwen & Liu, Zhongjian, 2018, Cymbidium densiflorum (Orchidaceae; Epidendroideae; Cymbidieae): a new orchid species from China based on morphological and molecular evidence, Phytotaxa 345 (1), pp. 51-58 : 54-55

Cymbidium densiflorum (ḾAEOiďÈ) Z.J.Liu & S.R.Lan, sp. nov. ( Figs. 4 , 5 )

Type:— CHINA. Yunnan (řffi): Puer ( ṘÑ), epiphytic on trees in evergreen broad-leaved forests on moist and shady slopes, 1200 m, 20 November, 2017, Liu 10626 (HOLOTYPE: NOCC).

This new species is similar to Cymbidium paucifolium (ỹďOiďÈ), from which it differs by the following: plants are larger with an acute, oblique leaf apex; a longer densely flowered inflorescence with more than 30 flowers, larger floral bracts and purplish brown flowers with oblique, narrowly elliptic lateral sepals that are apically dorsally carinate with a protruding tooth and narrowly ovate-elliptic petals.

Epiphytic herbs with ovoid pseudobulbs enclosed in persistent leaf bases, surrounded by several purple sheaths when young, 3.0–5.0 × 2.0– 2.5 cm. Leaves 3–5, lorate, arching, 60–90 × 3–4 cm, apex acute, oblique, articulated 6–11 cm from the base. Scape arising laterally from within the sheaths at the base of the pseudobulb, pendent, 50–60 cm long; inflorescence with 30–40 flowers; floral bracts ovate-lanceolate, 7–14 mm long; pedicel and ovary 2–3 cm long; flowers 4.5–5.5 cm across; sepals and petals usually purplish brown with yellowish margin; lip base and margin white, midlobe with a yellow patch and purple-red markings; column brown-red; dorsal sepals narrowly elliptic, 2.7–3.0 × 0.6–0.7 cm, apex obtuse; lateral sepals slightly oblique, narrowly elliptic, 2.8–3.2 × 0.7–0.8 cm, dorsally apically carinate with an apical protruding tooth; petals narrowly ovate-elliptic, 2.5–2.8 × 0.7–0.8 cm, apex acute; lip subovate in outline, 2.2–2.4 × 1.2–1.4 cm, trilobed, base slightly saccate, minutely papillose-hairy adaxially; side lobes erect, ovate-triangular; midlobe ovate, 1.2–1.5 × 0.7–0.8 cm, recurved, apex acute; disc with 2 parallel lamellae slightly convergent at their apices; column 1.1–1.3 cm long, slightly arcuate, with a basal foot; pollinia 2, deeply cleft. Flowering November–December.

Distribution and habitat:–– Epiphytic at 1000–1200 m in broad-leaved, evergreen forests of Puer, Yunnan Province, China.

Conservation status:–– Only one population of the new species found with no more than 30 individuals. Using the World Conservation Union Red List Categories and Criteria ( IUCN, 2012), C. densiflorum should be treated as critically endangered.

Etymology:–– Referring to the many densely produced flowers of this new species.

Figures

FIGURE 4. Cymbidium densiflorum. A. Flowering plant. B. Flower, front view. C. Flower, side view. D. Dorsal sepal, petal and lateral sepal. E. Lip. F. pollinarium.

FIGURE 5. Cymbidium densiflorum. A. Flowering plant. B. Flower, front view. C. Flower, side view. D. Column E. Lip. F. Lateral sepal, back view. G–H. Pollinarium. I–J. Flowering plant of C. aloifolium. K–L. Flowering plant of C. paucifolium.