Scaphochlamys graveolens Ooi, K. Meekiong & S.Y. Wong, 2017

Hin, Ooi Im, Kalu, Meekiong & Yeng, Wong Sin, 2017, A review of Scaphochlamys (Zingiberaceae) from Borneo, with description of eleven new species, Phytotaxa 317 (4), pp. 231-279 : 250-252

10. Scaphochlamys graveolens Ooi, K. Meekiong & S.Y. Wong , sp. nov. Type:—MALAYSIAN BORNEO. Sarawak:

Samarahan Division, Serian, Pichin, 01°08’03.7”N, 110°27’00.3”E, 90 m, 06 Apr 2014, I.H. Ooi & K. Jeland OIH116

(holo SAR), Figure 10

Diagnosis:— Scaphochlamys graveolens is distinguished from the rest Bornean species with its large paddle-shaped leaves and foul smelling floral odour.

Terrestrial, perennial, rhizomatous herbs, to c. 70 cm tall. Rhizome below ground, c. 1 cm diameter, externally light brown to medium brown, internally brownish white. Elements c. 1− 5 cm apart, 1-foliate, juvenile elements up to 3- foliate; petiole 18−32 cm long, canaliculate, brownish green, pubescent, base pulvinate, white to light green; leafless sheath 3–4, 3−14.5 cm long, brownish green to medium green, glabrous, margin membranous, decaying with age; leaf sheath c. 4 cm long, membranous, light green, glabrous, decaying with age; ligule obscure, pubescent; lamina 20–35 cm × 9–12.5 cm, ovate to oblong-elliptic, coriaceous, margin entire, base attenuate, apex mucronate, often slightly recurved; adaxial surface matte, medium green to dark green, glabrous, midrib sunken, brownish green to light green, sparsely pubescent at base, main lateral veins slightly raised; abaxial surface light green, pubescent, midrib raised, brownish green, densely pubescent, main lateral veins slightly visible. Inflorescence 10–12.5 cm long, emerging from near leaf base inside sheaths, tightly congested, bulb-like, comprised of 4–6, 2-flowered cincinni borne on a peduncle; peduncle 2.5–5 cm long, white, glabrous, exposed, slightly covered by the remaining decayed leafless sheaths; bract 4–6, c. 4 × 1.6 cm, spirally arranged, lanceolate, membranous except first and second bracts at outermost layer sometimes slightly coriaceous, light brown to greenish light brown, glabrous, apex acute, each bract subtending 2 flowers; bracteole c. 2, 1.5–3 cm long, barely distinguishable from bracts, light brown to brownish white; flower c. 7 cm long, floral odour reminiscent of liquid seeping from domestic waste; calyx c. 18 mm long, white, apex acute, pubescent at base; floral tube 40−45 mm long, white, glabrous; corolla lobes c. 22 mm long, lanceolate, white to light yellow, glabrous, apex acute, hooded; staminodes 18–20 mm long, linear to slightly oblanceolate, white to slightly light yellow, apex rounded to acute, adaxial surface covered with glandular hairs; labellum c. 25 × 15 mm, spathulate, adaxial surface covered with glandular hairs, white with violet margined light yellow median band extending to lobes, apex 2-lobed, indented c. 5 mm, recurved, lobes slightly overlapping; stamen c. 12 × 2 mm, covered with glandular hairs, white with tinged violet at crest; filament c. 5 mm long; anther thecae c. 5 mm long, spurless, crest c. 2 mm long; stigma less than 1 mm long, club-shaped with 2 dorsal knobs, ostiole ciliate, forward facing; style c. 55 mm long, white, glabrous; ovary c. 4 mm long, 1-locular,white, sparsely pubescent but densely at apex, placentation basal; epigynous glands 2, c. 6 mm long, free, needle-like, brownish white. Fruit and seeds not seen.

Etymology:—The specific epithet, graveolens , was chosen based on the foul floral odour, which is unique to Scaphochlamys graveolens and S. lucens . Many Scaphochlamys have either no floral smell or pleasant floral smell).

Distribution and ecology: — Scaphochlamys graveolens is known from the type locality and from Kampung Segu, Padawan, occurring on moist mollisolic yellow-orange soil at the base of karst limestone along a forested stream, c. 90 m elevation.

Additional specimens examined (paratypes):—MALAYSIAN BORNEO. Sarawak: Samarahan Division , Serian, Pichin, 01°08’03.7”N, 110°27’00.3”E, 20 August 2004, P.C. Boyce & K. Simon ZI-568 (SAR) ; Kuching Division (‘First Division’), Penrissen Road, Kampung Segu, 26 May 1975, B.L. Burtt B. 8798 (E!) .

Conservation status:—Endangered, EN B2ab(iii). The localities of S. graveolens are not within protected areas and the locality for Burtt B. 8798 collection is now an urban area. Based on the criteria in IUCN (2012), the species is listed as Endangered.

Discussion:— Scaphochlamys graveolens is, so far, the largest Scaphochlamys in Borneo. Burtt B. 8798 from Kampung Segu, Penrissen Road is identified as S. graveolens based on its much larger elements, attenuate lamina base, mucronate lamina apex, and long roots with very short tertiary roots. Smith (1987) and Searle (2010) included Burtt B. 8798 as S. aff. breviscapa Holttum (1950: 95) . However, S. breviscapa has a chartaceous acuminate lamina with the midrib pubescent abaxially, imbricating inflorescences with a short peduncle (1–3.5 cm), small coriaceous bracts (2.5–3 cm), small flowers (less than 4 cm long), white labellum with lilac streaks on both side of a light yellow median band near base, and was described from Kemaman, Terengganu, Peninsular Malaysia.

Figures

FIGURE 10. Scaphochlamys graveolens. A. Type, OIH116 (SAR). B. plant in habitat. C. inflorescence. D. lamina. E. flower, top view. F.flower, side view. G. labellum. H. stamen, note spurless anther and slightly purplish crest. I. bract, subtending two flowers. J. bract and bracteoles. K. calyx and ovary. L. petiole base and rhizome. A–E, H–L from OIH116; F–G from ZI568.