Scaphochlamys lanjakensis 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 : 240-241

4. Scaphochlamys lanjakensis Ooi, K. Meekiong & S.Y. Wong , sp. nov. Type:—MALAYSIAN BORNEO. Sarawak: Sri Aman Division, Lubok Antu, Lanjak Entimau Wildlife Sanctuary, Sungai Engkari, Nanga Segerak, 01°24’47.9”N, 112°00’41.9”E, 364 m, 15 April 2015, I.H. Ooi, P.C. Boyce & S.Y. Wong OIH305 (holo SAR!), Figure 4 Diagnosis:— Scaphochlamys lanjakensis possesses long petioles similar to S. petiolata , but differs by a laxly arranged inflorescence.

Scaphochlamys lanjakensis also resembles S. salahuddiniana in its inflorescence, flower and fruit, but differs by the elongated rachis of its inflorescence.

Terrestrial, perennial rhizomatous herbs, to c. 30 cm tall. Rhizome partially buried in ground, c. 5 mm in diameter, externally light to medium brown, internally yellowish white. Elements 0.5–7 cm apart, 1-foliate, juveniles up to 5- foliate; petiole 12–16 cm long, canaliculate, brownish green, pubescent, base pulvinate, light brown; leafless sheath c. 3, 0.9–7.5 cm long, light brown, sparsely pubescent, decaying with age; leaf sheath c. 1 cm long, membranous, brownish green, glabrous, decaying with age; ligule obscure; lamina 10–14 × 6–9 cm, ovate to lanceolate, chartaceous, margin slightly undulate, base cuneate to rounded, apex acute; adaxial surface matte, medium green to dark dull green, occasionally variegated, glabrous, midrib sunken, pubescent, light green to whitish green, main lateral veins slightly raised; abaxial surface, light green, sparsely pubescent, midrib raised, medium green, pubescent, main lateral veins slightly visible.Inflorescence 6–7.5 cm long, emerging from near leaf base inside leaf sheaths, laxly arranged, comprised of c. 5, 2-flowered cincinni borne on a peduncle; peduncle 3–5 cm long, whitish light green, glabrous, covered with marcescent leafless sheath; bract c. 5, c. 4 × 3 mm, spirally arranged, ovate, brown, sparsely pubescent, apex acute, each bract subtending c. 2 flowers; bracteole c. 2, 10–12 mm long, longer than bracts but barely distinguishable from bract, brown; flower c. 2.5 cm long, without noticeable floral odour; calyx c. 10 mm long, light brown, sparsely pubescent, apex bidentate; floral tube 12–13 mm long, white to slightly brownish white, sparsely pubescent; corolla lobes 8–9 mm long, lanceolate, white to slightly brownish white, glabrous, apex acute, hooded; staminodes 4.5–5 mm long, linear to slightly oblanceolate, adaxial surface covered with glandular hairs, light yellow, apex rounded; labellum 9–11 × 9–10 mm, spathulate, adaxial surface covered with glandular hairs, white with a light yellow median band, apex 2-lobed, slightly fan-shaped, indented c. 4 mm, lobes sometimes slightly overlapping; stamen c. 5 × 1.5 mm, covered with glandular hairs, white; filament c. 0.5 mm long; anther thecae c. 4 mm long, spurless, crest c. 0.5 mm long; stigma less than 1 mm long, club-shaped with 2 dorsal knobs, ostiole ciliate, forward facing; style c. 24 mm long, glabrous, white; ovary c. 2 mm long, 1-locular, light green, densely pubescent, placentation basal; epigynous glands 2, c. 1 mm long, free, needle-like, white. Fruit c. 13 × 8 mm, dehiscent capsule, ovoid, greenish brown, pubescent, pericarp colliculate, subtended by marcescent bracts. Seeds c. 2, c. 11 × 3 mm, slightly elongated ovoid, green, glabrous; aril c. 5 mm, lacerate, brownish white; perisperm white.

Etymology:—Named for the type locality, Lanjak Entimau.

Distribution and ecology:— Scaphochlamys lanjakensis is known only from the type locality where it occurs in shady kerangas (tropical heath) forest on podzolic black soil over sandstones, at elevation of c. 360 m.

Conservation status:—Near Threatened (NT). Scaphochlamys lanjakensis is quite common in the southern part of the Lanjak Entimau Wildlife Sanctuary. The authors found at least three other populations of the species apart from the type locality. However, the surrounding areas outside the wildlife sanctuary are unprotected. Therefore, the listing is justified under the NT category ( IUCN 2012).

Discussion: —The inflorescence axis of S. lanjakensis elongates in the same manner as that of S. gracilipes , but never reaches the length of the latter.

Figures

FIGURE 4. Scaphochlamys lanjakensis. A. plant in habitat. B. lamina, adaxial surface. C. lamina, abaxial surface. D. plant with a flower. E. inflorescence. F. infructescence with marcescent bracts artificially opened to show fruit. G. flower, front view. H. flower, side view. I. fruit, cross section.A–C, E from OIH305; D, G–H from OIH310; F&I from OIH309.