Scaphochlamys scintillans 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 : 243-246

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

Betong Division, Roban, Sebangkoi, 01°57’29.7”N, 111°26’16.9”E, 97 m, 22 April 2014, I.H. Ooi & F. Bakong

OIH141 (holo SAR!), Figure 7

Diagnosis:— Scaphochlamys scintillans is distinctive from all other Scaphochlamys species by the adaxially satin (glittering) dark green lamina with two refractive grey bands (feathered pattern).

Terrestrial, perennial, rhizomatous herbs, to c. 18 cm tall. Rhizome buried in ground, c. 5 mm in diameter, externally dark greenish brown, internally brownish white. Elements 0.1–1 cm apart, 1-foliate, juvenile not seen; petiole 3.5– 4.5 cm long, canaliculate, glabrous, medium green, base pulvinate, yellowish green; leafless sheath c. 3, 0.7–4.5 cm long, light brown, glabrous, drying and shredding with age; leaf sheath c. 1 cm long, membranous, light green, glabrous, drying and shredding with age; ligule obscure; lamina 10–14 × 4–7 cm, elliptic to broad elliptic, coriaceous, margin entire, base cuneate to rounded, apex obtuse to mucronate; adaxial surface satiny (glittering-like), dark green, variegated (refractive grey bands, feathered pattern on each side), glabrous, midrib sunken, dark green, glabrous, main lateral veins inconspicuous; abaxial surface glaucous greenish white, glabrous, midrib raised, light green, pubescent, main lateral veins slightly visible. Inflorescence 3–4 cm long, emerging from near leaf base inside leaf sheaths, slightly lax, comprised of c. 7, 2-flowered cincinni borne on a peduncle, flowering spirally from base to apex; peduncle c. 2 cm long, whitish light green, glabrous, covered with marcescent leafless sheath; bract c. 7, c. 4 × 3 mm, spirally arranged, ovate, glabrous, brown, 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. 2.4 cm long, without noticeable floral odour; calyx c. 9 mm long, light brown, sparsely pubescent, apex bidentate; floral tube 10–13 mm long, white to slightly greenish white, sparsely pubescent; corolla lobes 7–8 mm long, lanceolate, white to slightly brownish white, glabrous, apex acute, hooded; staminodes 4–5 mm long, linear to slightly oblanceolate, adaxial surface covered with glandular hairs, light yellow, apex rounded; labellum 8–11 × 9–10 mm, spathulate, adaxial surface covered with glandular hairs, white with a light yellow median band (sometimes slightly tinged lilac), apex 2-lobed, slightly fan-shaped, indented c. 4 mm, lobes sometimes slightly overlapping; stamen c. 4 × 1.5 mm, covered with glandular hairs, white; filament c. 0.5 mm long; anther thecae c. 3 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. 23 mm long, white, glabrous; ovary c. 2 mm long, 1-locular, light green, densely pubescent, placentation basal; epigynous glands 2, c. 1 mm long, free, needle-like, brownish white. Fruit and seeds not seen.

Etymology:—The specific epithet refers to the glittering satiny lamina surface.

Distribution and ecology: — Scaphochlamys scintillans is known only from the type locality where it occurs lowland forest red-yellow soil over shales, at c. 95 m elevation.

Conservation status:—Near Threatened (NT), IUCN (2012). The type locality of S. scintillans is within a nominally protected recreational park although close to a main road.

Figures

FIGURE 7. Scaphochlamys scintillans. A. plant in habitat. B. inflorescence, artificially opened showing bracts and first bracteoles. C. lamina, adaxial surface. D. flower, top view. E. lamina, abaxial surface. F. stamen, note spurless anther thecae. G. flower, front view. H. lamina, adaxial surface, enlarged showing variegation.All from OIH141.