Vanda funingensis L.H. Zou & Z.J. Liu, 2016

Zou, Long-Hai, Wu, Xin-Yi, Lin, Min, Chen, Li-Jun & Liu, Zhong-Jian, 2016, Vanda funingensis, a new species of Orchidaceae (Epidedroideae; Vandeae; Aeridinae) from China: evidence from morphology and DNA, Phytotaxa 260 (1), pp. 1-13 : 9

Vanda funingensis L.H. Zou & Z.J. Liu , spec. nov. (ÎṪhkfi; Figs. 4 , 5 )

Diagnosis: This new species has analogous Ascocentrum -like flowers and is most similar to V. christensoniana . In general, Vanda funingensis differs from the latter in having a shorter stem, compact habit, and a labellum with three longitudinal adaxial ridges and free sidelobes.

Type:— China. Yunnan (řḿ): Funing ( Î Ṫ), epiphytic on tree trunks in forests ; 30 April 2015, Liu 8380 (holotype: NOCC!) .

Epiphytic monopodial herbs. Stem erect, stout, 10–30 mm. Leaves distichous, narrowly oblong, 110–140 × 15–18 mm, praemorse at apex, V-shaped-conduplicate in the basal half, jointed and sheathing at base. Inflorescences often 1–4 cm, axillary, ascending, racemose, 40–110 mm, 6–21 flowered; floral bracts broadly ovate, 2.3–2.7 mm, acute. Flowers with pedicel and ovary purple, 20–23 mm; petals and sepals from pale pink to white; dorsal sepal obovate-oblong, apex obtuse-acute, 12–13 × 5–6 mm; lateral sepals obovate-oblong, apex obtuse, 12–13 × 6–7 mm; petals obovate, apex obtuse, 13–14 × 5–6 mm; lip spurred, trilobed, midlobe pale purple to pink, rectangular, 6.0–7.0× 2.7–3.0 mm, slightly contracted at middle, apex retuse, with 3 longitudinal ridges from base to middle and 2 calluses at spur entrance, lateral lobes orange, erect, subtriangular, acute, 2.7–3.1× 1.5–1.7 mm; spur orange, tubular, slightly conic, 7–8 mm, apex obtuse. Column pink, 2.5–2.7 mm, foot absent; pollina 2, globose, each cleft; viscidium ovate-triangular; stipe suboblong, margin revolute, apex sharply contracted.

Flowering period:— April to May.

Distribution and habitat:— Vanda funingensis is epiphytic on tree trunks, recognized currently only from Funing County in Yunnan Province, China.

Etymology:— The species epithet refers to the only locality where this new species has been found to date.

Conservation status:— Except for the one location in Funing county, we have been unable to find this species in any other locations. Hence, V. funingensis should be treated as critically endangered.

Figures

FIGURE 4. Vanda funingensis L.H. Zou & Z.J. Liu. A. Flowering plant. B. Flower, front view. C. Flower, side view. D. Labellum, side view. E. Pollinarium, front view. F. Pollinarium, back view. Photograph by Wen-Hui Rao.

FIGURE 5. Vanda funingensis L.H. Zou & Z.J. Liu, sp. nov. A. Flowering plant. B. Flower, front view. C. Side view of flower. D. Longitudinal section of flower minus tepals. E. Lip. F. Dorsal sepal, lateral sepal, and petal. G. Pollinarium, front (left) and back (right) view. Drawn from the holotype, Liu 8380, by Pei-Wen Zhang.