Calanthe taibaishanensis M. Guo, J.W. Zhai & L.J. Chen, 2017

Guo, Ming, Zhai, Jun-Wen, Wu, Xin-Yi, Li, Shuang-Xi, Wang, Meng, Li, Zhi-Jun & Chen, Li-Jun, 2017, Calanthe taibaishanensis, A New Orchid Species from China: Evidence from Morphological and Molecular Analyses, Phytotaxa 327 (2), pp. 184-190 : 189

1. Calanthe taibaishanensis M. Guo, J.W. Zhai & L.J. Chen , sp. nov. ( Figs. 2 , 3 ) (*ŮƜḄÿ±)

This species is similar to C. arcuata Rolfe ; they both have narrowly elliptic-lanceolate or narrowly lanceolate leaves and 3-lobed labellum with obviously 3–5 ridges, but the former one can be distinguished by yellowish to white flower inside, much smaller lateral lobes ( 1mm vs. 7mm long) of its lip.

Type: — CHINA. Shaanxi (Ŕffl): Taibaishan Mountain(* ŮƜ), 1775 m, terrestrial under forest. 15 June 2017, Liu 10464 ( holotype NOCC!).

Terrestrial herb. Plant 19.0–24.0 cm tall. Pseudobulbs ovate or conical, small, with diam. 0.4–0.9cm. Leaves 5–6, 5.0– 16.0 cm long, narrowly elliptic-lanceolate or narrowly lanceolate, apex acuminate. Scape arising from leaf axil, erect, about 22.0 cm, pubescent; raceme 8–10.0 cm long, laxly ca. 5–7-flowered; flower bracts oblong-lanceolate, green, 0.8–1.0 cm long. Flowers 2.0–3.0 cm in diameter, yellowish to white; pedicel and ovary 1.2–1.5 cm, glabrous. Sepals subequal, ovate to oblong-ovate, 1.2–1.4 × 0.5–0.6 cm; dorsal sepal concave, a little cymbiform; petals subspatulate, 0.4–0.5 cm wide; lip slightly 3-lobed; mid-lobe ovate to rhombic, apex acuminate; disk with obviously 3–5 ridges, coliform at apex; lateral lobes small, horn-like, ca. 1mm long; spur clavate, white, 0.8–1.2 cm, glabrous. Column white, 0.3–0.4 cm long; pollinia 8, in 2 groups. Fl. July.

Ecology and related species: — Calanthe taibaishanensis is an endemic species, known only distributed in Taibai Mountain, Shaanxi Province.

It grows in ravine under mixed forest, with the associated species of Carya cathayensis , Abelia biflora , Oreorchis fargesii etc., and also with the elevation about 1775 m. This species is similar to C. arcuata ; they both have narrowly elliptic-lanceolate or narrowly lanceolate leaves and 3-lobed labellum with obviously 3–5 ridges, but the former can be distinguished by purple to pink flower inside, smaller lateral lobes (ca. 1mm long) of its lip.

Etymology: —The specific epithet of Calanthe taibaishanensis refers to its discovery in Taibaishan Mountain, Shaanxi province.

Figures

FIGURE 2 Illustration of Calanthe taibaishanensis M. Guo, J.W. Zhai & L.J. Chen: A. Flowering Plant; B. Front view of the flower; C. Lateral view of the flower; D. Dorsal sepal, lateral sepal and petal; E. Labellum.

FIGURE 3 Calanthe taibaishanensis M. Guo, J.W. Zhai & L.J. Chen: A. Habitat; B. Plant; C. Inflorescence; D. Flower, front view; E. Flower, side view.