Liparis vivipara H.X.Huang, Z.J.Liu & M.H.Li, 2018

Huang, Hui-Xia, Chen, Li-Jun, Liu, Zhong-Jian & Li, Ming-He, 2018, Liparis vivipara (Orchidaceae: Malaxideae), a new species from China: evidence from morphological and molecular analyses, Phytotaxa 351 (4), pp. 289-295 : 292-294

Liparis vivipara H.X.Huang, Z.J.Liu & M.H.Li , sp. nov. (ÎƗṪffȕ; Figs. 2 , 3 )

Type:— CHINA. Yunnan (ṙħ): Malipo (ĭva), terrestrial in evergreen broad-leaved forest, 1350 m, 31 May 2012, Liu 6671 (holotype: NOCC!) .

This new species is similar to Liparis odorata , from which it differs by the upper older pseudobulbs often bearing black bulbils; leaves 2, blade ovoid to broadly ovate, 2.0–6.0 × 1.6–2.8 cm; inflorescence with 1 basal leafy bract, 3.5–5.0 cm long; sepals and petals pale green, lip purple with pale greenish base.

Terrestrial herbs. Pseudobulbs narrowly ovate, 2.5–3.5 × 0.8–1.3 cm, the upper portion of older pseudobulbs usually bearing bulbils. Leaves 2, petiole sheathing, 0.5–0.9 cm, not articulate, blade ovoid to broadly ovate, 2.0–6.0 × 1.6–2.8 cm, apex acuminate, base contracted into petiole. Inflorescence terminal, 8.0–18.0 cm, base with 1 foliaceous bract, 3.5–5.0 cm, lower distinctly ridged, upper narrowly winged; rachis 7–11-flowered, floral bracts lanceolate, 3.5–6.0 mm. Flowers pale green, lip purple with pale greenish at base, column slightly greenish white, anther cap pale greenish. Pedicel and ovary 7.0–9.0 mm. Dorsal sepal narrowly ovate-oblong, 8.0–9.0 × 1.7–2.1 mm, margin revolute, apex obtuse; lateral sepals narrowly ovate-oblong, oblique, 6.0–7.0 × 2.0– 2.5 mm, margin revolute, apex acute; petals filiform, 6.0–7.0 mm, margin revolute, apex obtuse; lip subobovate, 5.0–6.0 × 4.0– 4.5 mm, with 2 triangular basal calli, apical margin denticulate, apex subtruncate and emarginate. Column slightly arcuate, 3.0–4.0 mm, with narrow wings on both sides, wings gradually widened toward column apex. Four pollinia in two pairs, waxy, narrowly subovate.

Phenology:— Flowering May.

Distribution and habitat:–– Liparis vivipara is terrestrial and grows in evergreen, broad-leaved forest at 1350 m of Malipo, Yunnan Province, China.

Etymology:— The specific epithet refers to vivipary.

Conservation status:–– The new species has only four known populations, each of which consisted of not more than 30 individuals. Using the World Conservation Union Red List Categories and Criteria ( IUCN, 2012), Liparis vivipara should be treated as critically endangered.

Taxonomic notes:— Liparis vivipara belongs to subclade L. layardii sensu Su et al. (2015) and is distinctive among species in the genus. Table 1 provides detailed comparisons for L. vivipara , L. odorata and L. formosana . Besides being 2-leaved with a narrowly ovate-oblong dorsal sepal, L. vivipara also has a unique set of characteristics: upper older pseudobulbs often bearing bulbils and inflorescences possessing a basal leafy bract (3.5–5.0 cm long).

Figures

FIGURE 2. Liparis vivipara H.X.Huang, Z.J.Liu & M.H.Li (A–D) and L. odorata (E). A. Flowering plant. B. Flower, front view. C. Flower, side view. D. Bulbil. Photographs by Wen-Hui Rao.

FIGURE 3. Liparis vivipara H.X.Huang, Z.J.Liu & M.H.Li. A. Flowering plant. B. Flower, front view. C. Flower, side view. D. Dorsal sepal, petal, lateral sepal, and lip. Drawn by Li-Jun Chen.