Epicranthes barbata (Lindl.) Rchb.f., W.G.Walpers, Ann. Bot. Syst.

U., Shankar, 2021, Lectotypification and recollection of Bulbophyllum crabro in Meghalaya after 125 years, Rheedea 31 (3), pp. 211-217 : 212-215

Epicranthes barbata (Lindl.) Rchb.f., W.G.Walpers, Ann. Bot. Syst. 6: 265. 1861, non Bulbophyllum barbatum Barb.Rodr., 1881 . Monomeria barbata Lindl., Gen. Sp. Orchid. Pl. 61. 1830. Lectotype (designated here): NEPAL, Toka, 1821, Wall. Cat. 1978 (K [K000974273 digital image!]: isolecto K [K000974243, K001114839 digital images!]; G [G00434759 digital image!]). FigS. 1 & 2

Rhizome creeping, stout, woody, c. 5–7 mm in diam., sympodial, rooting profusely from below current years’ pseudobulbs, often giving rise to two new rhizome branches from axillary buds at c. 120̊ angle in either direction of feeder (older) rhizome (i.e., iterative bifid branching pattern with ‘Y’- shaped appearance); rhizome segments c. 1 cm (segments disappear with age), green, splashed with purple spots. Pseudobulbs spaced on rhizome by c. 6–8 cm, ovoid, lemon green, c. 3–5 cm in height, 2–4 cm in diam., green, shiny when new, moderately shrivelled after flowering, getting flaccid with age, finally degenerating; leaf single at apex. Petiole c. 6–10 cm long; blade oblong with blunt emarginate apex (mostly symmetrical), c. 16– 25 × 3–4 cm, coriaceous or thickly leathery; both surfaces glabrous, one-nerved; base contracted, decurrent into petiole. Scape slender but stout, as long or slightly longer than leaves, 30–35 cm in length, arising laterally from base of pseudobulb, generally one scape from each pseudobulb, ascending, dark purple spotted with green, laxly racemose; internodal length c. 1.5–2.5 cm, horizontal; peduncle 10–16 cm, stout, 2–4 mm in diam., with 3–5 sheaths of 6–10 mm; floral bracts linear-lanceolate, c. 5–6 mm, persistent, one-fourth or shorter than pedicelled ovary of c. 2 cm. Flower ringent, c. 3 cm, laxly arranged on scape in spiral alternation, spaced at 1.5–2.5 cm, bilaterally symmetrical; nectar present. Sepals 3, persistent, unequal; dorsal sepal larger, longer than lateral sepals, adnate to one-half of the brim of ovary on base of column, erect, concave-curved behind column forming hood, ovate, acuminate, c. 12 × 5 mm, veined, exterior umber-brown coloured, interior yellowish; lateral sepals joined on margins of terminal end of foot, arranged parallel to each other at 180̊ angle from dorsal sepal as prongs of tuning fork, somewhat oblong, pineapple-yellow, tinged with caramel-brown dots, c. 24 × 8 mm, veined, adaxially densely hispid, margins recurved, distal edges of lateral sepals connate at sub-apex to each other, yellow without tinge, terminating into an acuminate, drooping apex; lateral sepals sensitive to stimulus, quickly writh if plucked (not just touched). Petals 3, caducous; lateral petals obliquely triangular, minute, c. 3 × 2.5 mm, margins erose or slightly fimbriate, connate, adnate to other half of brim of ovary at base of column, strongly decurrent on posterior side of foot, extending to distal end of foot until interposed between joints of lateral sepals on margins of foot, petals glossy purple on decurrent exterior; lip panduriform, 3-lobed, with two basal lobes diverging towards column, one terminal (lateral) lobe deflexed about middle towards distal end; two small, narrowly falcate (horn-like) auricles on basal lobes; terminal lobe (mid-lobe) somewhat larger with apex obtuse, surface of fresh lip lutescens or vitreous, shiny; disk with four pairs of erect, membranous, purple lamellae articulating the shape of lip, three pairs of lamellae visible adaxially, one pair visible only abaxially, two adaxial pairs of lamellae appear converging towards mid-lobe, all four lamellae on each lobe taper, merge gradually to shape horn-shaped auricles. Seating of lip hinged on upcurved end of column foot by movable joint allowing restricted flexion (towards anterior), extension (towards posterior) movements; lip imparts appearance of bull’s head. Column stout, curved, 16–20 mm including foot, yellow studded with purple-brown spots predominantly on foot region up to stigmatic chamber, bearing dilated wings on both sides around stigmatic chamber, each wing bearing one erect deltoid stelidium, giving rise to hook-shaped arm towards central-top of stigmatic chamber, joined with each other to form ‘U’-shaped rostellum aligned over stigma, third projection smaller than stelidia, hindmost representing filament of stamen, bearing one anther; foot, attenuated, upcurved, 10–12 mm. Stamen one, fertile; filament yellow, curved with rounded top bearing single anther; outer wall of anther forming helmet-shaped anther cap housing four white pollinia jointed by common stipe inserted vertically in rostellum, held by deep-yellow ovoid-globose viscid gland or viscidium; pollinia waxy, in two pairs, caudiculate, cohering into sub-globular mass, attached to stipe, caudicle of pollinia brittle. Gynoecium typically jointed as pedicel-with-ovary; stigma fused in gynandrium; stigmatic chamber large, bowl-shaped vertical cavity with interior shiny yellow, viscid, stigma rests on bottom of chamber flanked by two yellow nectary glands, several ovules enclosed within thick ovary wall.

Flowering & fruiting: Flowering synchronous, November through mid-January, flowers lasting generally up to six weeks before withering during coldest month of the year, i.e., January; fruiting not seen.

Habitat: Grows on tree trunks (this study) or on rocks (lithophyte or rupicolous, Chen & Vermeulen, 2009) at c. 760 m altitude. Capable to grow on garden trees and also in shallow planters as ornamental.

Distribution: Northeast India , Bhutan, China, Myanmar, Nepal, Peninsular Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam ( POWO, 2020).

Specimens examined: INDIA , Sikkim, 02.1891, R . Pantling 124( CAL [ CAL0000054299 , CAL0000054300 , CAL0000081609 , CAL0000081610 ]). NEPAL, Sondai, 29.01.1893, G . King , s.n. ( CAL [ CAL0000081611 , CAL0000081612 , CAL0000081613 , CAL0000081614 ]). THAILAND, Doi Sootep, 1615 m, 20.11.1910, A. F. G . Kerr 202 ( K [ K000597326 ]); Doi Sutep, 1676 m, 12.11.1911, A. F. G . Kerr 202 ( K [ K000597327 ]); Kao Kuap, Krat , 800 m, 26.12.1929, A. F. G . Kerr 0778 ( K [ K000597325 ]); Kao Pawta Luang Keo, Ranawng , 1300 m, 01.02.1929, A. F. G . Kerr 0703 ( K [ K000597324 ]); Panom Bencha, Krabi, 1300 m, 28.03.1930, A. F. G . Kerr 0815 ( K [ K000597328 ]) .

Typifications: The name Monomeria crabro C.S.P.Parish & Rchb. f. was published by Reichenbach in 1874 based on the collection of C.S.P. Parish from Moulmein, (now Mawlamyaing), Burma, and distinguished the species from M. barbata by the presence of lateral petals. The original materials could not be traced in any herbarium where Parish’s specimens are reportedly located. Hence, the illustration associated with the description of Reichenbach is designated here as the lectotype according to Art. 9.12 of ICN ( Turland et al., 2017).

Lindley (1830) described Monomeria barbata Lindl. based on specimens collected by Wallich from Nepal. Four relevant specimens (syntypes) were traced, three at K ( K001114839 , K000974243 and K000974273 ) and one at G ( G00434759 ). None of these specimens was definitely designated as type by Lindley. Among them, K000974273 is designated here as the lectotype as it is a well preserved specimen with complete inflorescence .

Figures

Fig. 1. Bulbophyllum Crabro (C.S.P.PariSh & RChb.f.) J.J.Verm., SChuit. & de Vogel: a. Habit; b. SCape (infloreSCenCe); c. AdaXial leaf SurfaCe; d. AbaXial leaf SurfaCe;e.PreCeding year’S pSeudobulb borne on a Creeping rhiZome (Centre) giVing riSe to tWo neW pSeudobulbS at about 120° eXterior angleS (left and right) bearing remnantS of degraded Sheath aS Well aS fibrouS rootS at the baSe, and eXtending purple-Spotted greeniSh rhiZomeS for future deVelopment of pSeudobulbS (photoS by Uma ShanKar).

Fig. 2. FloWer morphology of Bulbophyllum Crabro (C.S.P.PariSh & RChb.f.) J.J.Verm., SChuit.& de Vogel: a. OVerhead VieW of a Single floWer; b. Front VieW of Column,depiCting gynandrium proteCted by the dorSal Sepal;c. Full front VieW of Column-and-foot after eXCiSing SepalS and lip; d. Lateral VieW of Column, ShoWing pediCel-With-oVary and reCurVed foot; e. TranSVerSe SeCtion of oVary ShoWing thiCK oVary Wall houSing oVuleS; f. CloSe-up of androeCium, CompriSing one fertile anther and tWo Sterile oneS Called Stelidia (photoS by Uma ShanKar).