Spiranthes himalayensis (Orchidaceae, Orchidoideae) a new species from Asia

By

Surveswaran, Siddharthan
Kumar, Pankaj, 1975-
Sun, Mei

Type

Article

Date of Publication

2017

Original Publication

PhytoKeys

Volume

89

Pages

115-128

Subjects

China , India , Karnataka , Manipur , orchid , Spiranthes hongkongensis , Spiranthes nivea , Spiranthes sinensis , Tamil Nadu , Yunnan

Contributed by

Pensoft Publishers

Language

English

Published by

Sofia, Bulgaria Pensoft Publishers [2010]-

Identifiers

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3897/phytokeys.89.19978

 

Abstract

Spiranthes himalayensis is described here as a new species based primarily on molecular phylogenetic evidence followed by morphological comparison with other Asian Spiranthes species. It is distributed widely from southern India to tropical China. Phylogenetic analysis shows its close affinity to S. nivea which is endemic to Taiwan. Morphologically, the new species looks close to S. sinensis and S. hongkongensis. S. himalayensis is an allogamous species which can be differentiated from its allies on the basis of pubescent plant body, floral bract longer or of the same length as that of ovary, petals with blunt apex, labellum width around hypochile same as the width of epichile, epichile widely flabellate or semi-tunicate, column length equal to or more than 1.5mm, clavate operculum attached to the column on the broader part by an arm-like extension emerging from the upper part of column and a well developed rostellum partitioning the stigma and pollinarium.