Calanthe tsiana Y.Q.Chen, J.W.Zhai & S.R.Lan, 2020

Chen, Yan-Qiong, Zhu, Ya-Ting, Zhong, Hui, Li, Ze-Xin, Liu, Zhong-Jian, Zhai, Jun-Wen & Lan, Si-Ren, 2020, Calanthe tsiana, a new orchid species from China (Epidendroideae: Collabieae): evidence from morphological and molecular analyses, Phytotaxa 428 (1), pp. 67-72 : 70-71

Calanthe tsiana Y.Q.Chen, J.W.Zhai & S.R.Lan , sp. nov. ( Figs. 2 , 3 ) (吉氏ởk兰)

Type:— CHINA. Yunan (云#): Malipo ( A 栗Dz), under forest, 23°10′N, 104°49′E, c. 1560 m, 15 February 2019, Chen 0628 (holotype FJFC). This new species is similar to Calanthe arisanensis , but differs in having subspatulate petals, a lip with a yellowish area at the base of the midlobe and falcate-obovate lateral lobes with one ridge in the disk.

Terrestrial herbs, 35.0–38.0 cm tall. Pseudobulbs ovate or conical, 1.3–1.6 cm in diameter. Leaves 2, oblong to elliptic, incompletely spreading and convolute at anthesis, base contracted into a petiole-like stalk, 30.0–46.0 cm long, apex acuminate. Scape arising from leaf axil, erect, 22.0 cm, pubescent; raceme 8.0–10.0 cm long, laxly ca. 4–11-flowered; flower bracts oblong-lanceolate, white, 0.8–1.0 cm long. Flowers 2.0– 2.5 cm in diameter, white, pedicel and ovary 1.8– 2.0 cm long. Sepals subequal, ovate to oblong-ovate, 1.3–1.6 × 0.5–0.6 cm, dorsal sepal concave, slightly cymbiform, petals subspatulate, 1.2–1.4 × 0.3–0.4 cm, lip adnate to column, 1.0–1.3 × 1.0– 1.3 cm, deeply trilobed, lateral lobes falcate-obovate, oblique, 4.5–4.8 × 5.4–5.6 mm, apex rounded, midlobe obovate, 5.6–3.8 × 4.1–4.3 mm, apex slightly lobed with a mucro in the sinus, disk with 1 ridge, spur cylindrical, 18–22 mm in diameter, outside puberulent, apex slightly bilobed. Column white, 0.4–0.5 cm long, anther cap beaked, pollinia clavate with caudicles.

Phenology:— Flowering February.

Ecology and related species:— An endemic species, known only from Yunnan.

Etymology:— Honoring Zhan-huo Tsi, who devoted his life to orchidology.

Figures

FIGURE 2. Calanthe tsiana. A. Flowering plant. B. Oblique view of the flower. C. Column, spur and ovary, side view. D. Petal. E. Lateral sepal. F. Dorsal sepal. G. Lip and column.

FIGURE 3. Calanthe tsiana. A. Flowering plant. B. Rachis. C. Flower front view. D. Flower.