Bulbophyllum cherrapunjeensis Barbhuiya & D.Verma, 2014

Verma, Durgesh, Barbhuiya, Hussain Ahmed & Lavania, Seshu, 2014, Bulbophyllum cherrapunjeensis (Orchidaceae), a new species from Meghalaya, India, Phytotaxa 156 (5), pp. 298-300 : 298

Bulbophyllum cherrapunjeensis Barbhuiya & D.Verma , sp. nov. ( Fig. 1 )

This species differs from B. sarcophylloides Garay, Hamer & Siegerist in having a sheathed-rhizome, larger spathulate leaves, 10-11-flowered umbels, peduncles with bracts at the base as well as on the middle and comparatively larger greenishyellow flowers.

Type:— INDIA . Meghalaya: East Khasi Hills District , Cherrapunjee, 25°17'52.71"N & 91°42'06.40"E, ca. 1460 m, 7 July 2013, Barbhuiya & Verma 112212 (holotype: ASSAM) .

Epiphytic herbs. Rhizome completely enclosed by distichously imbricating sheathes, 3–5 mm thick. Pseudobulbs appressed to rhizome, discoid, compressed, 2–5 × 4–6 mm, covered with sheathes, which later becomes fibrous, inserted at intervals of 3–6 cm along rhizome. Leaves spathulate, 10.0–14.5 × 2.0– 3.6 cm, apex rounded or sometimes retuse, contracted at the base to a thick cylindric petiole 1.5–2.0 cm long. Inflorescence erect, 6–7 cm long, umbellate, 10–11 flowered. Peduncle glabrous, reddish, sheathed at base and middle; sheaths 3, brown, 2 basal, ovate to ovate-oblong, 6–12 × 5–6 mm, overlapping, 1 at the middle ovate-lanceolate, ca. 8 × 4 mm. Floral bracts lanceolate, light-green, 3.5–4.0 × 1.0– 1.5 mm, apex acute. Pedicel and ovary greenish, 4–5 × ca. 1 mm. Flowers greenish-yellow, 1.2–1.3 cm long, glabrous. Dorsal sepal ovate, incurved, concave, weakly 4-nerved, 5.0– 5.3 × ca. 4 mm, inner surface cardinal-red tinged basally and spotted at the middle, apex mucronulate, margin entire, greenish-yellow. Lateral sepals subfalcate, 6–7 nerved, 8.5–9.0 × 3.5–4.0 mm, base whitish, tinged with red, apex greenish, sub-acute. Petals ovate-triangular, white, trinerved, 3.5–4.0 × 2.0– 2.2 mm, apex acute with a cardinal-red spot. Lip deltoid, incurved, 1.5–1.6 × ca. 1 mm, abaxially white, minutely grooved, adaxially mottled with cardinal-red spots, apex sub-acute. Column stout, 1.8–2.0 mm long; stelidia 2, filiform, ca. 0.8 mm long; foot curved 3.5–4.0 mm long, with red-blotches at the centre, truncate at apex. Anther-cap oblong, ca. 1.0 × 0.7 mm. Pollinia 4, subpyriform, light yellow, ca. 0.7 × 0.5 mm. Fruit not seen.

Distribution and habitat:— Currently known only from the type locality. The species was found growing on tree trunks in a coniferous forest at ca. 1460 m.

Etymology:— The specific epithet refers to the type locality, Cherrapunjee.

Phenology:— Flowering June through July.

Conservation Status:— Known from a single collection, hence its conservation status remains Data Deficient (DD).

Notes:— Bulbophyllum cherrapunjeensis has a small disc-like pseudobulb, pseudoumbellate inflorescence, lateral sepals from a divergent base converging apically and linear sharply pointed stelidia. It is similar to B. sarcophylloides Garay, Hamer & Siegerist (1994: 624) in having shorter scapes and entire dorsal sepal and petals. However, the latter is clearly distinct in having sheath-less rhizome, smaller ovate-elliptic or elliptic leaves, 5–6 flowered umbels and peduncle with bracts only at the base (Pearce & Cribb, 2002), whereas B. cherrapunjeensis is characterized by distichously imbricating sheathes on rhizomes, larger spathulate leaves, 10–11 flowered umbels, peduncles with bracts at the base and as well as on the middle, greenish-yellow flowers and white petals with cardinal-red spot at the tip. It is also is similar to B. sarcophyllum (King & Pantling 1898: 91) Smith (1912: 27) , but the latter can be distinguished by the following: sheath-less rhizomes, oblong-lanceolate leaves, 3–7 flowered scapes equalling or longer than leaves and reddish-brown sepals and petals mottled with yellow (Pearce & Cribb, 2002).

Figures

FIGURE 1. Bulbophyllum cherrapunjeensis. A. Habit, I. B. Habit, II. C. Inflorescence. D. Peduncle bract. E. Floral bract. F. Front view of flower. G. Lateral view of flower, I. H. Lateral view of flower, II. I. Dorsal sepal. J. Lateral sepals. K. Petals. L. Floral analysis. M. Petals with lip, column, pedicel and ovary, I. N. Petals with lip, column, pedicel and ovary, II. O. Lip, column, pedicel and ovary. P. Lip, ventral view. Q. Lip, lateral view. R. Column, pedicel and ovary, lateral view. S. Column and ovary, ventral view. T. Anther cap, dorsal view. U. Anther cap, ventral view. V. Pollinia. Photographic illustration by H.A. Barbhuiya of the holotype.