Cynorkis Thouars (1809: 317)

Averyanov, Leonid V., Nguyen, Van Canh, Le, Tuan Anh, Vuong, Truong Ba, Nuraliev, Maxim S., Maisak, Tatiana V., Yudova, Daria A., Nguyen, Cuong Huu & Nong, Duy Van, 2024, New orchids in the flora of Vietnam IX (Orchidaceae: Orchidoideae, tribes Cranichideae and Orchideae), Phytotaxa 664 (4), pp. 229-248 : 230-231

Cynorkis Thouars (1809: 317)

Cynorkis fastigiata Thouars (1822 : tab. 13), nom. cons., Du Puy et al. (1999: 113), Hsu (2016: 369, photos), Lin (2019: 124, photos), Hermans & Cribb (2021: 103, fig. 50).

( Fig. 1 )

Type: — Sine loc., Thouars s.n. (lectotype, designated by Hermans & Cribb (2021: 103): P P 00102259 http://coldb.mnhn.fr/catalognumber/ mnhn/p/p00102259).

= C. seychellarum Averyanov (1983: 1566 , fig. 1), Averyanov & Kudryavtzeva (1987: 77). Type: — SEYCHELLES. Praslin Island, on a wet clay cliff towards the highway in forest, 21 July 1981, N.N. Tzvelev 318 (holotype LE LE00011103 https://en.herbariumle. ru/?t=occ&id=52372).

Habitat and phenology in Vietnam: —Terrestrial tuberiferous herb growing on wet lateritic soil in rather open places. Flowers in June.

Distribution: —The Comoros, Madagascar, the Seychelles, Reunion, Mauritius. Alien weed species in Vietnam (Lam Dong Province: near Dalat City), Taiwan ( Hsu 2016, Lin 2019, Chang-Yang et al. 2022), Fiji (Vanua Levu, Viti Levu; Renz & Vodonaivalu 1989) and Wallis and Futuna Islands ( Morat & Veillon 1985).

Conservation status in Vietnam: —Weed alien species that does not need any conservation actions.

Notes: — Cynorkis fastigiata was observed in a single location, wildly growing at and near the territory of a private orchid garden near Dalat City (Lam Dong Province in southern Vietnam). The appearance of this species in Vietnam is an unexpected introduction, apparently resulted from the import of this and various other living ornamental orchids from abroad. This is probably the only appropriately documented alien invasive orchid species in the flora of Vietnam recorded during the recent years. According to our personal observation that is in line with the notes provided by Lin (2019), this species can easily spread in suitable conditions by self-seeding and continues to grow stable as a weed in clumps with other cultivated plants.

A remarkable record of an alien orchid species in a natural habitat in Vietnam was made more than 30 years ago by Haager (1993), who has documented (by a photo only) Chamaeangis vesicata ( Lindley 1843: 6) Schlechter (1918: 109) native to tropical Africa. As it is evident from the absence of subsequent reports, this species probably has not established an essential invasion in Vietnam.

Studied specimens:— FIJI. Viti Levu, northern portion of Evans Range, between Mt. Vatu-Yanitu and Mt. Natondra, elevation 700–900 m, terrestrial in tall grass, frequent but inconspicuous and scattered on reed-covered hillsides, 9–12 May 1947, Smith A.C. 4336 (LE LE01254630 https://en.herbariumle.ru/?t=occ&id=218332). FIJI. Viti Levu, southwestern Pacific Ocean, 6 September 1971, A. Takhtajan s.n. (LE LE01254628 https://en.herbariumle.ru/?t=occ&id=218330). VIETNAM. Weed terrestrial tuberiferous plant in private orchid garden in Lam Dong Province, near Dalat City, flowers light pink, 15 June 2023, Nguyen Van Canh, AL2468 (LE LE01253750 https://en.herbariumle. ru/?t=occ&id=211950, photos LE LE01124740 https://en.herbariumle.ru/?t=occ&id=208248).

Figures

FIGURE 1. Cynorkis fastigiata. A. Flowers in apical part of inflorescence, side view. B. Flower and flower bud, half-side view. C. Flower, front view. Photos by Nguyen Van Canh from living plant prior to the preparation of the voucher herbarium specimen Nguyen Van Canh, AL2468. Photo correction and design by L. Averyanov.