Campanulorchis longipes (Gagnep.) J.Ponert, 2017

Ponert, Jan, 2017, New combinations in Campanulorchis (Orchidaceae: Epidendroideae): a reappraisal of the genus, Phytotaxa 323 (1), pp. 93-96 : 93-94

Campanulorchis longipes (Gagnep.) J.Ponert , comb. nov.

Basionym: Eria longipes Gagnepain (1930: 308) .

Type:— VIETNAM. Annam: Nhatrang, 21 May 1922, Poilane 3536 (holotype: P!, P 00403527, lectotype designated by Seidenfaden 1992).

Other specimens examined:— VIETNAM. Annam: Nhatrang, 19 May 1922, Poilane 3435 ( P, P00403526 ) ; Annam: west of Nhatrang , 25 May 1922, Poilane 3661 ( P, P00403528 ) ; Annam: Nhatrang, 17 May 1923, Poilane 6504 ( P, P00403529 ) ; Annam: Darlac, Massif du Chû Yang Sinh, 23 April 1941, Poilane 32531 ( P, P00403530 ) ; Annam: Darlac, Massif du Chû Yang Sinh, 24 April 1941, Poilane 32540 ( P, P00403531 ) .

Notes:— This species is similar to C. globifera (type species of the genus) but differs in several characters: much longer petioles (5–8 cm), slightly wider leaf blades (elliptic to oblong) and larger flowers (sepals 1.8–2.9 cm long) with dark trichomes on the sepals. Campanulorchis longipes has been misinterpreted for a long time, and plants of this taxon are widely cultivated under the names C. globifera or C. thao . The confusion of C. thao with C. globifera and C. longipes is curious as this taxon differs in many characters, especially the yellow and only partially opening flowers ( Speckmaier & Sieder 2008). The confusion between C. globifera and C. longipes is much more likely as these taxa have similar flowers but differ especially in the leaf shape and flower size. The clear similarity between these taxa in many characters indicates both should therefore be classified in Campanulorchis .

The two-flowered inflorescence proposed by Seidenfaden (1992) as a diagnostic character of this species does not have any taxonomical value. All specimens in the herbarium of Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle ( P) designated originally as syntypes (Gagnepain 1930) are all single-flowered, and the original description reads “ inflorescentia uniflora ” (Gagnepain 1930). Two-flowered inflorescences could probably occur occasionally depending on conditions as is common in some other orchid species in Podochileae including C. leiophylla and C. pseudoleiophylla . This mistake could probably partially explain frequent incorrect determinations of C. longipes . When using the identification key of Seidenfaden (1992), typical single-flowered specimens would erroneously be excluded from this taxon.