Scaphochlamys iporii Meekiong & Ampeng (2011: 19)

Hin, Ooi Im, Kalu, Meekiong & Yeng, Wong Sin, 2017, A review of Scaphochlamys (Zingiberaceae) from Borneo, with description of eleven new species, Phytotaxa 317 (4), pp. 231-279 : 239

3. Scaphochlamys iporii Meekiong & Ampeng (2011: 19) . ≡ Borneocola iporii (Meekiong & Ampeng) Sam (2016: 47) . Type:—MALAYSIAN BORNEO. Sarawak: Kapit Division, Lanjak Entimau Wildlife Sanctuary, Bukit Menyarin, 3 Apr 2008, K. Meekiong, I.B. Ipor, A. Ampeng, B. Marzuki & Y. Isa MK1839 (holo SAR!, iso HUMS!), Figure 3

Terrestrial, perennial, rhizomatous herbs, to 10.5–20.0 cm tall. Rhizome creeping on the forest floor, 2.5–3.0 mm in diameter. Elements erect, c. 2–4 cm apart, 1-foliate; petiole 3.5–10.5 cm long, slender, canaliculte, light green, base pulvinate; leafless sheath 0.5–10 × 0.5–2 cm, membranous, apex acute, light brown, papery when dried; lamina 5.5–16.0 × 2.5–10.0 cm, coriaceous, elliptic, margin entire, base cuneate, apex shortly pointed, blunt or almost rounded, adaxial surface dark green, often greenish yellow when young, abaxial surface whitish green, matte. Inflorescence emerging from near leaf base inside leaf sheaths, up to 3 cm long, slender, bearing up to 10 flowers, opening in succession, one flower at a time; peduncle glabrous; bract boat-shaped, light brown; flower white; floral tube 2.0– 2.5 cm long, tubular, white; dorsal corolla lobe longer, 2.5–3.0 cm × 5–7 mm long, apex acute, transparent white; lateral corolla lobes 1.8– 2.0 cm × 4–6 mm, transparent green; labellum 2–3 × 3–4 cm, obovate or fan-shaped, white with pale yellow median band toward the base. Fruit ellipsoid, 2.0– 5.3 cm long, surface rough (colliculate), green when immature.

Distribution and ecology:—Only known from central Sarawak at Lanjak Entimau Wildlife Sanctuary (LEWS).

Conservation status:—Near Threatened (NT). The species meets the area requirements under criterion B for Endangered. The species is commonly found and well protected within a wildlife sanctuary, a Totally Protected Area. However, the surrounding areas outside the wildlife sanctuary are subjected to logging activities. Therefore, the listing is justified under the NT category ( IUCN 2012).

Discussion:—Similar to S. salahuddiniana , the inflorescence and flower of S. iporii fits into this group but the lamina of S. iporii is coriaceous and matte adaxially with a cuneate base ( Meekiong et al. 2011).

Figures

FIGURE 3. Scaphochlamys iporii. A. plants in habitat. B. inflorescence. (Meekiong et al. 2011).