Scaphochlamys durga Ooi, K. Meekiong & S.Y. Wong, 2017

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 : 260

15. Scaphochlamys durga Ooi, K. Meekiong & S.Y. Wong , sp. nov. Type:—MALAYSIAN BORNEO. Sarawak: Kuching Division, Lundu, Kampung Jugan, 01°29’29.4”N, 110°05’20.9”E, 63 m, 13 January 2014, I.H. Ooi & K. Jeland OIH84 (holo SAR), Figure 15 Diagnosis:— Scaphochlamys durga is similar to S. stenophylla in the inflorescences and flowers, but readily distinguishable by its moderately long (not very short) petiole, ovate to lanceolate (not long linear to narrowly lanceolate) lamina, adaxially often variegated

(white shading between midrib and margin with exception of main lateral veins).

Terrestrial, perennial, rhizomatous herbs, to c. 23 cm tall. Rhizome creeping on ground, c. 5 mm in diameter, externally slightly greenish brown, internally brownish white. Elements 1–10 mm apart, 1-foliate, juvenile not seen; petiole 8–9 cm long, canaliculate, glabrous, medium green with scattered white dots, base pulvinate, white to yellowish green; leafless sheath c. 4, 0.5–5.5 cm long, brownish light green, glabrous, degrading with age; leaf sheath c. 0.9 cm long, membranous, glabrous, greenish white, drying and shredding with age; ligule obscure; lamina 10–14 × 4–5 cm, ovate to lanceolate, coriaceous, margin slightly undulate, base attenuate, apex acute; adaxial surface semi-glossy, medium green to dark green, often variegated (white shades between midrib and margins except main lateral veins), glabrous, midrib sunken, medium green to dark green, glabrous, main lateral veins slightly visible; abaxial surface whitish green, often variegated (white shades between midrib and margin), glabrous, midrib raised, medium green, glabrous, main lateral veins inconspicuous. Inflorescence 8–10 cm long, emerging from near leaf base inside leaf sheaths, tightly congested, comprised of 4–5, 2–3 flowered cincinni borne on a peduncle; peduncle c. 6 cm long, whitish light green, glabrous, covered with degraded leafless sheaths; bract 4–5, c. 18 × 4 mm, spirally arranged, lanceolate, membranous, light brown, sparsely pubescent, apex acuminate, each bract subtending 2–3 flowers; bracteole 2–3, 13–17 mm long, shorter than bracts but barely distinguishable from bract, light brown; flower 2.8–3.5 cm long, floral odour reminiscent of torch-ginger ( Etlingera elatior ) tissues; calyx 10–11 mm long, brownish white, sparsely pubescent, apex acute; floral tube 18–23 mm long, white to slightly brownish white, sparsely pubescent; corolla lobes 8–10 mm long, lanceolate, glabrous, light yellow, apex acute, hooded; staminodes 4–6 mm long, linear to slightly oblanceolate, adaxial surface covered with glandular hairs, light yellow, apex acute to rounded; labellum 11–13 × 10–12 mm, spathulate, adaxial surface covered with glandular hairs, white at base and violet till apex with a light yellow median band, apex 2-lobed, indented c. 4 mm, lobes sometimes slightly overlapping; stamen c. 5 × 1.5 mm, covered with glandular hairs, white; filament c. 0.5 mm long; anther thecae c. 4 mm long, spurless, crest c. 0.5 mm long; stigma less than 1 mm long, club-shaped with 2 dorsal knobs, ostiole ciliate, forward facing; style c. 25 mm long, white, sparsely pubescent; ovary c. 2 mm long, 1-locular, densely pubescent, light green, placentation basal; epigynous glands 2, c. 1 mm long, free, needle-like, brownish white. Fruit and seeds not seen.

Etymology:—The specific epithet durga is named after the Hinduism Goddess, Durga, known for her many incarnations to reflect the two forms of the leaf laminae.

Distribution and ecology: — Scaphochlamys durga is known from the type locality and its vicinity, occurring on podzolic black soil over sandstone in kerangas (tropical heath) forest, 50–80 m elevation.

Additional specimens examined (paratypes):—MALAYSIAN BORNEO. Sarawak: Kuching Division , Lundu, Kampung Stungkur, 01°26’17.7”N, 109°56’07.5”E, 01°28’46.4”N, 110°05’08.5”E, 50 m, 4 August 2014, B. Williams, S. Hyndman & T. Jepom OIH260 (SAR) ; Lundu , Kampung Jugan, 01°29’29.7”N, 110°05’19.9”E, 23 March 2014, I.H. Ooi, T. Jepom & J. Arnold OIH97 (SAR) ; Lundu , Kampung Jugan, 01°29’29.4”N, 110°05’20.9”E, 23 March 2014, I.H. Ooi, T. Jepom & J. Arnold OIH96 (SAR) .

Conservation status:—Near Threatened (NT). This species is common where it occurs but all currently known localities are not within protected areas. One of the populations found during the early stage of this study was later destroyed by logging activities.

Discussion:— Scaphochlamys durga is close to S. argentea but the inconspicuous lateral veins (vs. not prominently raised) are readily distinguishable. This species is often variegated but unlike the species in the Salahuddiniana Group, the variegation is not refractive. The tightly congested inflorescence of S. durga clearly places it in the Petiolata Group.

Figures

FIGURE 15. Scaphochlamys durga. A. Type, OIH84 (SAR). B. plant in habitat with variegation. C. plant in habitat without variegation. D. variegated lamina adaxial surface. E. unmarked lamina adaxial surface. F. variegated lamina abaxial surface. G. inflorescence. H. inflorescence, peduncle artificially revealed. I. flower, side view. J. flower, front view. K. flower, top view, note labellum. L. stamen, note spurless anther. M. bract and bracteoles. N. ovary. A–B, D, F–N from OIH84; C from OIH97; E from OIH235.