Scaphochlamys argentea Smith (1987: 209)

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 : 256-258

13. Scaphochlamys argentea Smith (1987: 209) . ≡ Borneocola argenteus (R.M. Sm.) Sam in Sam et al. (2016: 46). Type:—MALAYSIAN BORNEO. Sarawak: 1st Division, Lundu, near base of G. Perigi, 6 August 1962, B.L. Burtt & P.J.B. Woods B2700 (holo E!). = Scaphochlamys depressa Mas Izzaty, Ampeng & Meekiong (2014: 22) . Type:— MALAYSIAN BORNEO. Sarawak: Kuching Division, Lundu, Pueh Range, Runggang Camp, hill dipterocarp forest, on the slope in shaded area c. 600–850 m elevation, 13 June 2013, M. Mas Izzaty, G. Angela, C.M. Noor Ain, A.R. Norhashimah, K. Ogary, K. Meekiong, Mas 002 (holo SAR!, iso HUMS!), Figure 13

Terrestrial, perennial, rhizomatous herbs. Rhizome thin, 1–2 mm in diameter when dry, creeping, with long fine trailing roots. Elements 2–3 cm apart, 1-foliate, juvenile not seen; petiole 3–6 cm long, thin, glabrous; leafless sheaths c. 3, the longest reaching up to 3.8 cm in length (enclosing the petiole), scarious, glabrous with a pubescent acute apex; leaf sheath only a few mm long; ligule positioned at the base of the leaf, c. 5 mm, membranous, bilobed and acuminate; lamina 6–10 × 3–4 cm, symmetric, oval to oblong, base subcordate to rounded, apex broadly acute to shortly acuminate (may be tufted), adaxial surface green with prominent silver venation, abaxial surface pale green, sparsely pubescent along midrib towards the leaf base; peduncle 3–5 cm long, slender, almost glabrous. Inflorescence small, round, 2 × 1 cm, with 3–4 tightly congested bracts; bract 2.5 × 0.2 cm, long and thin, broadening towards the base, glabrous, apex acute and tufted, each bract subtending c. 2 flowers; first bracteole 1.8 cm long, slightly shorter than the bract, subsequent bracteoles shorter; flower calyx 8 mm long, with a single split to at least midway down its length, minutely tridentate at the apex; floral tube 25 mm long, lightly pubescent, corolla lobes pale green, recurved, dorsal lobe broader and with a more pointed apex, lateral lobes 10 × 2–3 mm wide; staminodes 5 mm long, obovate; labellum 10 × 8 mm, small, rounded, appearing entire (in dried material), clawed, adaxial surface covered with tiny glandular hairs, white to light mauve with a pale greenish yellow/yellow central mark; stamen white, filament very short, anther thecae to 4 mm long with short free spurs; crest truncate; stigma cup-like with ciliate margin; style pubescent; ovary 2 mm long, pubescent near the apex, 1-locular with few basal ovules. Fruit yellow green.

Distribution & ecology: — Lundu and Sematan, Sarawak. This species occurs in secondary lowland to hill dipterocarp forest on quartz-rich soil over granite, from elevation of 60 m.

Additional specimens examined:— MALAYSIAN BORNEO. Sarawak: Kuching Division , Lundu, August 1912, J.W. Anderson 131 (SING) ; April 1924, E. Mjöberg 229 (K, SAR); Mt. Gading , 11 September 1929, J. Clemens & M.S. Clemens 7385 (K, SAR) ; G. Buri, Ulu Simunian , 15 September 1975, P. Chai S.36753 (K, L, SAR) ; Pueh Range , near Sebat Waterfall, 01°48’03.9”N, 109°43’02.9”E, 8 July 2015, I.H. Ooi, T. Jepom & L. Julia OIH320 (SAR) .

Conservation status:—Near Threatened (NT). The species is yet to be re-found at its type locality and the area now has been converted to farming. Gunung Pueh is not within a protected area and its foothills have been converted to oil palm plantations. Based on the criteria in IUCN (2012), the species is listed as Near Threatened (NT).

Discussion:— Scaphochlamys depressa is treated as a synonym to S. argentea . The raised secondary veins are adaxially paler in living plants and even more conspicuous and silvery in dried specimens. Individuals with white or violet labellum lobes may be present within the same population (the type of S. argentea has white labellum lobes). R. George S. 41740 (E!, K!, SAN) determined as S. sp. aff. concinna by Searle (2010) is possibly S. argentea . The locality of the specimen is now an army camp.

Figures

FIGURE 13. Scaphochlamys argentea. A. Type, B.L. Burtt & P.J.B. Woods B2700 (E). B. lamina of type enlarged to show adaxial surface with prominent raised main lateral veins. C. dried lamina specimen showing same traits as type specimen. D. plant in habitat, Gunung Pueh. E. flower. F. petiole and leafless sheaths. G. inflorescence, artificially opened to show peduncle. A–B from B.L. Burtt & P.J.B. Woods B2700, Herbarium, Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh (E); C–G from OIH320.