Scaphochlamys lucens 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 : 252-254

11. Scaphochlamys lucens Ooi, K. Meekiong & S.Y.Wong , sp. nov. Type: — MALAYSIAN BORNEO. Sarawak:

Kuching Division, Padawan, Gunung Temugan, 01°15’38.6”N, 110°15’31.4”E, 50 m, 14 April 2014, I.H. Ooi & K.

Jeland OIH125 (holo SAR), Figure 11

Diagnosis: — The flower of S. lucens is similar to S. graveolens , but S. lucens is much smaller, up to 25 cm tall (vs. up to 70), leaf lamina shorter, 9–12 cm long (vs. 20–35 cm long), and adaxially glossy green (vs. matte dull green).

Terrestrial, perennial, rhizomatous herbs, to c. 25 cm tall. Rhizome creeping on ground, c. 5 mm diameter, externally light brown to brownish green, internally white. Elements 0.5− 10 cm apart, 1-foliate, juvenile up to 4-foliate; petiole 10−16 cm long, canaliculate, medium green, pubescent, base pulvinate, white to yellowish light green; leafless sheath c. 3, 1.2−3.5 cm long, light to medium green, glabrous, decaying with age; leaf sheath c. 3 cm long, membranous, light green, glabrous, decaying with age; ligule obscure, membranous; lamina 9–12 × 6–7 cm, broadly ovate to broadly elliptic, coriaceous, margin entire, base obtuse, apex acute, often recurved; adaxial surface glossy, medium green to slightly dark green, glabrous, midrib sunken, medium green to slightly dark green, glabrous, main lateral veins slightly raised; abaxial surface whitish green, sparsely pubescent, midrib raised, medium green, densely pubescent, main lateral veins slightly visible. Inflorescence c. 7 cm long, emerging from near leaf base inside leaf sheaths, tightly congested, bulb-like, comprised of c. 4, 2-flowered cincinni borne on a peduncle, flowering spirally from base to apex; peduncle 1.5−2 cm long, greenish white, glabrous, exposed, slightly covered by the remaining decayed leafless sheaths; bract c. 4, c. 3.5 × 1 cm, spirally arranged, lanceolate, membranous, light green, sparsely pubescent, apex acuminate, each bract subtending c. 2 flowers; bracteole c. 2, 15–30 mm long, shorter than bracts but barely distinguishable from bract, light green; flower 6.5−7 cm long, floral odour reminiscent of liquid seeping from domestic waste; calyx c. 18 mm long, brownish white, sparsely pubescent, apex acute; floral tube 45−50 mm long, white, glabrous; corolla lobes 17–18 mm long, lanceolate, white to slightly yellowish white, glabrous, apex acute, hooded; staminodes 13–18 mm long, linear to slightly oblanceolate, white to light yellow, apex acute, adaxial surface covered with glandular hairs; labellum 20–25 × 10−12 mm, spathulate, adaxial surface covered with glandular hairs, white with violet along light yellow median band extending to lobes, apex 2-lobed, indented c. 5 mm, recurved, lobes sometimes slightly overlapping; stamen c. 11 × 2 mm, covered with glandular hairs, white; filament c. 5 mm long; anther thecae c. 5 mm long, spurless, crest c. 1 mm long; stigma less than 1 mm long, club-shaped with 2 dorsal knobs, ostiole ciliate, forward facing; style c. 45 mm long, white, glabrous; ovary c. 3 mm long, 1-locular, white, densely pubescent, placentation basal; epigynous glands 2, c. 3 mm long, free, needle-like, yellowish white. Fruit and seeds not seen.

Etymology:—The specific epithet, lucens , is derived of the Latin verb meaning “shining”, indicates the adaxially glossy light-reflecting leaf lamina.

Distribution and ecology:— Scaphochlamys lucens is known from the type locality and the surrounding limestone areas occurring in deep litter humus pockets, between 35–60 m elevation.

Additional specimens examined (paratypes):—MALAYSIAN BORNEO. Sarawak: Kuching Division , Padawan, Gua Tut 01°17’07.2”N, 110°15’08.8”E, 5 October 2014, P.C. Boyce & S.Y. Wong OIH263 (SAR) ; Gunung Temugan , 01°15’38.6”N, 110°15’31.4”E, 14 April 2014, I.H. Ooi & K. Jeland OIH126 (SAR) ; Gunung Temugan , 01°15’35.0”N, 110°17’37.7”E, 21 October 2014, S.Y. Wong & P.C. Boyce OIH264 (SAR) .

Conservation status:—Near Threatened (NT).The populations of the species are quite large (200–300 individuals) at the localities. Some of the surrounding areas are popular for ecotourism activities; however, some areas are subjected to quarrying activities. Therefore, the listing is justified under the NT category ( IUCN 2012).

Discussion:— Scaphochlamys lucens appears related to S. graveolens by sharing several remarkable characteristics, especially the tightly congested bulb-like inflorescence, white labellum with violet along light yellow median band extending to lobes, and foul floral odour.

Figures

FIGURE 11. Scaphochlamys lucens. A. Type, OIH125 (SAR). B. plant in habitat. C. petiole base and rhizome. D. inflorescence. E. lamina, adaxial surface. F.lamina, abaxial surface. G. bract and bracteoles. H. flower, side view. I. flower, front view. J. flower, top view. K. calyx and ovary. L. stamen, note spurless anther. M. anther crest and stigma. All from OIH125.