Crepidium commelinifolium subsp. szymborskianum Margońska, 2015

Margońska, Hanna B., 2015, A new subspecies of Crepidium commelinifolium (Malaxideae; Epidendroideae; Orchidaceae), Phytotaxa 204 (2), pp. 159-164 : 160-163

Crepidium commelinifolium subsp. szymborskianum Margońska subsp. nov. ( Figs. 3–4 )

The floral elements are identical to Crepidium commelinifolium typical-subspecies. Leaves are oblique, longer and narrower than the typical subspecies: oblong-ovate to ovate-lanceolate, with distinctly undulate margins.

Type: — Museum Botanicum Berolinense Gartenherbar, ACC-Nr.: 240–03– 08– 80/1 BG-Ort: GW –02–005 LI –020, leg. Cubr 49650, preserved in 11 March 2014 (holotype B –10 0575837!, isotypes UGDA – HBM! and flowers in spir. coll.!; living collections: BerlinDahlem Botanischer Garten BG –Ort: GW – 02 – 005 LI – 020!, UGDA – HBM!) .

Shoot elongate, 1–6 cm tall (ascending part, without inflorescence) × 0.25–0.4 cm, creeping, thick and fleshy, branched, purple to violet flushed (more intense when exposed to sunlight). Leaves many, leaf blade (1)1.4–2.4(2.6) cm × (0.5)1– 1.3(1.5) cm, oblique, fleshy, oblong-ovate to ovate-lanceolate, long attenuate, acuminate, margins distinctly undulate, sometimes densely so, gently cordate at base, satin glossy, purple to violet flushed, dark green along margins (more visible when exposed to sunlight), purple-violet beneath. Inflorescence 14–20 cm tall, racemose, 4–10 cm long, 10– 25-flowered, subdense. Flowers ca. 0.3–0.35 cm in diameter, morphology of floral elements identical to Crepidium commelinifolium typical subspecies, dark violet, violet, violet-pink to cream-brown. Tepals distinctly glossy, fleshy. Lip dark and more intense colored, especially apical part of lamina, cavity and its convexity.

Etymology:—It is named in honour of Wiesława Szymborska, a Polish poet and Nobel prize winner (1996 Nobel Prize for Literature).

Distribution:— Malaysia, Brunei, Indonesia.

Other specimens examinated e.g.:— MALAYSIA. Borneo. Sabah: Mt. Kinabalu , Dallas , 2 November 1931, J. & M. S. Clemens 26912 ( BO –0072655!, E!, K!), Kinabalu ridge, Tinompok, 28 August 1931, J. & M. S. Clemens 26411 ( BM –000088062!), Sandakan Zone, G. Tawai, November 1986, J. J. Vermeulen & A. Lamb 744 ( K!), Mamut River , near copper prospect, 7 October 1966, S. Collenette 1039 ( K!) ; Kota Belud Distr., ridge S of Melangkap Tamis on NW side of Mt. Kinabalu , 20 March 1984, J. H. Beaman 8984 ( K!) ; Ranau Distr., steep slopes and cliffs on SW side of Lohan River, 24 March 1984, J. H. Beaman 9065 ( K!), between Poring hot spring and Ranau , 21 August 1984, M. A. Clements 3297 ( K!) ; Keningau Distr., 1 km E of Kg. Tagatas, 73 km SE of Keningau on road to Sepulut , 22 September 1983, J. H. Beaman 7027 ( K!) ; Lahad Datu Distr., Mt Silam below Telecom tower, 11 September 1995, J. H. Beaman 11637 ( K!) ; Sarawak: Piningiao, November 1865, O. Beccari 948 ( FI –10011!). Sarawak: Gunung Mulu National Park , March 1976, I. Nielsen 730 ( AAU!, K!) .

BRUNEI. Belait Distr., Andulau Forest Reserve, compts 7&8, 27 October 1989, L.L. Forman 1114 (K!). INDONESIA. Borneo, Permantang, S of Kwala Kwajan: Samit River, 27 January 1954, A.H.G. Alston 13406 (BM!, BO–0072661!).

Notes:— I repeated the Berlin–Dahlem Botanischer Garten experiment in a glasshouse at University of Gdańsk by growing representatives of both groups of orchid (those with “typical” leaves and those with more oblong, undulate and darker leaves) side by side, in identical substrate and under the same conditions. I have cultivated the type-group of Crepidium commelinifolium obtained from the collection of the Berlin-Dahlem Botanischer Garten for 2 years and by now, the population contains hundreds of healthy specimens that are almost permanently in flower. I also obtained two plants of the second group from the Berlin-Dahlem Botanischer Garten and have grown these too in the University of Gdańsk glasshouse since March 2014. At present, this latter population is also healthy and growing well. The result of this experiment was identical to that situation at the Berlin–Dahlem Botanischer Garten. Therefore, variation in vegetative morphology in this species is not the result of differences in habitat or environmental factors, but is permanent and under genetic control.

Figures

FIGURE 3. Leaves of Crepidium commelinifolium ssp. szymborskianum, new subspecies Marg. (photo by H.B. Margońska taken in The Berlin–Dahlem Botanischer Garten glasshouse).

FIGURE 4. Flower of Crepidium commelinifolium ssp. szymborskianum, new subspecies Marg. (photo by H.B. Margońska taken in the Berlin–Dahlem Botanischer Garten glasshouse).