Bulbophyllum yunxiaoense M.H. Li, J.F. Liu & S.P. Chen, 2017

Li, Ming-He, Yuan, Xue-Yan, Liu, Ding-Kun, Liu, Jiang-Feng & Chen, Shi-Pin, 2017, Bulbophyllum yunxiaoense sp. nov. (Orchidaceae: Epidendroideae: Malaxideae) from Fujian, China: Morphological and molecular analyses, Phytotaxa 332 (1), pp. 59-66 : 61-65

publication ID	https://doi.org/ 10.11646/phytotaxa.332.1.6
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/643BE675-4638-FF9D-A9AC-F9FAFCD6FD4F
treatment provided by	Felipe
scientific name	Bulbophyllum yunxiaoense M.H. Li, J.F. Liu & S.P. Chen
status	sp. nov.

Treatment

Bulbophyllum yunxiaoense M.H. Li, J.F. Liu & S.P. Chen View in CoL , sp. nov. (ṙñẼNJĔ; Figs. 2 View FIGURE 2 , 3 View FIGURE 3 )

This new species is similar to B. pingtungense Ying & Chen , from which it differs by its light green to greyish-brown flower; dorsal sepal is ovate-oblong, and its margin is densely long purple ciliate; scape is 3–4 cm in length; and lateral sepal is narrowly elliptic.

Type:— China, Fujian (Ñü), Yunxiao (ṙñ), epiphytic on rocks in forests, altitude 200 m, May 16, 2017, Minghe Li 20170315 (holotype: FAFU, isotype: NOCC).

Herbs, epiphytic. Rhizome 2.5–3.0 mm in diameter. Pseudobulbs 2.5–3.5 cm apart on rhizome, ovoid, 1.8–2.5 cm, 1.4–1.7 cm in diameter, 5 ribbed, with a terminal leaf. Petiole 0.5–0.8 mm, leaf blade oblong to narrowly elliptic, 3.5–6.5 × 1.5–1.8 cm, thickly leathery, apex obtuse and retuse. Scape from base of pseudobulb, 3.0–4.0 cm; umbels 2-flowered; peduncle with 2 sheaths; floral bracts ovate-lanceolate, 7–9 mm, apex acute; pedicel and ovary 1.8–2.1 cm. Flower opening, dorsal sepals pale green, with purple spots and veins; lateral sepals greyish-brown, with purple spots and veins inside; petals pale green-yellow, with purple spots and veins; lip greyish-green, base purple; column pale yellow, with purple spots. Dorsal sepal ovate-oblong, 2.0–2.2 × 1.3–1.5 cm, margin with densely long purple ciliate, apex acuminate; lateral sepals narrowly elliptic, 4.3–4.7 × 0.8–1.0 cm, base adnate to column foot, twisted near base, connate along upper margin, apex acuminate. Petals, falcate-trilateral, 0.9–1.1 × 0.7–0.8 mm, apex obtuse; lip the nodes are bootstrap percentages and Bayesian posterior probabilities ( BS ML, BS MP, PP). A dash (-) indicates a node is inconsistent between the topology of the MP / ML trees and the Bayesian tree; *node is 100 bootstrap percentage or 1.00 posterior probability.

recurved, ligulate, 0.8–0.9 × 0.5–0.6 cm, fleshy, short black ciliateon both basal sides, base attached to end of column foot by a mobile joint, centrally with 1 white longitudinal ridge. Column 5–6 mm, with triangular, enlarged wings at middle; stelidia subtriangular; foot upcurved, 1.2–1.4 cm, with free part 2–3 mm; anther cap entire, apex truncate; pollinia 4, narrowly ovoid, in 2 pairs.

Phenology: Flowering in March.

Etymology: The species epithet refers to Yunxiao County, where this new species was first found.

Distribution and habitat: Bulbophyllum yunxiaoense is so far only known within Yunxiao, Fujian, China. It is epiphytic on steep rocks at elevations of 200 m at the edge of evergreen broad-leaved forests.

Conservation status: Bulbophyllum yunxiaoense is known only from the type locality, and only one population of ca. 150 individual plants was discovered in a small area (ca. 0.003 km 2). Because the extent of occurrence is estimated to be less than 100 km 2 (CR B1) and the area of occupancy less than 10 km 2 (CR B2) with the species existing at a single location (CR B1a + B2a), B. yunxiaoense has been assigned a preliminary status of Critically Endangered (CR B1a + B2a), according to the IUCN Categories and Criteria ( IUCN 2012). In addition, Bulbophyllum plants are used in herbal medicine in the locality. It is possible that B. yunxiaoense might also be collected for use in herbal medicine. Therefore, immediate conservation strategies are required.