Apostasia fujianica Y.Li & S.Lan, 2023

Li, Yuanyuan, Ma, Liang, Liu, Ding-Kun, Zhao, Xue-Wei, Zhang, Diyang, Ke, Shijie, Chen, Gui-Zhen, Zheng, Qinyao, Liu, Zhong-Jian & Lan, Siren, 2023, Apostasia fujianica (Apostasioideae, Orchidaceae), a new Chinese species: evidence from morphological, genome size and molecular analyses, Phytotaxa 583 (3), pp. 277-284 : 281-283

Apostasia fujianica Y.Li & S.Lan , sp. nov. ( Fig. 2 ) (Dz×ffi±)

Type:— CHINA. Fujian (Dz×): Zhangzhou (dzffl), Zhaoan (DZae), Wushan Scenic Spot , deep soils on the slope of evergreen broadleaved forests, elev. 752 m, 117°10′43″ E, 23°51′48″ N, 2021.6.20, Ma 2021 (holotype: FAFU!) .

This new species is similar to A. shenzhenica but can be distinguished by its narrowly ovate leaves, 1.5–2.0 × 1.0– 1.5 cm with a 0.8–1.0 mm long apicule. The inflorescences are 0.8–1.7 cm long with 8–11 flowers. The flowers are not fully open, cleistogamous and have similar sepals and petals, each with a 0.2 mm long apicule. The inner margins of two anthers are connivent to form a Solanum -like anther arrangement with one stigma and cavity and cylindrical fruits.

Terrestrial herbs, 3–5 cm tall. Rhizomes bearing many rootlets, tubers scattered along the roots, 3-4 mm in diameter, globular. Stems erect, lignified, not branched, 2-3 mm in diameter, multinodal, with a cylindrical sheath 8–10 mm long, the upper part of the sheath with 3–8 leaves. Leaves ovate, 1.5–2.0 × 1.0– 1.5 cm, apex acute, the base contracted into a 6–8 mm long stalk, stalk base dilated and clasping the stem. Panicle arising from stem apex, arching, 0.8–1.7 cm long, 8–11-flowered; bracts ovate, 2–3 mm long; pedicel and ovary 0.8–1.2 cm long; flowers green-yellow, not fully opening, cleistogamous, 0.4–0.6 cm in diameter; sepals 3, similar to each other, narrowly oblong, 5.0–6.0 × 1.5–2.0 mm, central portion with a keeled protrusion that elongates into a 0.2 mm apicule; petals 3, similar to the sepals; basal part of stamen 3 fused with style to a form a cylindrical column, 2.0– 2.5 mm long; a subquadrate nectary, 0.8× 0.8 mm, the upper portion of column slightly longitudinally sulcate; fertile stamens 2, each with a 0.8 mm free filament; anthers narrowly-elliptic, 3.0–4.0 × 1.5–1.8 mm, the two apices equal, clasping the style and staminode below, each bilocular with powdery pollen; staminode opposite dorsal sepal, fused with and shorter than the style, apex fully separated from upper part of style; style 1.8–2.2 mm long, shorter than anthers, stigma 1, with a cavity. Berry-like fruits are long, cylindrical, green, 0.9–1.0 cm long and 1.8–2.2 mm in diameter.

Distribution and habitat:— Terrestrial in loose, rocky soil in broad-leaved forest at an elevation of approximately 600–800 m in Fujian Province, China.

Phenology:— Flowering June–July, fruiting June–February.

Conservation status:— Only one population has been located, consisting of no more than 50 individuals. This site is not in a protected area, and using the IUCN (2012) guidelines, A. fujianica should be considered critically endangered.

Etymology:— Referring to the province where this new species was found.

Figures

FIGURE 2. Apostasia fujianica. A. Plant habit in the wild. B. Flowering and fruiting plant of A. shenzhenica. C. Flowering plant. D. Inflorescence. E. Flower opened by hand. F. Floral organs.