Luisia brachyota Hou H. Fu, Liang Ma & S.P.Chen, 2023

Fu, Hou-Hua, Zhou, Cheng-Yuan, Ma, Liang, Lan, Siren & Chen, Shi-Pin, 2023, Luisia brachyota (Orchidaceae; Epidendroideae) a new species from China: evidence based on morphological and molecular data, Phytotaxa 632 (1), pp. 87-92 : 90-92

Luisia brachyota Hou H. Fu, Liang Ma & S.P.Chen , sp. nov. (AEHOiƗü; Figs. 2 , 3 )

Type: — China, Yunnan, Jinping Miao, Yao and Dai Autonomous County, epiphytic on branches in forests, 22.503611° N, 103.044722° E, elev. 975 m, 1 June 2023, HH. Fu 20230607 (holotype: FJFC!, isotype: CSH!) .

This new species is similar to L. filiformis and L. morsei , from which it differs by its stem erect, inflorescences erect, 3–5 flowered, sepals white with faint purple lines, petals linear, whitish with faint purple lines, lip deep purple-red, 0.8 × 0.6 cm, without a distinct boundary between hypochile and epichile, adaxially often longitudinally wrinkled or grooved.

Plant epiphytic, stems erect, 16.0–35.0 cm, ca. 5.0 mm in diam., internodes 2.0– 2.5 cm. Leaves 8.0–18.0 cm × 2.0–4.0 mm, acute at apex. Inflorescences 3-or 5-flowered; floral bracts broadly ovate-triangular, ca. 2.0 mm, acute. Flowers often nodding, 0.5–1.0 cm in diam., sepals and petals whitish with faint purple lines, lip deep purple-red; pedicel and ovary purple-red, ca. 1.0 cm. Dorsal sepal ligulate, ca. 6.0 × 3.0 mm, 7-veined, obtuse; lateral sepals ovate-lanceolate, cymbiform, ca. 7.0 × 3.0 mm, dorsally carinate, 6-veined, apex acute. Petals linear, ca. 10.0 × 2.0 mm, acute; lip ca. 8.0 mm, fleshy, glabrous, without a distinct boundary between hypochile and epichile; hypochile ca. 4.0 × 3.5 mm, convex, lateral lobes very short; epichile cordate, large, ca. 4.5 × 6.0 mm, adaxially with 7 or 9 papillate longitudinal ridges. Column ca. 3.5 mm; pollinia 2, ca. 0.1 cm, grooved, ovoid, yellow.

Phenology: —Flowering from June.

Etymology: —The species epithet refers to lip base with lateral lobes very short.

Distribution and habitat: — Luisia brachyota is so far only known within Jinshuihe Town, Jinping Miao, Yao and Dai Autonomous County, Yunnan, China. It is epiphytic on branches at elevations of 800–1200 m at the edge of evergreen broad—leaved forests.

Conservation status: — L. brachyota was found with only one population, which consisted no more than 50 individuals, and not elsewhere. In addition, the local presence a lot of anthropogenic activities, fearing that it might affect the species. Its endangered status should be evaluated as CR (critically endangered), according to the IUCN (2022).

Figures

FIGURE 2. Luisia brachyota (A) Plant; (B) Inflorescence; (C) Flower; (D) Pollinia; (E, G) Petals; (F) Dorsal sepal; (H, K) Lateral sepal; (I) Lip; (J) Ovary and column; (L) anther cap.

FIGUERE 3. Luisia brachyota (A) Habitat; (B) A flowering plant; (C) Flower; (D) Fruit; (E) Ovary, column and lip dorsally; (F) Structure of the flower parts; (G) Pollinia (loss of viscidium and stipe) and anther cap.