Coelogyne pianmaensis R. Li & Z. L. Dao, 2014

Li, Rong & Dao, Zhi-Ling, 2014, A new species of Coelogyne (Orchidaceae) from western Yunnan, China, Phytotaxa 162 (2), pp. 115-119 : 115-117

Coelogyne pianmaensis R. Li & Z. L. Dao , sp. nov. ( Fig. 1 )

Species Coelogynis corymbosae affinis, sed labelli maculis oculis atrobrunneis a marginatis vaccinis, folia obovato-oblonga uninervia, sepala oblongo-lanceolata 7-nerviis, pedicello cum ovario breviori circiter 1.5 cm longo, petala 7-nerviis differt.

Type: — CHINA. Yunnan: Nujiang Lisu people autonomous Prefecture , Lushui County, Pianma township , Yaojiaping , E side of Gaoligong Mountains, primary evergreen broad-leaved forest, on Tsuga trees, 2,800 m, 25°58′14.1″N, 98°41′57.1″E, 22 April 2003, Liu 846 (holotype KUN!) .

Plant epiphytic, 8–14.5 cm tall. Rhizome stout, 3–4 mm in diameter, densely covered by brown, scaly sheaths. Pseudobulbs clustered, developing serially, less than 1 cm apart from each other, oblong-ovoid or rhombic-oblong, brightly yellow and strongly wrinkled when dried, 20–35 × 6–10 mm, 2 leaves at apex, sheathed at base; sheaths ovate, papery, dark brown, 1.2–2.2 cm long. Leaf blade obovate-oblong, subcoriaceous, 5–10 × 1–2 cm, 1-veined, apex acute; petiole grooved, 5–8 mm long. Inflorescence proteranthous to synanthous, erect, 6–11 cm long, covered by overlapping sheaths in lower part; raceme 2- to 3-flowered (opening together); floral bracts oblonglanceolate, 9–11 × 1–2 mm, apex acute, caducous. Flowers fragrant, fleshy, white with 4 dark brown eyelike blotches surrounded by brownish-yellow on lip; pedicel and ovary ca. 1.5 cm long; dorsal sepal oblong-lanceolate, 29–35 × 8–10 mm, 7-veined, apex acute; lateral sepals similar to dorsal sepal, somewhat narrower than dorsal sepal, 29–35 × 6–8 mm; petals oblong-lanceolate, 27–33 × 9–11 mm, 7-veined, apex acute; lip subovate, 2.2–2.8 × 1.6–2 cm, 3-lobed; lateral lobes erect, suborbicular, 10–12 × 5–6 mm, crenulate on margin; mid-lobe ovate to ovate-lanceolate, 10–12 × 3–4 mm, apex acute to acuminate; 3 low lamellae extending from lip base to base of mid-lobe, lamellae crenulate; column arcuate, ca. 1.5 cm long, both sides winged, wings gradually broader from bottom to top, apex obtuse; anther ventral at column apex; pollinia 4; rostellum large.

Distribution and habitat: — Coelogyne pianmaensis is currently known only from four sites on the E side of Gaoligong Mountains in Lushui County, Yunnan Province, China ( Fig. 2 ). It grows on Tsuga trees in primary evergreen broad-leaved forest and coniferous-broad leaved mixed forest at 2,600 –3,130 m of elevation.

Phenology: — Coelogyne pianmaensis was observed with flowers in April.

Etymology: —The specific epithet of the new species refers to its type locality.

Discussion: —According to Clayton (2002), Chen & Clayton (2009), George & George (2011), and Subedi’s (2011) monographic works, Coelogyne pianmaensis obviously belongs to sect. Ocellatae Pfitzer & Kraenzlin (1907: 56). The section is characterized by the white flowers with colourful eyelike blotches on the lip. This section shows its center of diversity in the Himalayas ( Subedi 2011). Morphologically, the new species is similar to Coelogyne corymbosa Lindley (1854: 7) by its oblong-ovoid pseudobulbs, oblong-lanceolate petals, and crenulate margins in the lateral lamellae, but differs by having dark brown eyelike blotches surrounded by brownish-yellow on lip, 1-veined obovate-oblong leaves, 7-veined oblong-lanceolate sepals, the shorter pedicel and ovary, and 7- veined petals. The major differences between them are outlined in Table 1.

Characters C. pianmaensis C. corymbosa

Rhizome 3–4 mm in diameter 5–8 mm in diameter

Leaf petiole ca. 5–8 mm long ca. 10–18 mm long

Leaf blade obovate-oblong, 5–10 × 1–2 cm, 1-veined obovate, 6–19 × 2–4 cm, 5–10-veined

Pedicel and ovary ca. 1.5 cm long ca. 3 cm long

Sepals oblong-lanceolate, 7-veined elliptic to ovate, 3–5-veined

Petals 7-veined 3–5-veined

Lip dark brown eyelike blotches surrounded by brownish- yellow eyelike blotches surrounded by reddish

yellow orange

Median lamellae margin crenulate margin entire

Figures

FIGURE 1. Coelogyne pianmaensis. A. Habit. B. Flower (side view). C. Dorsal sepal. D. Lateral sepal. E. Petal. F. Lip. G. Column and ovary (front view). Drawn by Yitao Liu from the holotype.

FIGURE 2. Distribution map of Coelogyne pianmaensis in Yunnan, China.