Scaphochlamys gracilipes (K. Schum.) Sakai & Nagamasu (2006: 110)

Hin, Ooi Im, Kalu, Meekiong & Yeng, Wong Sin, 2017, A review of Scaphochlamys (Zingiberaceae) from Borneo, with description of eleven new species, Phytotaxa 317 (4), pp. 231-279 : 238-239

2. Scaphochlamys gracilipes (K. Schum.) Sakai & Nagamasu (2006: 110) . ≡ Haplochorema gracilipes Schumann (1899: 332) . ≡ Boesenbergia gracilipes (K. Schum.) Smith (1982: 43) . Type:—MALAYSIAN BORNEO. Sarawak: 1st Division, Gunung Wah, November 1866, O. Beccari p.b. 2839 (holo FI!, iso K!, P)

Terrestrial, perennial, rhizomatous herbs. Rhizome thin, c. 3 mm in diameter when dried, horizontal to obliquely ascending, anchored by long fine trailing roots. Elements clumping, no more than 1 cm apart, 1-foliate; petiole 4–8 cm long, glabrous; leafless sheath tightly enveloping when young, rapidly drying out and decaying with age; leaf sheath to 1 cm long; ligule tiny, obscure; lamina 11–17 × 4–6 cm, symmetric, elliptic to ovate, base acute to slightly decurrent, apex acuminate, sometimes mucronulate, adaxial surface dark green, abaxial surface finely pubescent along midrib towards apex. Inflorescence to 7 cm long, very slender, becoming more lax as rachis elongates with age, composed of c. 5 spirally arranged bracts; bracts held at an acute angle and almost imbricating when young, becoming wide apart as rachis elongates; each bract c. 1 cm in length, narrow, linear to boat-shaped, glabrous. Flower and fruit unknown.

Distribution and ecology: — Sarawak ( Searle 2010).

Conservation status:—Not Evaluated (NE).

Discussion:—The holotype shows a laxly arranged inflorescence with the first bracteole is longer than the associated bract. While the exact location of Gunung Wah is unknown it is suspected that Gunung Wah might not be far from Gunung Braang, Daerah Padawan, Kuching Division, owing to the fact that several Beccari’s collections came from SW Sarawak during the time (see the discussion within the type specimen of Bucephalandra elliptica ; Wong & Boyce 2014). However, the first author failed to re-find the species despite numerous attempts.