Scaphochlamys pseudoreticosa Ooi, K. Meekiong & S.Y. Wong, 2017

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 : 269

20. Scaphochlamys pseudoreticosa Ooi, K. Meekiong & S.Y. Wong , sp. nov. Type:—MALAYSIAN BORNEO.

Sarawak: Kuching Division, Bau, Seromah, 01°22’36.5”N, 110°11’32.2”E, 40 m, 12 January 2014, I.H. Ooi & K.

Jeland OIH83 (holo SAR), Figure 20

Diagnosis:— Scaphochlamys pseudoreticosa is similar to S. reticosa but differs by having the lamina abaxially sparsely pubescent (vs. glabrous), tertiary veins faintly visible but never raised (vs. prominently raised), sparsely pubescent light brownish green bracts (vs. glabrous and light brown), and light green moderately pubescent ovary (vs. white, densely pubescent).

Terrestrial, perennial, rhizomatous herbs, to c. 15 cm tall. Rhizome creeping on ground, c. 5 mm in diameter, externally light to medium brown, internally yellowish white. Elements c. 1–25 mm apart, 1-foliate, juvenile not seen; petiole 5–9 cm long, canaliculate, light to yellowish green, glabrous, base pulvinate, white to light green; leafless sheath c. 3, 0.7–3.2 cm long, light green, glabrous, drying with age; leaf sheath c. 1.5 cm long, membranous, white, glabrous, drying and shredding with age; ligule obscure; lamina 6–9 × 4.5–6 cm, ovate, semi-coriaceous, margin entire to slightly undulate, base cordate, apex acute; adaxial surface semi-glossy, light green to medium green, glabrous, midrib sunken, medium green, glabrous, main lateral veins slightly raised, tertiary veins slightly raised; abaxial surface light green, sparsely pubescent, midrib raised, medium green, pubescent, main lateral veins inconspicuous. Inflorescence c. 6–7 cm long, emerging from near leaf base inside leaf sheaths, tightly congested, comprised of c. 4, 2-flowered cincinni borne on a peduncle; peduncle c. 2–3 cm long, glabrous, greenish white, covered with marcescent leafless sheaths; bract c. 4, c. 18 × 5 mm, spirally arranged, lanceolate, membranous, brownish light green, sparsely pubescent, apex acuminate, each bract subtending 2 flowers; bracteole 2, c. 15 mm long, shorter than bracts but barely distinguishable from bract, brownish light green; flower 3.6–4 cm long, floral odour reminiscent of torch-ginger ( Etlingera elatior ) tissues; calyx 12–13 mm long, sparsely pubescent, white, apex acute; floral tube 26–30 mm long, sparsely pubescent, white; corolla lobes 7–8 mm long, lanceolate, yellowish white, glabrous, apex acute, hooded; staminodes 4–6 mm long, linear to slightly oblanceolate, adaxial surface covered with glandular hairs, light yellow, apex acute to rounded; labellum 8–10 × 7–9 mm, spathulate, adaxial surface covered with glandular hairs, white at base and violet till apex with a light yellow median band, apex 2-lobed, indented c. 3 mm, lobes sometimes slightly overlapping; stamen c. 4.5 × 2 mm, covered with glandular hairs, white; filament c. 0.5 mm long; anther thecae c. 3.5 mm long, sometimes with very short basal spur, crest c. 0.5 mm long; stigma less than 1 mm long, club-shaped with 2 dorsal knobs, ostiole ciliate, forward facing; style c. 32 mm long, white, sparsely pubescent; ovary c. 2 mm long, 1-locular, light green, pubescent, placentation basal; epigynous glands 2, c. 1 mm long, free, needle-like, yellowish white. Fruit and seeds not seen.

Etymology:—The specific epithet, pseudoreticosa , alludes to the superficial similarity of this species to S. reticosa .

Distribution and ecology: — Scaphochlamys pseudoreticosa is only known from the type locality, occurring in mollisolic black soil on shaded forested Karst limestone of c. 40 m elevation.

Conservation status:—The conservation status of this species is Vulnerable (VU), meeting criteria B.1.a., B.1.b.(iii), B.2.a., B.2.b.(iii), and D.1. This species occurs at the margin of a protected area next to a village. The population of this limestone obligated species is small and potentially easily affected by nearby human activities.

Discussion:—The anther spur may be present or absent in S. pseudoreticosa but is always absent in S. reticosa . The tertiary venation of the leaf laminae of S. pseudoreticosa is a faintly raised tessellate reticulum adaxially, never prominently raised as in S. reticosa .

Figures

FIGURE 20. Scaphochlamys pseudoreticosa. A. plant in habitat. B. inflorescence. C. lamina, adaxial surface. D. lamina, adaxial surface, note slightly raised tertiary veins. E. flower. F.bract and bracteoles. G. calyx and ovary. H. lamina, abaxial surface. I. stamen, note anther spurs. J. stamen, note spurless anthers.A–J from OIH83.