Gastrochilus bernhardtianus J.D.Ya & D.Z.Li, 2023

Ya, Ji-Dong, Wang, Wan-Ting, Liu, Yun-Long, Jiang, Hong, Han, Zhou-Dong, Zhang, Ting, Huang, Hua, Cai, Jie & Li, De-Zhu, 2023, Five new and noteworthy species of Epidendroideae (Orchidaceae) from southwestern China based on morphological and phylogenetic evidence, PhytoKeys 235, pp. 211-236 : 211

5. Gastrochilus bernhardtianus J.D.Ya & D.Z.Li sp. nov.

(丽江盆距兰 Li Jiang Pen Ju Lan) Figs 10 , 11 , 12 A-C

Diagnosis.

Gastrochilus bernhardtianus is similar to G. affinis (King & Pantl.) Schltr. in floral morphology, but can be distinguished by its shorter peduncle, ca. 0.3 cm (vs. 1.5-2.0 cm), pedicel and ovary ca. 4.5 mm (vs.0.6-1.3 cm). Sepals and lateral petals dark yellowish-green with densely purplish-red marks or spots flushed brown to purplish brown (vs. green flushed with brown to purplish brown). The dorsal sepal elliptic, ca 3.4 mm wide (vs. elliptic-oblong, 1.0-1.3 cm wide), lateral sepals narrowly ovate, ca. 5.5 × 2.8 mm (vs. elliptic-ovate, 3.5-4.0 × 0.7-1.3 mm). Lateral petals narrowly oblong, ca. 5.2 × 2.7 mm (vs. ovate-elliptic to elliptic, 3.0-4.0 × 1.0-1.3 cm). Labellum with purplish-red spots (vs. yellowish to greenish-yellow marks) and yellowish-green calli (vs. brown to purplish brown) with a transversely oblong epichile (vs. broadly subtriangular) and a green center (vs. deep purple to purplish-brown).

Type.

China. Yunnan Province: Lijiang Prefecture, Yulong County, Yunshanping , 3308 m, in cold-temperate, evergreen conifer forest, 20 May 2020, J.-D. Ya et al. 20CS19022 (Holotype: KUN!)

Description.

Epiphytic herb, stem pendulous, with purplish spots, ca. 5.0 cm long, 1.5-2.0 mm in diameter. Leaves distichous, blade oblong-lanceolate, with purple-red spots on the abaxial leaf surface, 1.8-2.5 × 0.4-0.7 cm, base sheathing, apex acute and slightly trilobate. Racemes axillary, sub-umbellate, 1-2 flowered; peduncle ca. 0.3 cm, with purple-red spots; floral bracts ovate-triangular, ca. 1.0 mm; pedicel and ovary yellow-green with purple-red spots, ca. 4.5 mm. Flower densely marked with purplish-red spots flushed with brown to purplish brown, sepals and lateral petals dark yellowish-green. Dorsal sepal elliptical, ca. 5.2 × 3.4 mm, apex obtuse; lateral sepals narrowly ovate, ca. 5.5 × 2.8 mm, apices obtuse; lateral petals narrowly oblong, ca. 5.2 × 2.7 mm, apices obtuse. Labellum epichile with a green center and yellowish green margins, transversely oblong, ca. 8.0 × 2.8 mm, adaxially glabrous, with a central cushion and 2 conic calli near its base, margins erose, apex rounded; hypochile saccate, light yellowish green, subconical, ca. 5.1 mm tall and ca. 3.8 mm in diam. dorsally compressed, slightly bent outward, subacute to obtuse and shortly bifid at apex, with one internal ridge at the bottom. Column stout, ca. 2.0 mm, with rounded-auriculate wings at the base, anther cap galeate with recurved-acuminate apex, 1.2 × 0.9 mm; rostellum bilobed with an acuminated terminus; pollinarium ca 2.0 mm long; pollinia 2, yellow, 0.6 × 0.5 mm, almost hemispheric with a depression at the centre; stipe elongate, obovate, ca.1.0 mm long; cellular viscidium elliptic, 0.8 × 0.3 mm.

Phenology.

Flowering from May to June.

Etymology.

The species is named after Peter Bernhardt, pollination biologist and orchidologist, for his contributions to pollination ecology of Chinese orchids in collaboration with botanists of China. Previously Professor of Biology at St. Louis University, USA,Peter Bernhardt was the 2022 recipient of the Peter H. Raven Scientific Outreach Award ( Raven 2023). Currently he works closely with colleagues in Yunnan as a research associate of the Missouri Botanical Garden, USA and as an adjunct professor at Curtin University, Perth, Western Australia.

Distribution and habitat.

The new species is found only in Yulong County, Yunnan, China, and epiphytic on trees of the cold-temperate, evergreen needleleaved forest dominated by Picea likiangensis (Franch.) E.Pritz. and Abies forrestii Coltm.-Rog. at an elevation of 3300 m a.s.l.

Additional specimens examined.

G. affinis : India. Sikkim, Lachong Valey, R. Pantling 444 (K000891609!) ; China. Yunnan, Fugong, Jiakedi, east slope of Gaoligongshan , epiphyticon trunk, alt., 2555 m, 16 May 2005, X. H. Jin 6984 (PE!); Yunnan, Tengchong, 2828 m, 31 Mar 2007, X.H. Jin 8936 (PE!). G. alatus : China: Yunnan, Fugong, Zhuminglin , 2758 m, 16 May 2005, H.X. Jin 6998 (Holotype, PE!) .

Figures

Figure 10. Gastrochilus bernhardtianus J. D. Ya & D. Z. Li, sp. nov. A plant B inflorescence C-E flower F adaxial sepals and petals G abaxial sepals and petals H column and lip I column J-M lip N lip (rip cutting) O pollinarium P anther cap. Photographed by J. - D. Ya.

Figure 11. Gastrochilus bernhardtianus J. D. Ya & D. Z. Li, sp. nov. A plant B flower C sepals and petals D column and lip E lip F anther cap G pollinarium. Drawn by Z. - D. Han.

Figure 12. Comparison of two taxa of Gastrochilus A-C G. bernhardtianus with various colours in different areas D, E G. affinis. Photographed by J. - D. Ya.