Malaxis henanensis D.H.Peng & K.Yang, 2023

Shi, Xiao-Ling, Kang, Yang, Liu, Yu-Ying, Tu, Song, Peng, Hong-Jun, Liu, Zhong-Jian & Peng, Dong-Hui, 2023, Malaxis henanensis (Orchidaceae, Malaxideae), a new species from China, Phytotaxa 589 (3), pp. 293-295 : 293-295

publication ID

https://doi.org/ 10.11646/phytotaxa.589.3.9

DOI

https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.7778614

persistent identifier

https://treatment.plazi.org/id/EE55DB52-FFC2-604B-FF36-FAD8FDA77FD7

treatment provided by

Plazi

scientific name

Malaxis henanensis D.H.Peng & K.Yang
status

sp. nov.

Malaxis henanensis D.H.Peng & K.Yang , sp. nov.

( Figs 1 View FIGURE 1 , 2 View FIGURE 2 )

Type:— CHINA. Henan Province: Neixiang County, 1722 m, Baotianman National Nature Reserve , 26 Jul 2021, Peng M001 ( FAFU) .

The new species differs from M. malipoensis in height, inflorescence structure, number of leaves and flowers, colour of flower bracts, long-ovate sepals, longer petals and ovoid, apically narrow lip ( Table 1 View TABLE 1 ).

Terrestrial, erect herbs, 9–25 cm. Leaves usually 2, one larger, base contracted into petiole, clasping, ovate to long ovoid, apex attenuate, 5.0–12.0 × 2.5–5.0 cm. Inflorescence arising from leaf axils, erect, 12–22 cm long, 3.0– 3.5 mm in diameter; racemes 10–15 cm long, 40–80 flowers; floral bracts lanceolate, 1.5–2.0 mm long, yellowish green; pedicel and ovary 3.0– 3.5 mm long, pedicels twisted in a right-handed spiral; fully open flowers 3 mm in diameter, yellowish green; sepals subequal, long-ovate, 1.5–1.8 × 0.7–1.0 mm; petals linear, 1.3–1.5 × 0.2–0.3 mm; lip uppermost (non-resupinate), ovoid, apically narrow, 1.3–1.5 × 0.9–1.2 mm; disk oblate, slightly concave in the middle, both margins hypertrophic and warty, with a short auricles on both sides of the base; column 0.6 mm long; pollinia 4, in 2 pairs, waxy.

Phenology:— Flowering July and August.

Distribution and ecology:— Known only from Neixiang County, Henan Province, growing in humus-rich soil.

Etymology:— Named after Henan Province.

Conservation:— Although we investigated areas in the southern and western hilly regions of Henan that would be suitable for this orchid, we did not find plants. The greatest threat to the survival of the new species in the area is human activity and being eaten by wild boars.

Notes:— Most Malaxis species have small greenish flowers ( Jermakowicz et al. 2022), which also applies to M. henanensis and M. moliponesis ( Table 1 View TABLE 1 ).

FAFU

FAFU

Kingdom

Plantae

Phylum

Tracheophyta

Class

Liliopsida

Order

Asparagales

Family

Orchidaceae

Genus

Malaxis

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