Abstract
BackgroundOrchids have numerous species, and their speciation rates are presumed to be exceptionally high, suggesting that orchids are continuously and actively evolving. The wide diversity of orchids has attracted the interest of evolutionary biologists. In this study, a new orchid was discovered on Danxia Mountain in Guangdong, China. However, the phylogenetic clarification of this new orchid requires further molecular, morphological, and phytogeographic analyses.Methodology/Principal FindingsA new orchid possesses a labellum with a large Y-shaped callus and two sacs at the base, and cylindrical, fleshy seeds, which make it distinct from all known orchid genera. Phylogenetic methods were applied to a matrix of morphological and molecular characters based on the fragments of the nuclear internal transcribed spacer, chloroplast matK, and rbcL genes of Orchidaceae (74 genera) and Calypsoeae (13 genera). The strict consensus Bayesian inference phylogram strongly supports the division of the Calypsoeae alliance (not including Dactylostalix and Ephippianthus) into seven clades with 11 genera. The sequence data of each species and the morphological characters of each genus were combined into a single dataset. The inferred Bayesian phylogram supports the division of the 13 genera of Calypsoeae into four clades with 13 subclades (genera). Based on the results of our phylogenetic analyses, Calypsoeae, under which the new orchid is classified, represents an independent lineage in the Epidendroideae subfamily.ConclusionsAnalyses of the combined datasets using Bayesian methods revealed strong evidence that Calypsoeae is a monophyletic tribe consisting of eight well-supported clades with 13 subclades (genera), which are all in agreement with the phytogeography of Calypsoeae. The Danxia orchid represents an independent lineage under the tribe Calypsoeae of the subfamily Epidendroideae. This lineage should be treated as a new genus, which we have named Danxiaorchis, that is parallel to Yoania. Both genera are placed under the subtribe Yoaniinae.
Highlights
Orchidaceae is one of the largest families of angiosperms [1]
Analyses of the combined datasets using Bayesian methods revealed strong evidence that Calypsoeae is a monophyletic tribe consisting of eight well-supported clades with 13 subclades, which are all in agreement with the phytogeography of Calypsoeae
The Danxia orchid represents an independent lineage under the tribe Calypsoeae of the subfamily Epidendroideae
Summary
Orchidaceae is one of the largest families of angiosperms [1] It has been said ‘‘The speciation rate in orchids is frequent because of their diverse flower and vegetable morphologies’’ [2]. Orchidaceae has been divided into five subfamilies based on their morphological characters as follows: Apostasioideae, Cypripedioideae, Spiranthoideae, Orchidoideae, and Epidendroideae [5]. Epidendroideae is a highly evolved and diverse subfamily, in which a few species are mycotrophic and lack green leaves. Many holomycotrophic orchids are found in China, comprising approximately 20 genera. None of these orchids has a bisaccate labellum. The phylogenetic clarification of this new orchid requires further molecular, morphological, and phytogeographic analyses
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