Two New Species of the Genus Liparis (Orchidaceae) from Korea Based on Morphological and Molecular Data

Abstract

Two new species of Liparis Rich. (Orchidaceae) from Korea are described: Liparis yongnoana and Liparis pterosepala. Liparis yongnoana is similar to plants called as L. japonica and L. makinoana in having an anther cap with a beaked apex and a weakly reflexed labellum. However, L. yongnoana can be distinguished from them by a presence of a narrowly elliptic line on a labellum, a less emarginated apex of a more reflexed labellum, a short column, and a few flowers. L. pterosepala is similar to Liparis kumokiri, Liparis koreojaponica, and Liparis fujisanensis in having an anther cap with a mucronate apex and an excessively reflexed labellum. But L. pterosepala can be distinguished from the three similar taxa by its wide sepals and its early flowering time. Based on the molecular data using nuclear internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and cpDNA regions (matK, trnS-trnG, trnL with trnL-trnF), L. yongnoana has five autapomorphic substitutions in ITS region and four substitutions and one deletion in cpDNA. Another new taxon, L. pterosepala, has one autapomorphy in ITS and cpDNA regions, respectively. A molecular phylogeny also indicates that L. yongnoana is close to plants called as L. japonica and L. makinoana, and L. pterosepala is close to L. kumokiri, L. koreojaponica, and L. fujisanensis.