New Orchid Species Research Articles

Bulbophyllum bokodense (section Polymeres, Orchidaceae), a new species from Benguet Province, Luzon Island, Philippines

A new species of orchid, Bulbophyllum bokodense, is herein described and illustrated from Benguet Province, Luzon Island, Philippines. It closely resembles Bulbophyllum rinkei endemic to New Guinea, but is distinct by having a broader leaf, a shorter inflorescence, an acute petal apex, glabrous auricles, a slightly canaliculate labellum, mid lobe and apex of labellum devoid of concavity, and a longer stelidia. A detailed description, photographs, and illustration are also provided. Preliminary conservation assessment of the new species following IUCN guidelines suggest a conservation status of data deficient (DD).

Biermannia Jainiana Hegde Et Nageswara Rao - a New Species of Orchid from Arunachal Pradesh, India

No Abstract.

A new species of Platanthera (Orchidaceae, Orchideae) from southeast of Xizang, China

A new species of orchid, Platanthera medogensis, was described and illustrated from Xizang Autonomous Region, China. P. medogensis is close to P. bakeriana and P. chiloglossa, but is readily distinguished from the latter by having ovate-lanceolate lip concave at base with two calli, linear visidium, two stigmas below the rostellum. Molecular phylogenetic analysis based on five markers (nrITS, matK, psbA-trnH, rbcL, trnL-F) revealed that P. medogensis is sister with P. exelliana by full support.

A new species of Triphora (Orchidaceae: Triphoreae, Triphorinae) from Mexico

Triphora gallegosii, a new species of geophyte orchid known so far from central, western, and northwestern Mexico, is described and illustrated. This species is morphologically similar to T. gentianioides and T. wagneri, with whom it shares the presence of scale-like leaves, three longitudinal verrucose lines on the lip, and floral parts of similar sizes, but differs from both by its lip lines that vanish towards the middle of the central lobe, having 1–4 resupinate flowers, and flowering between August and September. It also differs from T. wagneri by having a constricted central lobe and lateral lobes with acute apex, and from T. gentianoides by having entire margins on the lateral lobes, column with a magenta apex and whitish towards the middle portion with a green base, magenta anther, smaller leaves, and solitary growth. A preliminary analysis of the conservation status and a dichotomous key to the species of the genus in Mexico are provided.

Corybas hamiguitanensis (Orchidaceae), a new species from a UNESCO world heritage site in the Philippines

A new species of helmet orchid, Corybas hamiguitanensis, is herein described and illustrated. It is the first species of the genus recorded in Mindanao Island, Philippines. This novel species occupies varied climatic zones along different altitudinal gradients ranging from lowland evergreen rainforest up to the mossy forest of Mount Hamiguitan Range Wildlife Sanctuary.

Gastrochilus pseudocalceolaris, a new species of epiphytic orchid from India

The article deals with description of a new species of epiphytic orchid, viz. Gastrochilus pseudocalceolaris S. Dey, L. Phom, Av. Bhattacharjee, Moaakum & K. Eshuo, along with detailed description, photographs, photo-plates, and taxonomic note. The new species, collected from Mt. Yingyushang, Longleng district, Nagaland in India, is morphologically most similar to Gastrochilus calceolaris (Buch.-Ham. ex Sm.) D. Don, but differs in having much shorter stem and features of labellum. The types have been stored to CAL for future reference.

The complete chloroplast genome sequence of Gomesa flexuosa

Gomesa flexuosa (Lodd) M.W.Chase & N.H.Williams is a new species of orchid revised in 2009. In this study, the chloroplast genome of G. flexuosa was sequenced to determine its genomic characteristics and phylogenetic relationship with other related species. G. flexuosa has a chloroplast genome size of 147,764 bp, comprising 25,757 bp of two inverted repeat (IR) regions, 83,579 bp of large single-copy (LSC) region, and 12,671 bp of small single-copy (SSC) region. Moreover, the whole genome contains 73 protein-coding genes, 38 tRNA genes, and eight rRNA genes. Phylogenetic analysis showed that G. flexuosa is closely related to Oncidium sphacelatum.

Thrixspermum patkaiensis sp. nov. (Vandeae: Aeridinae) from Assam, northeast India

A new species of orchid, Thrixspermum patkaiensis from the tropical evergreen forest in Dehing Patkai National Park, Assam, India, is described. It is morphologically similar to T. musciflorum and T. formosanum but distinct from these species by the inflorescence 12–18 cm long; the lip with purplish bands and glandular hairy both side of the side lobes and the epichile forming a rim of glandular hairs.

Novelties among East African angraecoids (Orchidaceae, Angraecinae)

Here we describe and illustrate two new species of angraecoid orchids from East Africa, Tridactyle delepierrei and Ypsilopus iversenii, respectively from Albertine Rift (Rwanda and Uganda) and west Usambaras (Tanzania). The first species is closely allied to the three species of Tridactyle sect. Eggelingiae and to Tridactyle nalaensis. The second species is closely related to Y. leedalii from the southern highlands of Tanzania, and the affinities of these two species to other Ypsilopus are discussed. Diagnostic and morphological characteristics of these new species along with identification keys are provided, including those for the species of Tridactyle from East Africa and the Albertine Rift, and for the species of Ypsilopus sect. Ypsilopus. These new species are threatened with extinction based on the categories of the IUCN Red List, with T. delepierrei suggested to be Endangered (EN B1), while Y. iversenii would be Critically Endangered (CR). Our findings highlight the need for further orchidological inventories and taxonomical studies to support evidence‐based conservation and management of the remaining montane forests of East Africa.

Two new species of Octomeria (Pleurothallidinae) from Cordillera del Cóndor, Zamora Chichinpe, Ecuador

Two new species of orchids, Octomeria pacii, and O. panguiensis are described and illustrated from Cordillera del Cóndor, Ecuador; likewise, information is provided on their distribution, habitat, and conservation status. These species differ from other species in the genus by their floral and vegetative characteristics and their apparent reproductive strategy of cleistogamy. Octomeria pacii is similar to Octomeria deceptrix, but differs in the caespitose habit, the ramicauls compressed along their entire length, the narrowly elliptical leaves, the autogamous flowers, the translucent white sepals suffused with magenta and the obovate, white lip, marked with magenta. Octomeria panguiensisis similar to O. werneri, but differs by the larger, shortly repent plants with lanceolate leaves, the cleistogamous flowers, the translucent white-colored sepals, the 5-veined lateral sepals and the oblong-trilobed lip with the apical lobe tridentate
 Keywords: self-compatibility, self-pollination, cleistogamy, Octomeria deceptrix, Octomeria werneri

Morphological and genomic evidence for a new species of Corallorhiza (Orchidaceae: Epidendroideae) from SW China

Corallorhiza sinensis, a new species of mycoheterotrophic orchid from western Sichuan, China, is described and illustrated based on molecular and morphological evidence. It is morphologically similar to Corallorhiza trifida, but can be distinguished by bigger flowers, both sepals and petals with 3 veins, and longer lateral lobes of lip. To distinguish the new Corallorhiza species and explore its phylogenetic position within subtribe Calypsoinae, this study employed sequences of the nuclear ribosomal DNA (nrDNA) and whole plastome assembled from the genome skimming approach. The plastome is 148,124 bp in length, including a pair of inverted repeats (IRs) of 26,165 bp, a large single-copy region (LSC) of 82,207 bp, and a small single-copy region (SSC) of 13,587 bp. Further, phylogenetic analyses were performed using nrDNA sequence and 79 coding sequences (CDSs) from 26 complete plastomes of subtribe Calypsoinae. The phylogenetic tree based on nrDNA sequence suggested that Corallorhiza is a monophyletic group, and strongly support C. sinensis as sister to the rest species of Corallorhiza. The plastid tree showed that 10 Corallorhiza species grouped into two clades and C. sinensis is most closely related to the North American C. striata and C. bentleyi instead of Oreorchis foliosa and O.angustata in the same clade. The plastid tree and nrDNA tree indicate Oreorchis is a paraphyletic. Although the topological conflicts are displayed between plastome and nrDNA phylogenies of C. sinensis, it is still the most closely related to Corallorhiza. Comparative analysis showed that C. sinensis populations are characteristic of the intermediate morphological traits between Corallorhiza and Oreorchis. The finding of this new species from China shed new light on the phylogeny of Oreorchis and Corallorhiza.

Wildlife collection for scientific purposes.

Illegal transfer of wildlife has 2 main purposes: trade and scientific research. Trade is the most common, whereas scientific research is much less common and unprofitable, yet still important. Biopiracy in science is often neglected despite that many researchers encounter it during their careers. The use of illegally acquired specimens is detected in different research fields, from scientists bioprospecting for new pharmacological substances, to taxonomists working on natural history collections, to researchers working in zoos, aquariums, and botanical gardens. The practice can be due to a lack of knowledge about the permit requirements in different countries or, probably most often, to the generally high level of bureaucracy associated with rule compliance. Significant regulatory filters to avoid biopiracy can be provided by different stakeholders. Natural history collection hosts should adopt strict codes of conduct; editors of scientific publications should require authors to declare that all studied specimens were acquired legally and to cite museum catalog numbers as guarantee of best practices. Scientific societies should actively encourage publication in peer-reviewed journals of work in which specimens collected from the wild were used. The International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature could require newly designated types based on recently collected specimens to be accompanied by statements of deposition in recognized scientific or educational institutions. We also propose the creation of an online platform that gathers information about environmental regulations and permits required for scientific activities in different countries and respective responsible governmental agencies and the simplification of the bureaucracy related to regulating scientific activities. This would make regulations more agile and easier to comply with. The global biodiversity crisis means data need to be collected ever faster, but biopiracy is not the answer and undermines the credibility of science and researchers. It is critical to find a modus vivendi that promotes compliance with regulations and scientific progress.

Dendrochilum ignisiflorum (Coelogyninae, Arethuseae, Orchidaceae), a new species from Luzon Island, Philippines

Dendrochilum ignisiflorum is hereby described and illustrated as a new species of orchid endemic to Luzon Island, Philippines. The species resembles D. vanoverberghii by having petiolate leaves, channelled petioles, labellum of the same size, and the erect to suberect incurved column but distinct by the sub-globose or broadly ellipsoid pseudobulb, 3 distinct leaf veins, barely spreading flowers, lanceolate and revolute dorsal sepal, and the absence of callus in the labellum.

Notes on Australasian Orchids 6: A new species of Rhizanthella (Diurideae, subtribe Prasophyllinae) from Eastern Australia

Rhizanthella speciosa, a new species of the remarkable Australian underground orchids, is described as new from New South Wales. The new species, which is morphologically distinct and apparently also genetically distinct from its congeners and strikingly beautiful with its sea-anemone-like flowerheads and prominent attenuate sepals, grows in a different habitat than its geographically closest relative.
 Keywords: Australian orchid flora, New underground orchid, Orchidoideae, Rhizanthella speciosa

Two new species of Rhipidoglossum (Orchidaceae: Angraecinae) from Tanzania and Zimbabwe

Two new species of angraecoid orchid from East and South-central Africa are described and illustrated. Rhipidoglossum lucieae is known from the Eastern Arc Mountains of Tanzania (West Usambaras) and has been misidentified as R. pulchellum in previous floristic treatments. Rhipidoglossum philatelicum is reported from the Eastern Highlands of Zimbabwe (Bvumba and Chimanimani Mts) and has been misclassified under R. subsimplex. Distribution maps and the conservation status of these two novelties are provided. Future directions in epiphytic orchid species discovery in eastern tropical Africa are proposed.

Dendrobium nageswarayanum (Orchidaceae): A New Species from Arunachal Pradesh, Eastern Himalaya, India

A new species of orchid, i.e. Dendrobium nageswarayanum, is described from Kurung Kumey district of Arunachal Pradesh, India. The present new species is more allied to Dendrobium subansiriense Verma and Barbhuiya, but differs in having inflorescence, flowers, lateral sepals and lateral margins of lip. Detailed differences are discussed in this paper.

Habenaria agasthyamalaiana (Orchidaceae), a new terrestrial orchid from the Southern Western Ghats, India

Habenaria agasthyamalaiana, a new species of terrestrial orchid is described from Shendurney Wildlife Sanctuary of Agasthyamalai biosphere reserve, a part of the South-western Ghats. This species is morphologically similar to Habenaria crinifera Lindl. Detailed description and photographs are provided for identification of this new taxon.
 Key words: Agasthyamalai, Kerala, Kollam, New species, Shendurney wildlife sanctuary, Western Ghats

The complete chloroplast genome of Vanilla shenzhenica (Orchidaceae)

Vanilla shenzhenica Z.J.Liu & S.C.Chen is a new species of orchid found in Shenzhen, South China for the first time. Here we report the complete chloroplast (cp) genome sequence and the features of V. shenzhenica. Its cp genome sequence was 151,537 bp, including one large single-copy region (LSC, 87,487 bp), one small single-copy region (SSC, 19,172 bp), and two inverted repeat regions (IRs, 22,439 bp). It encoded 123 genes, of which 104 were unique genes (69 protein-coding genes, 31 tRNAs and 4 rRNAs). The phylogenetic relationships show that V. shenzhenica is sister with V. aphylla.

<div class="page" title="Page 1"><div class="layoutArea"><div class="column"><div class="page" title="Page 1"><div class="layoutArea"><div class="column">New species of orchids and notes on Orchidaceae of Nepal</div></div></div></div></div></div>

Two new species of orchids from Nepal, Calanthe himalaicum and Habenaria palpensis are described and illustrated. Notes on the diagnostic characters used to distinguish them from allied taxa are provided. Present paper also summarizes various taxonomic publications on orchids of Nepal and reveals that the known orchid flora of Nepal comprises 502 taxa from 108 genera.

Two new species of Lepanthes (Pleurothallidinae; Orchidaceae) from Andean forest remnants in Ibarra, Ecuador

Forest remnants of La Carbonería are the last patches of natural vegetation near the city of Ibarra. These forest patches are now isolated and restricted to areas of rugged topography and sustain a scarcely explored, largely unknown flora. As an example of this, two new species of orchids were discovered in our first exploration: Lepanthes ibarrae and Lepanthes obandoi, which are described and illustrated in this article. Lepanthes ibarrae is similar to L. zapatae , but is distinguished by its arched stems, reduced petals with a small, rounded apicule, lip with lanceolate-oblong, papillose laminae, small, rounded appendix covered with white pubescence at apex and the triangular, long-attenuate, reflexed rostelum. Lepanthes obandoi is reminiscent of L. muscula, L. guanacasensisr & R. Escobar and L. osiris, but can be distinguished by the much taller plant with distinct superposed stems, elongate appendix with orbicular, pubescent apex and a prominent tuft of white hairs at the base.