Monday, February 25, 2019

[Botany • 2019] Stichorkis davidlohmanii (Orchidaceae: Malaxideae) • A New Species from the southern Philippines


Stichorkis davidlohmanii  Naive, Cootes & Ormerod

in Naive, Cootes & Ormerod, 2019. 

ABSTRACT
 A new Philippine endemic speciesStichorkis davidlohmanii, is herein described and illustrated. This new species is comparable to S. compressa but distinct by its obovate, slightly conduplicate labellum with a blunt, obtusely rounded when flattened apex. 

KEY WORDS: Malaxideae; New species, Orchidaceae; Philippines, Plant Taxonomy, Stichorkis, Tropical botany. 


Fig. 1. Stichorkis davidlohmanii A. Habit, scale bar: 10 cm B. Rachis, scale bar: 2 cm C. Pseudobulb D. Flower (front view), scale bar: 1 cm E. Flower (profile view), scale bar: 1 cm F. Labellum, scale bar: 1 cm G. Dorsal sepal, scale bar: 1 cm H. Sepal I. Petal.
Drawn by: Gelli Dane T. Petros.

Fig. 2. Stichorkis davidlohmanii A. Habit, scale bar: 10 cm B. Detail of flower, scale bars: 1 cm.
 Photos by: M.A.K. Naive.

Stichorkis davidlohmanii Naive, Cootes & Ormerod, sp. nov. 

Diagnosis: Similar to Stichorkis compressa (Blume) J.J. Wood. However, S. davidlohmanii differs significantly in having these following characters: not flattened pseudobulbs, obovate, slightly conduplicate labellum with a blunt, obtusely rounded when flattened apex and a circular in outline anther cap. 

Distribution: At present, S. davidlohmanii is a Philippine endemic species and is only known from its type locality. 

Ecology: Found growing along with moss cushions in the base of the trunk in the primary broad-leaved montane forests with humid and close canopy environment at elevations between 1000 to 1300 m asl.

Etymology: This species is named in honor of Prof. Dr. David J. Lohman to recognize his efforts to document, study, and preserve the biota of Southeast Asia while mentoring the next generation of scientists, including the first author.  


Mark Arcebal K. Naive, Jim Cootes and Paul Ormerod. 2019. Stichorkis davidlohmanii (Orchidaceae; Malaxideae), A New Species from the southern Philippines.  Taiwania. 64(1); 65-68. DOI: 10.6165/tai.2019.64.65