[Botany • 2017] Sciaphila sugimotoi • A New Mycoheterotrophic Plant (Triuridaceae) from Ishigaki Island, Japan

 Sciaphila sugimotoi Suetsugu & T. Nishioka

DOI:  10.11646/phytotaxa.314.2.10 

Abstract

A new species of Sciaphila (Triuridaceae), Sciaphila sugimotoi Suetsugu & T. Nishioka, is described and illustrated from Ishigaki Island, Okinawa Prefecture, Japan. The new species is similar to S. arfakiana in having a stipitate globose to ellipsoid knob without hairs in apices of all male perianth segments. However, it is clearly distinguishable by its shorter pedicel, filament-connective not extended and thick stem. A key to the Japanese Sciaphila based on the whole flower characteristics and stylar characteristics, are provided for easy identification of these rare mycoheterotrophic plants.

Keywords: Distribution, mycoheterotrophic plants, new species, Sciaphila, taxonomy, Triuridaceae, Ryukyu, Monocots

 Figure 1: Habit (A) and microscopic images (B, C, D) of Sciaphila sugimotoi.
A. Flowering plant. B–C. Male flower. D. Female flower.

 Photographed by Takaomi Sugimoto in the type locality. 

 DOI:  10.11646/phytotaxa.314.2.10

Sciaphila sugimotoi Suetsugu & T. Nishioka, sp. nov.

 Type:— JAPAN. Ryukyu. Okinawa Pref., Ishigaki City, Hirae, alt ca. 180m, 18 October 2016, T. Sugimoto s.n. (holotype KYO!; isotype OSA!). 

Diagnosis:— Sciaphila sugimotoi is similar to Sciaphila arfakiana Beccari (1890: 337), but it differs by its shorter pedicel, its filamentconnective not extended and its thick stem.

 Etymology:— The new species is named after Mr. Takaomi Sugimoto, who collected ample specimens of this new species for the comparative study.

Kenji Suetsugu and Tatsuki Nishioka. 2017.  Sciaphila sugimotoi (Triuridaceae), A New Mycoheterotrophic Plant from Ishigaki Island, Japan.
 Phytotaxa. 314(2); 279–284. DOI:  10.11646/phytotaxa.314.2.10

New non-photosynthesizing plant species discovered on Ishigaki island, J...
eurekalert.org/e/7ttW via @KobeU_Global @EurekAlert

[Botany • 2016] Sciaphila yakushimensis • A New Mycoheterotrophic Plant (Triuridaceae) from Yakushima Island, Japan

Sciaphila yakushimensis

Suetsugu, Tsukaya & H. Ohashi 

A new species of Sciaphila (Triuridaceae), Sciaphila yakushimensis Suetsugu, Tsukaya & H. Ohashi, is described and illustrated from Yakushima Island, Kagoshima Pref., Japan. The new species is similar to S. nana, but it is clearly distinguishable by the blackish purple aerial parts, the clavate style with dense papillae, and the filaments not longer than the anthers. A key to the Japanese Sciaphila based on total flower characteristics and another based primarily on stylar characteristics are provided for convenience of easy identification of these rare mycoheterotrophic plants.

Key words: Distribution, Japan, mycoheterotrophic plants, new species, Sciaphila, Triuridaceae, Yakushima Island.

Kenji Suetsugu, Hirokazu Tsukaya and Hiroyoshi Ohashi. 2016. Sciaphila yakushimensis (Triuridaceae), A New Mycoheterotrophic Plant from Yakushima Island, Japan. Journal of Japanese Botany [J. Jpn. Bot.]. 91(1): 1–6  

https://sites.google.com/site/suetsugujp/papers#e037

http://www.kobe-u.ac.jp/NEWS/research/2016_02_20_01.html

New plant species discovered on Yakushima http://phy.so/375100878 via @physorg_com

New underground plant hides from the sun and parasitises fungi https://www.newscientist.com/article/2078219-new-underground-plant-hides-from-the-sun-and-parasitises-fungi/