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| Orchidantha megalantha
Škorničk. & A.D.Poulsen
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Abstract
Two new Orchidantha species discovered in Sarawak, Orchidantha micrantha and O. megalantha, are described and illustrated. They may well represent the species with the smallest and the largest flowers currently known in the genus and certainly from Borneo. With its small flowers, O. micrantha is similar to O. borneensis to which it is compared. The large-flowered O. megalantha is compared to the morphologically closest species, O. holttumii, from nearby Brunei. The conservation status of both new species is assessed and a key is provided to all Bornean species.
Keywords: Kubah National Park; Kuching; Malaysia; Matang; Mulu National Park; Orchidantha borneensis; Orchidantha holttumii; Sarawak; Zingiberales; vulnerable
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| Orchidantha micrantha only known from Kubah NP, Sarawak, Borneo (Poulsen & Leong-Škorničková, 2017. Blumea. 62: 157). The flower is the SMALLEST of all species of Lowiaceae. Like its big sister, O. megalantha, its smell may attract pollinating dung beetles. |
Orchidantha micrantha Škorničk. & A.D.Poulsen, sp. nov.
Etymology. The epithet refers to the small flowers relative to other species of the genus.
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| Orchidantha megalantha from Mulu National Park, Sarawak, Borneo. We described it recently in the journal Blumea. The flower is the largest of the family Lowiaceae and its putrid smell may attract dung beetles to pollinate it. |
Orchidantha megalantha Škorničk. & A.D.Poulsen, sp. nov.
Etymology. The epithet refers to the large flowers relative to other species of the genus.
A.D. Poulsen and J. Leong-Škorničková. 2017. Two New Orchidantha Species (Lowiaceae) from Borneo. Blumea - Biodiversity, Evolution and Biogeography of Plants. 62; 157–162. DOI: 10.3767/blumea.2017.62.02.08
