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| Dendrobium perplexum Phueakkhlai, Sungkaew & H.A.Pedersen
in Phueakkhlai, Suddee, Hodkinson, Sungkaew & Pedersen, 2019.
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Abstract
A previously unrecognized species represented by six spirit samples in the collection of the late Gunnar Seidenfaden, pioneering Danish explorer of the Thai orchid flora, is newly described. It is evident that Seidenfaden was perplexed by the material, as three different species names can be observed on the labels (often accompanied by question marks or indications such as “probably”): Dendrobium fimbriatum, D. gibsonii and D. chryseum. In our view, the new species has the strongest morphological resemblance to D. fimbriatum, but it differs in characters of the stems, leaves, lateral sepals, petals and labellum. We describe the new species as Dendrobium perplexum, the epithet referring to the previously perplexing properties of the material. So far, D. perplexum is only known from NE Thailand, but as the confirmed Thai localities are close to the Laotian border, future finds in Laos might be expected.
Keywords: Flora of Thailand, orchids, section Dendrobium, taxonomy, Monocots
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| FIGURE 2. Dendrobium perplexum Phueakkhlai, Sungkaew & H.A.Pedersen, sp. nov.. A. Flowering shoot (inflorescence removed). B. Inflorescence. C. Flower, upper view. D. Column and lip. E. Map of Thailand showing the positions of confirmed localities. Photos by O. Phueakkhlai. |
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| FIGURE 1. Dendrobium perplexum Phueakkhlai, Sungkaew & H.A.Pedersen, sp. nov. A. Flowering shoot (all leaves shed). B. Leaf. C. Flower, front view. D. Flower, side view. E. Floral bract. F. Dorsal sepal. G. Petal, ventral side and dorsal side. H. Lateral sepal, ventral side and dorsal side. I. Lip, flattened, ventral side. J. Lip, in natural conformation. K. Column. L. Anther. M. Pollinia. A and C–J from sine coll. GT 9608 (C); K–M from sine coll. GT 9600 (C). Drawn by O. Phueakkhlai. |
Dendrobium perplexum Phueakkhlai, Sungkaew & H.A.Pedersen, sp. nov.
Etymology:— The specific epithet refers to the previously perplexing properties of the material upon which the new
species is described.
Orporn Phueakkhlai, Somran Suddee, Trevor R. Hodkinson, Sarawood Sungkaew and Henrik Æ. Pedersen. 2019. A New Species of Dendrobium (Orchidaceae: Epidendroideae: Malaxideae) described from previously Perplexing Specimens of the Seidenfaden Collection. Phytotaxa. 419(2); 197–202. DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.419.2.6
