Monday, August 16, 2021

[Botany • 2021] Bulbophyllum lanterna (sect. Lichenophylax: Orchidaceae) • A New Species in Dendrobiinae from Madagascar


Bulbophyllum lanterna Hermans 

in Hermans, Rajaovelona & Cribb, 2021.

Summary
A new species from Madagascar, Bulbophyllum lanterna Hermans, is described and illustrated. It is compared with similar species from section Lichenophylax. A preliminary conservation assessment is provided.

Key Words: IUCN Red List assessments, section Lichenophylax, taxonomy


Bulbophyllum lanterna Hermans.
A plant habit; B flower, front view; C flower, side view; D floral bract; E dorsal sepal; F lateral sepal; G petal; H lip from above; J lip from below; K column and lip, side view; L column, side view; M anther cap, dorsal view; N anther cap, ventral view; P pollinia.
 From Hermans 8292 & field photographs. 
Drawn by Judi Stone.

Bulbophyllum lanterna Hermans.
 A plant habit, from the Andasibe area, Madagascar; B inflorescence and flower.
photos: J. Hermans.

Bulbophyllum lanterna Hermans sp. nov.

RECOGNITION. Bulbophyllum lanterna is typical in section Lichenophylax, being a tiny plant with a branching rhizome, small ovoid bifoliate pseudobulbs, a setiform single-flowered inflorescence, and flowers with a fleshy lip and short stelidia. It differs from allied species in its linear leaves, long needle-like peduncle, and small 5 × 4 mm flowers, with the dorsal sepal and petals shortly cuspidate at the apex, and a narrow lingulate lip which is narrowly winged in the basal half and roundly thickened at the apical half. The colour of the flower is also distinct.

ETYMOLOGY. In reference to the lantern-like flowers, papery white on the outside and glowing yellow-red on the inside.

    


Johan Hermans, Landy Rajaovelona and Phillip Cribb. 2021. Bulbophyllum lanterna, A New Species in Dendrobiinae (Orchidaceae) from Madagascar. Kew Bulletin. DOI: 10.1007/s12225-021-09961-4