Wednesday, July 27, 2022

[Botany • 2022] Bulbophyllum cryptomeriicola (Orchidaceae: Epidendroideae) • A New Orchid Species of Taiwan


Bulbophyllum cryptomeriicola T.P. Lin and S.K. Yu, 

in Yu, Wang, Wang & Lin, 2022.

Abstract
This report presents one new orchid of Taiwan, viz., Bulbophyllum cryptomeriicola T.P. Lin and S.K. Yu. Bulbophyllum cryptomeriicola is a member of the section Ephippium with a sub-umbellate inflorescence, ciliate upper sepal and petals, glabrous lateral sepals which are much longer than the median one, and a stelidium without a tooth.

Keyword: Bulbophyllum albociliatum, B. hirundinis, B. kuanwuensis, B. taiwanense, Cirrhopetalum, Ephippium, Orchidaceae

Bulbophyllum cryptomeriicola T.P. Lin and S.K. Yu.
A: Leaf, pseudobulb and rhizome. B: Inflorescence. C: Upper sepal. D: Lateral sepal. E: Petal. F: Lip, view from above. G: Lip, view from below. H: Column, side view. I: Upper column part, view from below. J: Anther-cap, view from below. K: Anther-cap, view from above. L: Pollinarium, view from below. M: Pollinarium, view from above. r, rostellum; s, stigma. Drawn by T.P. Lin.


Photos of Bulbophyllum cryptomeriicola T.P. Lin and S.K. Yu.
A: Sheng-Kun Yu being lifted up a Cryptomeria japonica trunk. B: Habitat of the patch of B. cryptomeriensis. C: Inflorescence. D: Lateral sepal, spread out. E: Lip, view from above. F: Column, side view. G: Column with lifted anther-cap, with pollinia attached, view from below.
A, B, and C provided by Sheng-Kun Yu; E-G, taken by T.P. Lin.



Bulbophyllum cryptomeriicola T.P. Lin & S.K. Yu, sp. nov.

Diagnosis: Among the species of the group of Bulbophyllum hirundinis, listed above, B. cryptomeriicola is uniquely characterized by the rhizomes which are suspended in the air but are not prostrate on bark and are supported by thick, erect roots. B. cryptomeriicola also differs from each of the species above as follows: from B. hirundinis and B. hirundinis var. calvum by shorter inflorescence and white cilia along perianth; from B. taiwanense by shorter inflorescence, white cilia along perianth and folded along midvein at the basal lateral sepal. B. crytomeriicola may also look similar to B. kuanwuense and B. albociliatum var. remotifolium, because of similar flower color, but differs from B. kuanwuense by longer peduncle, longer and tapering lateral sepal (see also Table 1), and from B. albociliatum var remotifolium by much thick rhizome, thick peduncle, rough surface on and tapering lateral sepals. B. albociliatum var remotifolium has filament-like rhizome and peduncle.

Distribution and Ecology: Endemic to Taiwan. This species grows in clumps on conifer trunks at an elevation of 2200 m. The growth habitat is similar to that of B. kuanwuensis S.W. Chung & T.C. Hsu which has a very short inflorescence, shorter than 2 cm long (Table 1). 

Etymology: The scientific name refers to the fact that the species grows as an epiphyte on Cryptomeria japonica (Thunb. ex L.f.) D.Don. 


Sheng-Kun Yu, Chiu-Mei Wang, Kuo-Hsiung Wang and Tsan-Piao Lin. 2022. Bulbophyllum cryptomeriicola, A New Orchid Species of Taiwan. Taiwania. 67(3); 361-365. DOI: 10.6165/tai.2022.67.361