[Botany • 2023] Phalaenopsis medogensis (Orchidaceae: Epidendroideae: Vandeae) • A New Species from Xizang (Tibet), China

 Phalaenopsis medogensis X.H. Jin & C.B. Ma,   

in Ma, Wang, Chen, Liu et Jin, 2023.

 墨脱蝴蝶兰  ||  DOI: 10.3897/phytokeys.214.93607

 

Abstract

A new species of Orchidaceae, Phalaenopsis medogensis, from Motuo, Xizang, is described and illustrated based on morphological characters and molecular phylogenetics analysis. Molecular phylogenetic analysis and morphological characters indicate that P. medogensis is close to P. deliciosa, P. gibbosa and P. lobbii, but differs from them by having triangular wings on the column foot, rhombic lip mid-lobe with a fleshy-horned appendage at the base, and concave lip lateral lobes, the lower part white with a deep purplish-red spot and hairy, the upper part pale yellow with dense rust spots.

Keywords: Flora, Motuo County, orchid taxonomy, Yarlungzangbo River

Habitat and plants of Phalaenopsis medogensis.

Flowers of Phalaenopsis medogensis X.H. Jin & C.B. Ma, sp. nov.
A front view of flower B lateral view of flower C front view of flower, showing basal part of lip D lateral view of column, ovary and pedicel E lip, side view F lip, dorsal view G column and column foot H dorsal sepal I petal J lateral sepal K anther cap.

Photographed by Xiaohua Jin and Chongbo Ma.

 Phalaenopsis medogensis X.H.Jin & C.B.Ma, sp. nov.

 墨脱蝴蝶兰

 

Diagnosis: Phalaenopsis medogensis is morphologically close to P. deliciosa, P. gibbosa and P. lobbii, but readily distinguished from them by its column foot having a pair of triangular wings, and a lip with concave subrectangular lateral lobes, that are white with a deep purplish-red spot in their lower part and hairy and pale yellow with dense rust-coloured spots in their upper part, and a rhombic mid-lobe with a fleshy horned appendage at base and grooved in the centre (Table 1).

Etymology: The epithet “medogensis” refers to the type locality of the new species, Medog County, Nyingchi City, Xizang Autonomous Region, China.

Chong-Bo Ma, Xi-Long Wang, Wen-Shuai Chen, Zhen Liu and Xiao-Hua Jin. 2023. Phalaenopsis medogensis (Orchidaceae, Epidendroideae, Vandeae), A New Species from Xizang, China. PhytoKeys. 214: 39-46. DOI: 10.3897/phytokeys.214.93607