Friday, January 5, 2024

[Botany • 2024] Uncifera motuoensis (Orchidaceae: Epidendroideae: Aeridinae) • A New Species from Xizang, China


Uncifera motuoensis   M.Z.Huang, X.D.Chen & M.K.Li,

in Huang, Chen, Li, Zhu, Zhao, Yang, Xi, ... et Wang, 2024.
墨脫叉喙蘭  ||  taiwania.ntu.edu.tw/abstract/1972

Abstract
A new species, Uncifera motuoensis (Orchidaceae: Epidedroideae: Aeridinae) from Xizang Autonomous Region, China is described and illustrated with detailed photos and scientific illustration. Detailed morphological comparisons indicate that U. motouensis is similar to U. obtusifolia, but differs in having entire mid-lobe of lip, narrower leaf blade and wider pollinarium stipe. For the identification, a key to the known seven species of Uncifera is presented.

Keyword: Aeridinae, Chinese orchids, Epidendroideae, Motuo County, new species, taxonomy, Uncifera, Uncifera obtusifolia

Morphological comparison of Uncifera motuoensis (A) and U. obtusifolia (B).
 1. Flowers (side view); 2. Dorsal sepals; 3. Lateral sepals; 4. Petals; 5. Flowers without sepals and petals (side view); 6. Column and lips longitudinal section; 7. Leaf; 8. Pollinarium with strip flattened; 9. Pollinarium (side view).

Uncifera motuoensis.
A. Plant and inflorescence; B. Flower (front view); C. Bract; D. Dorsal sepal; E. Lateral sepal; F. Petal; G. Flower with sepals and petals removed (side view); H. Column and ovary; I. Longitudinal section of flower without sepals and petals; J. Leaf apex; K. Anthers cap (side and front side veiw); L. Pollinarium (side view, front view with strip fanttened).
 Drawn by Kunyang Lu from the type.


Uncifera motuoensis M.Z.Huang, X.D.Chen & M.K.Li, sp. nov. 
墨脫叉喙蘭 

Diagnosis: Uncifera motuoensis is similar to U. obtusifolia Lindl. (1958), but differs in having an entire mid-lobe of lip (vs. trilobe), narrower leaves (linearoblong vs. obliquely oblong) and wider pollinarium stipe wings (leglike vs. cuplike at closing) (Table 1).

Etymology: The species epithet is named after the type locality, Motuo County.


Mingzhong Huang, Xueda Chen, Mengkai Li, Rongjie Zhu, Guanfei Zhao, Hubiao Yang, Liang Xi, Qinglong Wang, Langxing Yuan, Shisong Xu, Zhunian Wang, Zhen Liu and Jiabao Wang. 2024. Uncifera motuoensis (Orchidaceae), A New Species from Xizang, China. Taiwania. 69(1); 20-23. DOI: 10.6165/tai.2024.69.20