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| Aerides obyrneana Metusala, in Metusala, 2024. |
Abstract
A new species of Aerides from Sulawesi Island, Indonesia, is described and illustrated. This new species is placed in Aerides sect. Falcata and is, so far, the only member of this section recorded from Indonesia. The species is endemic to the northern part of Sulawesi Island.
Keywords: Aerides, Epiphyte, Wallacea
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| Aerides obyrneana Metusala. A, Inflorescence; B and C, flower with lip in natural shape (oblique views); D, flower, natural shape (back view); E, lip, mid-lobe and side lobes, natural shape. Photographs: Destario Metusala. |
Aerides obyrneana Metusala, sp. nov.
Aerides obyrneana is morphologically similar to A. upcmae Motes et al. but differs in having a broadly flabellate mid-lobe (vs elliptic ovate mid-lobe), mid-lobes deeply incised forming 4 unequally lobules (vs simple with bilobed apex), a low median callus that extends from the spur aperture to the centre of the mid-lobe (vs shallowly channelled at the posterior base), and a spur with an erect subquadrangular lower callus (vs an erect long oblong lower callus).
Etymology. The specific epithet honours the late Peter O’Byrne, a Southeast Asian orchid specialist who kindly taught the author during his early career as an Indonesian taxonomist.
D. Metusala. 2024. A New Species of Aerides (Aeridinae: Orchidaceae) from Sulawesi, Indonesia. Edinburgh Journal of Botany. 81; 1-8. DOI: 10.24823/ejb.2024.2001
