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| Hemipilia zhuxiensis Hong Liu, in Shen, Lu, Chen, Yi, Lan, Qin et Liu, 2024. |
Abstract
Hemipilia zhuxiensis (Orchidaceae), is a new species discovered in the Shibali Long Canyon National Nature Reserve, Zhuxi County, Hubei Province, China. It is morphologically similar to Hemipilia henryi and Hemipilia crassicalcarata, but differs in having an oblong, simple labellum with a slightly involute margin, an upcurved apex, and a spur shorter than the ovary. Molecular phylogenetic analyses, using nuclear (nrITS) and plastid (combined matK, psaB, psbA-trnH, rbcL and trnL-F) DNA sequences, confirm that H. zhuxiensis is closely related to Hemipilia henryi and Hemipilia crassicalcarata, supporting its recognition as a new species in the H. section Hemipilia as defined by Tang et al. (2015).
Key words: Morphology, phylogeny, subtribe Orchidinae, Zhuxi County
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| Hemipilia zhuxiensis A habit B flower and spur (side view) C morphological contrast of H. zhuxiensis (left) and H. henryi (right) D flowering whole plant E column and labellum F tubers and roots G leaves (adaxial and abaxial view). |
Hemipilia zhuxiensis Hong Liu, sp. nov.
Diagnosis: Though apparently similar to H. henryi Rolfe and H. crassicalcarata S.S.Chien, H. zhuxiensis shows certain differences in having ovate, purple-spotted leaf; 10 × 3–5 mm, oblong, simple labellum; slightly involute labellum margin; upcurved labellum apex; and a significantly shorter spur compared with the ovary (Table 2).
Etymology: The specific epithet refers to the name of the type locality in Zhuxi County.
Vernacular name: The Chinese name is “竹溪舌喙兰”.
Cai-quan Shen, Gui-Hua Lu, Xi-Tang Chen, Li-Sha Yi, De-Qing Lan, Rui Qin and Hong Liu. 2024. Hemipilia zhuxiensis (Orchideae, Orchidaceae), A New Species from Hubei Province, China. PhytoKeys. 247: 203-217. DOI: doi.org/10.3897/phytokeys.247.131618