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| Taeniophyllum wrightmyoensis Alappatt, in Alappatt, 2026. |
Abstract
A new species, Taeniophyllum wrightmyoensis (Orchidaceae) is described from the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India. The new species resembles T. hasseltii and T. pusillum, but is distinct from both in having mostly terete free hanging roots (versus roots flat, appressed to the substratum), bracts lax (versus bracts close in T. pusillum), lip without any cushions (versus lip with convex cushions in T. hasseltii) and a conical spur (versus globose spur in T. pusillum). In addition, a review of other species of the genus Taeniophyllum reported from the Andaman and Nicobar Islands is provided with an identification key.
Keywords: Aeridinae; Orchidaceae; South Andaman; Taeniophyllum; new species
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| Taeniophyllum wrightmyoensis Alappatt sp. nov. a. Habit. b. Inflorescence. c. Flower bud with inflorescence rachis of previous year. d. Flower, lateral view. e. Flower close-up, front view. f. Bract. g. Dorsal sepal. h. Petals. i. Lateral sepals. j. Lip. k. Column with ovary. l. column with ovary and spur. m. Anther cap. n. Pollinia. o. Capsule. Photos: Alappatt. |
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| Taeniophyllum wrightmyoensis Alappatt sp. nov., with Oberonia ensiformis (Sm.) Lindl. to the right. Photo: Alappatt. |
Taeniophyllum wrightmyoensis Alappatt, sp. nov.
This species is similar to Taeniophyllum hasseltii Rchb.f. and T. pusillum (Willd.) Seidenf. & Ormerod in having free sepals and petals, distichous bracts, fleshy lip and short anther-beak, but differs from them by its mostly free hanging terete roots and a few roots semi-terete when appressed to substratum (vs. roots flat, appressed to the substratum), bracts lax (vs. close in T. pusillum), comparatively smaller flowers (c. 3 mm across), not opening widely (vs. large flowers, 5–5.5 mm across, opening widely), lip blade without convex cushions (vs. with convex cushions in T. hasseltii), spur conical, being longer than broad (vs. globose, as long as broad in T. pusillum).
Etymology. The specific epithet refers to the collections from Wrightmyo where the species was discovered.
Alappatt, J.P. 2026. A Review of the Genus Taeniophyllum (Orchidaceae) in Andaman and Nicobar Islands (India) with the Description of A New Species, Taeniophyllum wrightmyoensis. Blumea - Biodiversity, Evolution and Biogeography of Plants. DOI: doi.org/10.3767/blumea.2026.70.02.06
