Monday, July 6, 2026

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


Thrixspermum yei M. K. Li, Z. Xing & Y. Luo, 

in Li, Pang, Chen, Deng, Wang, Xing et Luo, 2024. 

Abstract
A new species Thrixspermum yei M. K. Li, Z. Xing & Y. Luo is described and illustrated from Xizang, China. It is similar to T. fantasticum and T. duplocallosum but differs from them in having a yellowish, ovate, indistinctly 3-lobed lip, disk with 4 yellow papillary front calli densely covered with yellow powder, and base with a cone-like appendage.

Keyword: Thrixspermum fantasticum, Thrixspermum duplocallosum, taxonomy, Xizang, China



Thrixspermum yei M. K. Li, Z. Xing & Y. Luo  
 A-B. plant and inflorescence; C. inflorescence; D-F. flower; G-H. split flower; IK. close-up of lip; L. lip and column. M-N. column and ovary; O-P. anther cap; Q. pollinia. (Photos: by Shen-shen Pang).

Thrixspermum yei M. K. Li, Z. Xing & Y. Luo
A. plant and inflorescence; B. inflorescence; C. flower; D. split flower; E1-E2. Column. F1-F2. close-up of lip; G. anther cap; H. pollinia.
 (Drawn by Jian-ping Deng).

Thrixspermum yei M.K.Li, Z.Xing & Y.Luo, sp. nov. 

 Type: CHINA. Xizang, Mêdog County, Dexing village, 95°14'42.89"E, 29°13'48.19"N, 1184 m, epiphytes on tree trunks in evergreen broad-leaved forest, 08 June 2022, M. K. Li 2022160 holotype: T000167542 (TAAHUC!); isotype: 022016 (XZE!). 

Diagnosis: Thrixspermum yei is morphologically similar to T. fantasticum and T. duplocallosum, but can be clearly distinguished from them by having a yellowish, ovate, indistinctly 3-lobed lip, disk with 4 yellow papillary front calli densely covered with yellow powder, and base with a cone-like appendage.
  
Etymology: The specific epithet "yei" is in honor of Mr. De-Ping YE (1977-2020), who dedicated over twenty years to the botanical surveys and conservation of wild orchids in China. 
Vernacular name: Ye Shi Bai Dian Lan, 叶氏白点兰



Meng-Kai Li, Shen-Shen Pang, Xue-Da Chen, Jian-Ping Deng, Wei Wang, Zhen Xing and Yan Luo. 2024. Thrixspermum yei (Aeridinae, Vandeae, Epidendroideae, Orchidaceae) - A New Species from Xizang, China. Taiwania. 69(2); 138-141. DOI: 10.6165/tai.2024.69.138