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Phytotaxa 560 (3): 295–300
https://www.mapress.com/pt/
Copyright © 2022 Magnolia Press Article PHYTOTAXA
ISSN 1179-3155 (print edition)
ISSN 1179-3163 (online edition)
Accepted by Mark W. Chase: 15 Aug. 2022; published: 2 Sept. 2022
https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.560.3.4
295
Bulbophyllum contortum (Orchidaceae, Malaxideae), a new species from Yunnan,
China
ZHUANG ZHOU1,2,5, PENG-YU WU3,6, XIAO-WEI XU4,7, ZHUANG ZHAO2,8, YA-JUN LIN2,9, WAN XU1,10 &
ZHONG-JIAN LIU1,2,11*
1 Zhejiang Institute of Subtropical Crops, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Wenzhou 325005, China
2 Key Laboratory of National Forestry and Grassland Administration for Orchid Conservation and Utilization at College of Landscape
Architecture, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
3 School of Biological and Chemical Engineering, Nanyang Institute of Technology, Nanyang, 473004, China
4 Wenzhou Forestry Technology Promotion and Wildlife Protection and Management Station, Wenzhou 325000, China
5
�
zhuangchow@126.com; https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3894-2576
6
�
18771068351@163.com; https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8253-7236
7
�
xuxw21@126.com; https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8896-3834
8
�
fafuzzhuang@163.com; https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8021-3879
9
�
1552672265@qq.com; https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2228-4513
10
�
xwzjyzs@163.com; https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6205-8895
11
�
zjliu@fafu.edu.cn; https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4390-3878
* Author for correspondence
Abstract
A new orchid species, Bulbophyllum contortum (Malaxideae, Epidendroideae, Orchidaceae) from Zhenyuan, Yunnan, China,
is described and illustrated here. Detailed morphological comparisons indicate that B. contortum is similar to B. lemnisactum
and B. lemniscatoides, but it differs in the shape and size of pseudobulbs, inflorescence shape, flower colour and shape and
size of the sepalar appendages.
Keywords: Bulbophyllinae, Bulbophyllum section Lemniscata, Chinese orchids, Epidendroideae, flora of China
Introduction
Bulbophyllum Thouars (1822: t. 3; Malaxideae, Epidendroideae) is the largest and most diverse genus of Orchidaceae,
with 2,200–2,500 species (Gravendeel et al. 2014, Chase et al. 2015, Govaerts et al. 2021). There are approximately
130 species in China (Chen & Vermeulen 2009), and many new species in China have been reported in recent years
(Liu et al. 2016, Li et al. 2017, Wang et al. 2017, Zhai et al. 2017, Ma et al. 2018, Huang et al. 2020, Zhou et al.
2021).
Bulbophyllum section Lemniscata Pfitzer (1888: 179) is distinguished by 2–3 leaved pseudobulbs and racemose
inflorescences with small flowers. There are 12–15 species in this section in mainland tropical Asia and Indonesia
(Seidenfaden 1979, Averyanov et al. 2019), and five species in China (Chen & Vermeulen 2009). In this section, some
species are distinguished by their palea-like appendages near the apex of each sepal. During fieldwork in Zhenyuan,
Yunnan, a previously unrecorded species of Bulbophyllum with peculiar palea-like appendages was discovered.
Morphological and literature investigations indicated that this plant could be easily distinguished from the other species
described previously in Bulbophyllum. Here, we describe this new species.
ZHOU ET AL.
296 • Phytotaxa 560 (3) © 2022 Magnolia Press
Taxonomy
Bulbophyllum contortum Z.Zhou, P.Y.Wu & Z.J.Liu, sp. nov. (扭带石豆兰; Figs 1, 2)
Type:—CHINA, Zhenyuan, Yunnan, epiphytic on branches in forests, 2100 m, 12 Oct 2017, cultivated and flowered in Wenzhou, 10 Apr
2020, Zhou 2020041001 (holotype: ZM!).
This new species is similar to B. lemniscatoides Rolfe (1890: 672) and B. lemniscatum Parish in Hooker (1872: 5961),
but it differs in shape and size of its pseudobulbs, inflorescence shape, flower colour and shape and size of the sepalar
appendages (Table 1).
TABLE 1. Comparison of B. contortum, B. lemniscatoides and B. leminiscatum.
Characteristics B. contortum B. lemniscatoides B. lemniscatum
Pseudobulbs subglobose, 8.5–15.5 mm in diam.,
not tuberculate, often somewhat
irregularly depressed when old
ovoid, about 19 mm high, not
tuberculate, slightly flattened,
shriveled with longitudinal furrows
when old
Globose, 12–19 mm in diam.,
strongly tuberculate, often
somewhat irregularly depressed
when old
leaves 2 leaves, broad lanceolate, 26–85 ×
4–16 mm
2 leaves, linear-lanceolate to
elongate-oblong, 10–25 × ca. 2.7
mm
3–4 leaves, elliptic-lanceolate,
38–51 × 6–12 mm
Scape 4–10 cm 15–20 cm 10–15 cm
inflorescence racemose racemose cylindrically racemose
Sepals ovate-triangular, concave, 1.5–2
× 1–1.5 mm, obtuse, 4-grooved,
purplish red, green at the base,
glossy inside, outside with dense
papillae and sparse purple-red hairs
broadly elliptical-oblong, obtuse,
2-grooved, dark purple, with
numerous white hairs
orbicular-ovate, obtuse, 3-grooved,
dark purple, green at the base,
connivent, united below the middle,
outside with long spreading hairs
Appendages of
sepals
6.0–10.0 mm long, 0.2–0.3 mm in
diam., with 5–8 flanges contorted
from a light cream-purple capillary
axis, consisting of longitudinal
crenate undulate white and cream-
purple plates, gradually narrowed
into capillary with fine papillae at
base
5.0–10.0 mm long, ca. 0.1 mm in
diam., finely rugose on surface with
dense papillae, not lamellate
8.0–13.0 mm long, 0.6–1.0 mm
in diam., 6–10 longitudinal
crenate undulate plates radiate
from a capillary axis, red-purple
transversely banded with white
Petals included, linear-lanceolate, obtuse,
longer than and appressed to the
column, white with a purple vein,
ca. 1.2–1.4 × 0.5 mm, margin
entire, apex acute
Petals linear bidentate, serrulate to
near the base
small, included, linear-lanceolate,
obtuse, longer than and appressed
to the column, white with a purple
streak
Lip ligulate, ca. 1.5 × 1 mm, recurved,
with dense fine papillae, dark-red
purple, with V-shaped concavity
on upper surface, base attached to
end of column foot by an immobile
joint, margin decurved.
smooth intense dark purple,
elliptical-oblong, obtuse, equaling
with petals.
broadly ovate, recurved, convex,
obtuse, smooth, dark-blue purple.
Epiphytic herbs with a creeping rhizome. Pseudobulbs subglobose, 8.5–15.5 mm in diam., often somewhat
irregularly depressed when old, yellowish green, when young covered by white sheaths breaking up in a polygonal
pattern, each pseudobulb with 2 apical leaves. Leaf deciduous at anthesis, subsessile; blade pale green, broadly lanceolate,
2.6–8.5 × 0.4–1.6 cm, apex acute. Scape arising from base of leafless pseudobulb, 4–10 cm, with two sheaths below
the middle, slightly inflated above the middle; raceme pendulous from the curved tip of the scape, 2–4 cm, densely
many- flowered; floral bracts 3.5–4.7 mm, apex acute. Pedicel and ovary ca. 2–3 mm, with sparse purple-red hairs near
the apex. Flowers purplish red. Sepals ovate-triangular, concave, 1.5–2.0 × 1.0–1.5 mm, obtuse, 4-grooved, purplish
red, green at the base, glossy inside, outside with dense papillae and sparse purple-red hairs, appendages situated
on the back of each sepal just below the apex, 6.0–10.0 mm long, 0.2–0.3 mm in diam., with 5–8 flanges contorted
from a light cream-purple capillary axis, consisting of longitudinal crenate undulate white and cream-purple plates,
BULBOPHYLLUM CONTORTUM Phytotaxa 560 (3) © 2022 Magnolia Press • 297
FIGURE 1. Bulbophyllum contortum. A. Habit. B. Flowering plant. C. Flower, front view. D. Flower, side view. E. Flower with lateral
sepals removed, side view. F. Dorsal sepal. G. Lateral sepal. H. Petal. I. Lip. J. Transverse section of appendage. K. Anther cap. L.
pollinarium.
ZHOU ET AL.
298 • Phytotaxa 560 (3) © 2022 Magnolia Press
FIGURE 2. Bulbophyllum contortum. A. Habit. B. Flowering plant. C–D. Inflorescences. E. Flower, front view. F. Flower, side view. G.
Dissected parts of a flower. H. Detail of the sepal. I. Anther cap and pollinarium. J. Detail of the sepal appendage.
BULBOPHYLLUM CONTORTUM Phytotaxa 560 (3) © 2022 Magnolia Press • 299
gradually narrowed into capillary with fine papillae at base , lateral sepals adnate to column foot, their lower edges
connate to each other, entire, acute. Petals included, linear-lanceolate, obtuse, longer than and appressed to the column,
white with purple veins, ca. 1.2–1.4 × 0.5 mm, margin entire, apex acute; lip ligulate, ca. 1.5 × 1.0 mm, recurved, with
dense fine papillae, dark-red purple, with V-shaped concavity on upper surface, base attached to end of column foot
by an immobile joint, margin decurved. Column ca. 1.2 mm; foot ca. 1 mm; stelidia narrowly lanceolate, white with
sparse red spots; anther cap hemispherical, densely and minutely papillate, white with sparse red spots. Pollinia 4, in
2 pairs.
Phenology:—Flowering March–April.
Etymology:—Referring to the contorted flanges of sepalar appendages.
Distribution and habitat:—So far known only from the type locality, where it is epiphytic on trees at 2100 m in
evergreen, broad-leaved forests.
Conservation status:—A single population is known thus far. The number of mature individuals in the population
is less than 50 plants. According to the World Conservation Union Red List Categories and Criteria version 3.1 (IUCN,
2001), we suggest that the unofficial conservation status of this new species should be CR (critically endangered).
Notes:—The two deciduous leaves and floral morphology of this new orchid indicate that this species belongs to
Bulbophyllum section Lemniscata. Morphologically, the new species is similar to B. lemniscatoides and B. lemniscatum
(Table 1), but it differs from the former in pseudobulb shape (subglobose vs. ovoid), flower colour (purplish red vs. dark
purple), sepal appendages (longitudinally crenate/undulate white plates vs. finely rugose on surface, densely papillate
and not lamellate) and petals (margin entire vs. linear bidentate and serrulate near the petal base), from the latter by
pseudobulbs (not tuberculate vs. strongly tuberculate), number of leaves (2 vs. 3–4), sepals (ovate-triangular, concave,
4-grooved, purplish red, outside with dense papillae and sparse purple-red hairs vs. orbicular-ovate, 3-grooved, dark
purple, outside with long spreading hairs) and sepalar appendages (6–10 mm long, 0.2–0.3 mm in diam., with 6–8
flanges contorted from a light cream-purple capillary axis vs. 8–13 mm long, 0.6–1 mm in diam., 6–10 longitudinal
crenate undulate plates radiate from a capillary axis).
Acknowledgements
We acknowledge support from The Major Science and Technology Projects of Breeding New Varieties of Agriculture
in Zhejiang Province (Grant no. 2021C02074), Natural Science Foundation of Zhejiang Province (Grant no.
LY20C160005), Key Research and Development Program of Zhejiang Province (Grant no. 2021C02043), National
Key R&D Program of China (grant nos. 2019YFD1000400 and 2018YFD1000401) and Wenzhou Agricultural New
Variety Breeding Cooperative Group Project (Grant No. 2019ZX004-3).
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