Orchidantha yunnanensis (Lowiaceae), a new species from China, and notes on the identity of Orchidantha laotica Author Zou, Pu Key Laboratory of Plant Resources Conservation and Sustainable Utilization, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510650, China. Author Xiao, Chun-Fen Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Mengla 666303, Yunnan, China. Author Luo, Shi-Xiao Key Laboratory of Plant Resources Conservation and Sustainable Utilization, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510650, China. Author Cui, Chang-Jie Key Laboratory of Plant Resources Conservation and Sustainable Utilization, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510650, China. Author Xu, Kai Key Laboratory of Plant Resources Conservation and Sustainable Utilization, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510650, China. Author Ye, Yu-Shi Key Laboratory of South China Agricultural Plant Molecular Analysis and Genetic Improvement, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510650, China. Author Liao, Jing-Ping Key Laboratory of Plant Resources Conservation and Sustainable Utilization, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510650, China. Author Leong-Škorničková, Jana Herbarium, Singapore Botanic Gardens, National Parks Board, 1 Cluny Road, Singapore 259569. text Phytotaxa 2017 2017-03-31 302 2 181 187 http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.302.2.8 journal article 302336 10.11646/phytotaxa.302.2.8 ec3e62c9-ce48-41d5-879e-fcde5c0fe234 1179-3163 13695094 Orchidantha laotica K. Larsen (1961: 349) ( Fig. 3 ). Type:— LAOS . Wienchan [ Vientiane ]: Muang Baw [Muang Bo], elev. ca. 200 m , 28 April 1932 , A . F . G . Kerr 21284 ( holotype K [K-000292162, K-000292163 & K-000292164, a specimen consisting of 3 sheets clearly labeled as sheet 1, sheet 2 and sheet 3], isotype BM-000958173!) Notes: —The identity of Orchidantha laotica has been unclear since its description which was based on herbarium materials collected by A . F . G . Kerr in evergreen forest in Muang Baw, Wienchan (based on historical maps presumably Vientiane province , Muang Bo). The collection ( Leong-Škorničková et al. JLS-1800 ) presented here in Figure 2 was collected from the same province, near Vang Vieng, about 100 km from the presumed type locality. Our collection also originates from evergreen lowland forest (at elev. ca. 250 m ). It agrees very well with the type specimen, the original description and the line drawing (Fig. 4 in Larsen 1961 ) in terms of shape and size of the plant as well as all floral parts. The only deviation seem to be a colour of the sepals, which is described by Kerr on the label as being greenish-white, while our collection is greenish white at base, but with dense rusty-red tinge. The presence and density of the tinge on sepals might however be variable within population as we have seen on other Orchidantha species. When Du et al. (1995) reported Orchidantha laotica from Yunnan , they didn’t include any description or illustration. The only specimen cited, Du et al. 950221 ( SWFC ) cannot be traced at present. Hence the identity of this record, which was not included in the Flora of China ( Wu & Kress 2000 ), is still to be verified.