A new species and two new combinations of Monolophus (Zingiberaceae) from Indo-Burma
Author
Ding, Hong-Bo
Author
Yang, Bin
Author
Maw, Mya Bhone
Author
Win, Pyae Pyae
Author
Tan, Yun-Hong
text
PhytoKeys
2020
138
155
162
http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/phytokeys.138.39217
journal article
http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/phytokeys.138.39217
1314-2003-138-155
286AA4144E7E524C92543F94726BD426
Monolophus odontochilus Y.H.Tan & H.B.Ding
sp. nov.
Figure 1
Diagnosis.
Monolophus odontochilus
is morphologically similar to
M. linearis
(Wall.) Wall. from India in having white flowers with yellow blotch at the base of the labellum, but differs by having elliptic to oblong leaves (vs. linear-lanceolate to lanceolate leaves), bilobed ligules (vs. entire ligules), semi-orbicular crenate labellum (vs. trilobed labellum) and purely white corolla (vs. pinkish white corolla).
Type.
Myanmar. Kachin State: Putao District, Gathu Village.
27°29'07.23"N
,
97°58'19.49"E
, 643 m, 01 June 2018,
Y.H.Tan
,
B.Yang
,
H.B.Ding
,
X.D.Zeng
,
M.B.Maw and H.L.Neing M3886
(holotype: HITBC!, isotypes: RAF!).
Description.
Perennial herbs, rhizome short; pseudostem erect, leafy 50-70 cm long.
Leaves
5-13, sub-sessile, elliptic to oblong, 10.2-14
x
3.0-5.0 cm, base cuneate, apex caudate to 2.0 cm long, margins entire, adaxial surface dark green, glabrous, abaxially light green, pubescent;
ligule
membranous, 6-8 mm long, hairy, apex unequally bilobed.
Inflorescences
terminal, 5-7 cm long, rachis glabrous;
flowers
white with yellow blotch at the base of the labellum;
bracts
4-6, along rachis, distichous, oblong, 3.5-4.0
x
1.0-1.3 cm, greenish, outer surface pubescent, base truncate, apex cuspidate to 0.8 cm, 2-flowered;
bracteoles
membranous, lanceolate, ca. 1.5
x
0.8 cm, pubescent, rounded;
calyx
tubular, 1.3-1.4
x
0.3-0.4 cm, pubescent, greenish, split 6-7 mm down one side, apex acute;
floral tube
4.3-4.5 cm, ca. 3.5 mm wide at mouth, white, glabrous;
dorsal corolla lobe
lanceolate, 2.2-2.3
x
0.6-0.7 cm, white, glabrous, hooded at apex, apical cusp ca. 2 mm long;
lateral corolla lobes
similar to dorsal lobe, narrower, 2.0-2.1
x
0.3-0.4 cm, hooded at apex, apical cusp ca. 1 mm long;
lateral staminodes
elliptic, 1.5-1.6
x
0.9-1.0 cm, white, apex rounded;
labellum
semi-orbicular, 4.4-4.8
x
3.2-3.6 cm, white with yellow spot at base, margin crenate;
anther
4-5 mm long;
anther crest
flabellate, 2-3
x
4-5 mm, white, apex entire;
stigma
funnel-shaped, inserted between anther sac, margin raised on both ends, ciliate;
ovary
oblong, 3-4 mm long, pubescent, 3-locular.
Figure 1.
Monolophus odontochilus
Y.H. Tan & H.B. Ding, sp. nov.
A
habitat
B
ligule
C
leaf blade abaxially
D
habit
E
single leaf (adaxially and abaxially)
F
flower (side view)
G
flower (front view)
H
anther with stigma and crest (front and back view)
I
stigma
J
dorsal corolla lobe
K
lateral corolla lobes
L
bracts
M
bracteoles and young flower
N
calyx
O
ovary
P
labellum and floral tube
Q
lateral staminodes
R
stamen and stigma
S
ovary with style. Photographed by H.B.Ding
Phenology.
Flowering in May to June. Fruit not seen.
Etymology.
The species epithet '
odontochilus
' refers to the crenate labellum.
Distribution and habitat.
Monolophus odontochilus
is endemic to Kachin State, Northern Myanmar, only known from its type locality, Gathu Village, Putao District. It grows in humid environments or along streams of tropical rain forest at an elevation of 550-750 m.
Conservation status.
This new species appears to be restricted to a very moist habitat in Gathu Village, Putao District, Kachin State, Northern Myanmar. According to our observations in the field, the two known populations are composed of about 50 mature individuals in each. Overall, however, the species has been deemed to be Data Deficient (DD) following IUCN Red list Categories and Criteria (
IUCN 2017
). Further field surveys in northern Myanmar are needed to gain more information on its distribution.
Affinities.
Monolophus odontochilus
is morphologically similar to
M. linearis
(Wall.) Wall. (
Wallich 1820
,
1832
) in having white flowers with a yellow blotch at the base of the labellum. After comparison with specimens and descriptions in literature (
Chaturvedi et al. 2012
;
Roy and Barbhuiya 2013
), it was found that
M. odontochilus
can be distinguished from
M. linearis
, even on the basis of its vegetative characters: e.g.
Monolophus odontochilus
has unequally bilobed ligule (vs. entire ligule, respectively), longer calyx (1.3-1.4 cm vs. 0.8-0.9 cm, respectively), bigger lateral staminodes (1.5-1.6
x
0.9-1.0 cm vs. ca. 1.0
x
0.7 cm, respectively).
Monolophus odontochilus
, furthermore, differs in having elliptic to oblong leaves (10.2-14
x
3-5 cm), margin crenate labellum (non-trilobed) and purely white corolla.
Monolophu linearis
has linear lanceolate leaves (1.5-6.5
x
0.5-1 cm), trilobed labellum and pinkish white corolla. A diagnostic key to the new species of
Monolophus
and its closely related species is provided.