Nervilia umphangensis Suddee, Rueangr. & S.W.Gale 2014 SECTION Linervia Schlechter

TYPE Drawing by Suddee, Rueangr. & S.W.Gale 2014

Common Name The Umphang District Nervilia

Flower Size

Found in northern Thailand at elevations around 800 to 900 meters as a mini-miniature sized, warm growing terrestrial that blooms in the spring on an erect, 4" [10 cm] long, single flowered inflorescence.

"The glabrous, angular leaf of this new species immediately affiliates it with the taxonomically difficult N. adolphi–punctata species alliance. However, its relatively large flower with yellow- ochre tepals and orbicular, glabrous, lilac-purple epichile, and purple-bronze new leaf make it unique. Most other species of this complex have a predominantly white lip marked with purple spots and blotches on the epichile, which is typically irregularly papillate. In coloration, the lip of N. umphangensis is most similar to that of N. infundibulifolia, a species described from India and since recorded from Bhutan, Laos and Thailand. However, the epichile of that species is pubescent throughout and bears a broad band of longer papillae along the central ridge. Moreover, the lip of N. infundibulifolia is discontinuously smaller (ca. .52 to .6" [13 to 15 mm] long) than that of N. umphangensis, plus the epichile is obovate and less than .2" [5 mm] wide. Indeed, the lip of all other members of the N. adolphi–punctata species alliance known from Thailand is notably smaller (less than .8" [20 mm] long). In terms of floral dimensions, the new species is comparable to N. muratana , another member of the N. adolphi–punctata alliance from southern China and Vietnam. That species has a lip about 1" [25 mm] long, and the epichile is also more or less glabrous. However, the epichile is ovate, and the hypochile lacks distinct auricles at is apex. Furthermore, the tepals of N. muratana are all lanceolate, less than .12" [3 mm] wide and white, in contrast to those of N. umphangensis, which are obovate, more than .16" [4 mm] wide and ochre in color. Among the most noticeable features of N. umphangensis is the purple-bronze coloration of the young leaf, which fades to green with age. The leaf of the recently described N. khaoyaica : from eastern Thailand exhibits colour dimorphism (green or purple), but the colour is different and persists in fully mature individuals, compared to the new species described here. The leaf coloration of other members of the complex is uniform and/or does not vary between individuals or with age." Suddee, Rueangr. & S.W.Gale 2014

Synonyms

References W3 Tropicos, Kew Monocot list , IPNI ;

* Phytotaxa 166: 140 Suddee, Rueangr. & S.W.Gale 2014

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------