Zhuxi hemipilia (Hemipilia zhuxiensis) closely related to H. henryi and H. crassicalcarata in section

NEWS - Zhuxi hemipilia (Hemipilia zhuxiensis sp. nov.) found in Shibali Long Canyon National Nature Reserve is morphologically similar to Hemipilia henryi Rolfe and Hemipilia crassicalcarata S.S.Chien, but differs in having an oval and simple labellum with a curved edge, a curved apex and a spur shorter than the ovary.

The genus Hemipilia Lindley sensu stricto includes about 13 species. In Hemipilia sect. Hemipilia, many species show morphological similarities, characterized by relatively small purplish-red flowers, a tongue-like rostellum and oval leaves with purple spots.

Many new species have been discovered in recent years. During a 2020 field investigation in the Wuling Mountains, Hubei, China, researchers found many small purple-flowered Hemipilia species. However, the literature does not show such characteristics in previously studied Hemipilia species.

The simple, oblong labellum with slightly volute margins and shorter spurs distinguish it from all known Hemipilia species. The researchers used H. henryi and H. crassicalcarata for morphological comparison, as they share common attributes and are the closest phylogenetically related.

However, the new species shows certain differences as it has oblong leaves with purple spots; 10 × 3–5 mm, single, oblong labellum; slightly volute labellum margin; upwardly curved labellum apex; and much shorter spurs compared to the ovary.

Nuclear (nrITS) and plastid (matK, psaB, psbA-trnH, rbcL and trnL-F concatenation) DNA sequence analyses confirmed H. zhuxiensis to be closely related to H. henryi and H. crassicalcarata supporting its recognition as a new species within H. sect. Hemipilia.

H. zhuxiensis is known to have two populations in the Shibali Long Canyon National Nature Reserve. The two populations are about 500 meters apart along the rock wall of the canyon. The new species grows on the rock wall together with H. henryi.

The canyon is a barren valley and many shrubs and mosses grow on the rock walls on both sides. The species flowers in June. The specific epithet refers to the name of the type locality in Zhuxi County. The Chinese name is “竹溪舌喙兰“.

Original research

Shen C-q, Lu G-H, Chen X-T, Yi L-S, Lan D-Q, Qin R, Liu H (2024). Hemipilia zhuxiensis (Orchideae, Orchidaceae), a new species from Hubei Province, China. PhytoKeys 247: 203-217, DOI:10.3897/phytokeys.247.131618

Dlium theDlium

Bush sorrel (Hibiscus surattensis)

Bush sorrel ( Hibiscus surattensis ) is a plant species in Malvaceae, annual shrub, crawling on the surface or climbing, up to 3 meters long, thorny stems, green leaves, yellow trumpet flowers, grows wild in forests and canal edges, widely used for vegetables and treatment. H. surattensis has stems with spines and hairs, branching and reddish green. Petiole emerges from the stem with a straight edge to the side, up to 11 cm long, sturdy, thorny, hairy and reddish green. The leaves have a length of 10 cm, width of 10 cm, 3-5 lobed, each has a bone in the middle with several pinnate veins, sharp tip, sharp and jagged edges, wavy, stiff, green surface. Flowers up to 10 cm long, trumpet-shaped, yellow with a purple or brown or red center, solitary, axillary. Epicalyx has forked bracts, linear inner branches, spathulate outer branches. Stalks up to 6-7 cm. The seeds have a length of 3-3.5 mm and a width of 2.5 mm. Bush sorrels grow in pastures, marshes, abandoned fields and plantations, ...

Six new species forming the Sumbana species group in genus Nemophora Hoffmannsegg 1798 from Indonesia

NEWS - Sumbawa longhorn ( Nemophora sumbana Kozlov, sp. nov.), Timor longhorn ( Nemophora timorella Kozlov, sp. nov.), shining shade longhorn ( Nemophora umbronitidella Kozlov, sp. nov.), Wegner longhorn ( Nemophora wegneri Kozlov, sp. nov.), long brush longhorn ( Nemophora longipeniculella Kozlov, sp. nov.), and short brush longhorn ( Nemophora brevipeniculella Kozlov, sp. nov.) from the Lesser Sunda Islands in Indonesia. The Lesser Sunda Islands consist of two parallel, linear oceanic island chains, including Bali, Lombok, Sumbawa, Flores, Sumba, Sawu, Timor, Alor, and Tanimbar. The oldest of these islands have been continuously occurring for 10–12 million years. This long period of isolation has allowed significant in situ diversification, making the Lesser Sundas home to many endemic species. This island chain may act as a two-way filter for organisms migrating between the world's two great biogeographic regions, Asia and Australia-Papua. The recognition of a striking cli...

Perlis fairy lantern (Thismia perlisensis) resembling Thismia arachnites Ridley and Thismia javanica J.J.Sm.

NEWS - Perlis fairy lantern ( Thismia perlisensis Besi & Rusea sp. nov.) was discovered during a scientific expedition in a wetland forest at the foot of a limestone hill, Perlis State Park, resembling Thismia arachnites Ridley (1905) and Thismia javanica J.J.Sm. (1910), but has a prominent reddish dome-shaped annulus. Thismia perlisensis can be easily distinguished from T. arachnites and T. javanica by its blood-red dome-shaped annulus (vs. ring-like with a rim, orange annulus), prominent trilobed stigma with bifid and subulate lobes 1.8 mm long (vs. oblong, truncated stigma), and claviform apex of inner tepal appendage (vs. subulate apex of inner tepal appendage). Stenoendemic to northern Peninsular Malaysia, Perlis State and possibly Langkawi Island. Although there have been sightings of the plant on Langkawi Island, this location is based solely on photos posted on social media. There are currently no specimens or additional information to confirm. The new species grows in...

Dlium