New species of ‘epiphytic orchid’ found in Longleng district

December 6, 2022 66 Views No Comment

Morung Express News
Kohima | December 6

A new species of epiphytic orchid viz. Gastrochilus pseudocalceolaris was found during floristic surveys in Yingyushang Mountain, Longleng district, Nagaland, in April 2022.

The etymology of the specific epithet is derived from the Greek ‘pseudo-’ (false) and after ‘Gastrochilus calceolaris,’ referring to its close similarity with G. calceolaris. Its habitat is on tree trunks and branches in subtropical semi evergreen forest at 1854 m elevation, and is found to be rare.

According to an article published on December 2, 2022, the new species, collected from Mt. Yingyushang, Longleng district, Nagaland in India, is morphologically allied to G. calceolaris, but differs in having much shorter stem and a labellum-epichile without long, papillose hairs on its adaxial surface, and epichile with shortly erose margins.

Gastrochilus D. Don (Orchidaceae: Epidendroideae: Vandeae: Aeridinae) is a genus of epiphytic orchids represented by c. 63 species and 1 natural hybrid distributed from Sri Lanka and India to Indonesia and the Philippines. The genus is morphologically distinct by its immobile labellum which is typically bipartite, with a saccate hypochile and a broad epichile, two porate, globose pollinia borne on slender stipe and a bifurcate viscidium. Singh et al. (2019) reported 20 taxa under Gastrochilus from India, but at present the genus is represented by 18 species and 1 variety (excluding variety proper) in India.

During floristic surveys in Yingyushang Mountain, Longleng district, Nagaland, India (in April 2022) a species of Gastrochilus, apparently looking similar to G. calceolaris D. Don was found with five mature individuals in two subpopulations.

“After detailed study of the collected specimens, the species has been determined as a new species of Gastrochilus, which is being described here as G. pseudocalceolaris with detailed description, photographs and dissection photo-plate” stated the note.

Though Gastrochilus pseudocalceolaris apparently looks alike to G. calceolaris, it can be distinguished by its much shorter stem (1–3 cm long), labellum-epichile without numerous, long, papillose hairs on its adaxial surface, and epichile with shortly erose margins it stated.

Though in all studied specimens of G. calceolaris, numerous, long, papillose hairs on the epichile are prominent, these are completely lacking in G. pseudocalceolaris and is the most prominent diagnostic character of the new species.

The floristic survey was carried out by Santanu Dey and Moakum from the Department of Botany, Kohima Science College, Jotsoma; Limamanen Phom, Department of Zoology, Sao Chang College, Tuensang; Avishek Bhattacharjee from Central National Herbarium, Botanical Survey of India, B. Garden, Howrah and Kazhuhrü Eshuo from Department of Botany, Dhanamanjuri University, Imphal West.

Source: https://morungexpress.com/new-species-of-epiphytic-orchid-found-in-longleng-district