Corresponding author: Sahut Chantanaorrapint (
Academic editor: João Farminhão
A new orchid species from southern Thailand,
Chantanaorrapint A, Chantanaorrapint S (2022)
In November 2015, during an orchid survey in Ton Nga Chang Wildlife Sanctuary (
Field surveys were carried out in TNCW and Ban Yang Ko community forest, Songkhla province, southern Thailand (Fig.
Distribution of
Similar to
Thailand. Songkhla Province: Ton Nga Chang wildlife sanctuary, ca. 100 m,
Terrestrial, achlorophyllous herbs, with a suberect rhizome and an erect flowering shoot.
Thailand. Songkla Province: Ton Nga Chang Wildlife Sanctuary, ca. 100 m,
Flowering and fruiting observed from October to December.
Greek prefix
This species is currently known from two subpopulations, representing two locations, which are in protected areas (Wildlife Sanctuary and community forest). One of the subpopulations is located beside a waterfall, which is a common visiting site for tourists. Therefore, habitat quality is threatened by trampling and other destructive activities potentially caused by regular visits by tourists to the area, namely the attraction of wild boars. Together, these have the potential to cause a population reduction. The other subpopulation is also somewhat disturbed by human activities such as illegal logging. Moreover, the number of mature individuals observed is fewer than 50. The extent of occurrence cannot be estimated because the species is known only from two subpopulations and its area of occupancy is estimated to be only 8 km2.
The new species can be confused with
The new species also resembles
Morphological differences among
Characters |
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dorsal sepal | narrowly ovate to lanceolate, 17.5–19.6 × 4.3–5.2 mm, apex acute | oblong-cuculate, ca. 12 × 3 mm, apex acuminate | oblong-cymbiform, 10–12 × 4.0–5.5 mm, apex obtuse | narrowly elliptic, 8–10 mm long, apex acute to obtuse | lanceolate, ca. 12–14 × 2.5–3.0 mm, apex acute |
petals | oblong-lanceolate, 16.0–16.5 × 3.9–4.3 mm, apex acute | oblong, ca. 12 × 2 mm, apex acuminate | oblong, 9.5–11.5 × 3.5–4.0 mm, apex rotundate or obtuse | narrowly elliptic, 8–10 mm long, apex acute to obtuse | lanceolate, ca. 11–14 × 2.0–2.5 mm, apex acute |
labellum | oblong-lanceolate, 16.2–17.0 × 3.8–4.5 mm, folded along a midrib, concave at the basal part apex acute, lateral margins not decurved | oblong-acuminate, ca. 11 × 2.5 mm, flat entirely, apex acuminate and slightly twisted, lateral margins decurved | oblong, 9.5–11.5 × 3.5–4.0 mm, flat entirely, apex obtuse or rotundate, lateral margins recurved backward at middle | oblanceolate, 9–10 × 2–2.5 mm, flat entirely, apex acute and slightly decurved, lateral margins slightly decurved | 3-lobed with indistinct side lobes, ca. 11–14 × 2.5–3.0 mm, almost flat, apex acute, lateral margins rolled at the basal part |
staminode | reduced | reduced | Present | present | reduced |
rostellum | semicircular, entire apex | triangular, entire apex | ovate-lingulate, entire apex | ovate, emarginate apex | lingulate, entire apex |
One could argue that the new species could simply represent an abnormal (peloric) form of another
There are now five species of
1 | Flowers subactinomorphic; labellum somewhat similar to the sepals, undivided into hypochile and epichile |
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– | Flowers zygomorphic; labellum distinctly different from the sepals, divided into hypochile and epichile |
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2 | Sepals caudate, longer than 20 mm |
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– | Sepals rounded to obtuse, shorter than 20 mm |
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3 | Hypochile with well-developed side lobes; epichile densely papillose on adaxial surface; anther apex rounded to obtuse |
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– | Hypochile with indistinct side lobes; epichile nearly glabrous on adaxial surface; anther apex forming a horn-like projection |
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4 | Sepals longer than 7 mm. Labellum longer than 6 mm; epichile ovate to slightly 3-lobed |
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– | Sepals shorter than 7 mm. Labellum shorter than 6 mm; epichile cordate |
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We would like to thank O. Suwanmala for her assistance during fieldwork, C. Leeratiwong for providing his collection and photograph, and the curator and staff of SING for allowing us to access the available specimens. We would also like to thank J. Farminhão and the anonymous reviewers for their valuable comments and suggestions to improve the manuscript. This work was supported by the Prince of Songkla University annual government expenditure under the Plant Genetic Conservation Project Year 2021 under the Royal initiative of Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn.