Liparis funingensis Y.Y. Su, Y. Meng & Z. J. Liu, 2014

Liparis funingensis Y.Y. Su, Y. Meng & Z. J. Liu , sp. nov. ( Figs. 4 View FIGURE 4 , 5 View FIGURE 5 )

Type:— CHINA. Yunnan: Funing, terrestrial in evergreen broad-leaved forest on moist and shady slopes, 1200 m, 6 December 2013, Liu 6662 (holotype: NOCC!) .

Diagnosis: this new species is similar to Liparis pingxiangensis , but differs by an obovate trilobed lip with a midlobe that is much shorter than the side lobes, the midlobe deeply bilobed, the disc has deeply bilobed basal callus and two longitudinal lamellae from the base extending to above the middle. There are four pollinia in two pairs, with each pair demonstrating a long caudicle without a viscidium and a rostellum with a bursa synovialis.

Terrestrial herbs. Pseudobulbs cylindric, tapering, enveloped by 2–4 clasping basal foliaceous sheaths that fall away and expose the bulb before the new growth arises; old leafless pseudobulbs are usually covered with several membranous sheaths at the internodes, 4.2–8.5 cm long, 0.6–1.2 cm in diameter. Leaves 2–4, amplexicaul, blade ovate-elliptic, 8.0–11.0 × 3.7–6.0 cm, plicate, herbaceous, base contracted into petioles, margin wavy or undulating, apex acute; petiole sheath-like, 1–3 cm long, not articulate. Inflorescence arising from the young shoot terminal, racemose, 12–16 cm long; 9–12-flowered; peduncle 5-ridged. Floral bracts triangular-lanceolate, 1.0– 1.5 mm long. Pedicel and ovary 1.0– 1.2 cm, ridged and grooved. Flowers yellowish-green with purple sidelobes of lip. Dorsal sepal obovate-linear, 10.0–12.0 × 2.0– 2.2 mm, obtuse at apex, margins recurved. Lateral sepals ovateoblong, slightly oblique, 7.0–8.0 × 3.5–4.0 mm, obtuse at apex, margins recurved. Petals falcate-linear, 9.0–10.0 × 1.2–1.3 mm, margins recurved. Lip obovate 5.0–5.5 × 5.6–6 mm, trilobed; sidelobes semiorbicular; midlobe much shorter than sidelobes, recurved, deeply bilobed, lobes triangular, 1.0– 1.5 mm long; margin erose, disc with a bilobed erect callus at base, lobes lanceolate; and with 2 longitudinal lamellae from the base extending to above the middle. Column strongly incurved, 6.0– 6.5 mm long, column wings absent. Stigma transverse, concave. Rostellum protruding with an apical bursa synovialis. Four pollinia in 2 pairs, waxy, elongate-obovoid, bilaterally flattened, each pair with a distinct caudicle, without viscidium.

Flowering period:–– December.

Distribution and habitat:–– Liparis funingensis is terrestrial, forming scattered colonies on shady and wet areas on the slopes at elevations of 1000–1200 m in evergreen broad-leaved forests of Funing, Yunnan Province, China.

Conservation status:–– The new species has been found in three populations, each of which has no more than 30 individuals. Using the World Conservation Union Red List Categories and Criteria ( IUCN, 2001), L. funingensis should be treated as critically endangered.

Etymology:–– The species epithet refers to the locality where this new species was first found.

Species recognition:–– Liparis funingensis is distinct among species in the genus because it has flowers with an obovate trilobed lip with a notably small midlobe. This species has a disc with two lamellae, four pollinia in two pairs without a viscidium, and a bursa synovialis on the rostellum ( Fig. 5 View FIGURE 5 ). It is morphologically similar to L. pingxiangensis , but can be easily distinguished from the latter, which has a smaller flower with a broadly rhombicelliptic lip and two pollinia with distinctly long and prominent caudicles that are attached to a thick viscidium. It is also morphologically similar to L. nervosa (Thunberg in Murray 1784: 814) Lindley (1830: 26), a widespread terrestrial species, but it can be easily distinguished from the latter, which has a column with column wings, a larger and unlobed, oblong-obovate lip, which forms the hypochile and epichile. There are four pollinia in two pairs, where each pair lacks a caudicle, and rostellum without a bursa synovialis.