Bletilla guizhouensis (Orchidaceae; Epidendroideae), a new species from Guizhou China: evidence from morphological and molecular analyses

Abstract

Bletilla guizhouensis (Coelogyninae, Epidendroideae, Orchidaceae), a new species from Guizhou, China, is described and illustrated in this study based on the morphological and molecular evidence. Based on the morphological comparison, B. guizhouensis is closely related to B. striata, but differs in having ovate-oblong floral bracts, oblong-elliptic dorsal sepal, lip broadly-obovate, lip mid-lobe subelliptic, and disk with 7 longitudinal lamellae. These features distinguish the new orchid from all other known species of Bletilla. Molecular analysis based on nuclear ribosomal ITS and plastid DNA sequence data indicate that B. guizhouensis is a new species.