Pleione xiushanensis (Orchidaceae), a new species from Mt. Wulingshan Region, China

Abstract

Pleione xiushanensis, a new orchid plant from the Mt. Wulingshan Region of China, is illustrated and described based on morphological comparisons and phylogenetic analyses. The species is similar to P. bulbocodioides and P. pleionoides but differs from the former in that its lip lacks central lamellae and from the latter in that its lip exhibits fuchsia punctata. Additionally, the lip of P. bulbocodioides and P. pleionoides has 2 or 4 denticulate lamellae, but the lip of the new species has 2 internal integer lamellae and 2 external denticulate lamellae. Our phylogenomic evidence based on the nrITS sequence resolved P. xiushanensis as sister to P. jinhuana. P. jinhuana has 2 denticulate lamellae and shows margin erosion at the apical edge of the lip, but P. xiushanensis has 4 denticulate lamellae and shows no margin erosion of the lip.