Content uploaded by D.K. Agrawala
Author content
All content in this area was uploaded by D.K. Agrawala on Aug 23, 2019
Content may be subject to copyright.
Phytotaxa 273 (1): 072–076
http://www.mapress.com/j/pt/
Copyright © 2016 Magnolia Press Correspondence PHYTOTAXA
ISSN 1179-3155 (print edition)
ISSN 1179-3163 (online edition)
72 Accepted by Mark Chase: 22 Aug. 2016; published: 5 Sept. 2016
http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.273.1.8
Bulbophyllum paramjitii (Orchidaceae: Epidendroideae: Malaxideae): a new
species from Sikkim Himalaya, India
DINESH K. AGRAWALA1, MOHAMED U. SHARIEF2 & BASANT K. SINGH3
1Botanical Survey of India, Sikkim Himalayan Regional Centre, Gangtok-737103, Sikkim India, E-mail: drdkbsi@gmail.com
2Botanical Survey of India, A. J. C. Bose Indian Botanic Garden, Howrah-711103, West Bengal, India
3Botanical Survey of India, A. J. C. Bose Indian Botanic Garden, Howrah-711103, West Bengal, India
Bulbophyllum Petit-Thouars (1822) is one of the largest orchid genera with about 2200 taxa, widely distributed in the
tropics (Vermeulen 2014). The main centres of diversity are Asia-Pacific (1700 species), Madagascar (200 species) and New
Guinea (600 species). Based on evidence from morphological and molecular data, Vermeulen (2014) recommended a wider
circumscription of Bulbophyllum.
During a botanical tour to the Sikkim Himalaya in March 2015, one unusual patch of a small Bulbophyllum (in vegetative
condition) was observed growing on main tree trunk near Bhusuk in the eastern district of Sikkim. A few specimens were
brought into cultivation in the orchid house of Botanical Survey of India, Sikkim Himalayan Regional Centre, Gangtok, where
they flowered in August of the same year. A thorough morphological characterization and perusal of literature (Seidenfaden
1979) revealed that this species belongs to Bulbophyllum section Monilibulbus Smith (1914: 33), which is treated as section
Macrocaulia (Blume) Averynov by Vermeulen (2014). Further comparative study with the specimens at leading Indian
herbaria (e.g. CAL, BSHC, ASSAM, ARUN, OHT) and perusal of the literature (Hooker 1890, King & Pantling 1898,
Seidenfaden 1979, Kataki 1986, Chowdhery 1998, Hynniewta et al. 2000, Pearce & Cribb 2002, Lucksom 2007, Chen
& Vermeulen 2009) revealed that these specimens belong to a previously undescribed species, similar to Bulbophyllum
subtenellum Seidenfaden (1979: 46). Therefore, it is described here as a new species.
TAXONOMY
Bulbophyllum paramjitii Agrawala, M.U.Sharief & B.K.Singh, sp. nov. (Fig. 1, 2A)
Type:INDIA. Sikkim: East District, near Bhusuk, 1550 m, 27°20’52.49” N; 088°39’28.36” E, 26 March 2015, (flowered in cultivation at
Gangtok, August 2015), Sharief & Singh 37938 (holotype: BSHC!).
Diagnosis: This new species differs from Bulbophyllum subtenellum in having well developed leaves present during flowering; a rugose
labellum apex, apical margin rolled to form a pouch and disc with three prominent calli, of which the middle one is confined to base
and the two laterals extending up to the middle of apical lobe.
Small, caespitose, epiphytic herbs, up to 2 cm tall (including pseudobulbs, leaves and flowering shoots). Rhizome slender,
concealed below the closely placed pseudobulbs. Pseudobulbs 3.0–4.0 × 2.5–3.0 mm, oblong-globular, oblique, slightly
bilaterally compressed, jointed end to end and forming a mat, smooth when young, wrinkled at maturity, bearing a solitary
apical leaf in a lateral position. Leaves 5–10 × 3–4 mm, elliptic-ovate, entire, acute, sessile, slightly oblique at base with
somewhat twisted appearance. Flowering shoot (scape) slender, arising from base of mature pseudobulbs, looking like a
moss capsule when in bud, elongating with opening of the flower, up to 10 mm long including the solitary flower; peduncle
sheathed below with a 2 mm long, membranous, clasping sheath. Floral bract ca. 1 mm long, tubular, membranous, clasping
the pedicel. Pedicel slender, ca. 4.5 mm long including the ovary, abruptly curved below ovary, swollen in the ovary region.
Flowers 2.0–2.5 mm in diameter, facing downwards, sepals and petals orange-yellow with dark orange veins, veins slightly
raised dorsally; lip uniformly dark orange. Dorsal sepal 2.2 × 1.5 mm, ovate-oblong, entire, obtuse, 3-veined, glabrous.
Lateral sepals 2.2 × 1.8 mm, ovate-triangular, slightly oblique at base, entire, sub-acute to obtuse, 3-veined; mentum 2 mm
long, broadly conical. Petals 1.8 × 0.9 mm, oblong-elliptic, entire, sub-acute, 1-veined, membranous. Labellum 2 × 2 mm,
movably attached to the apex of and hinged on the column-foot through a short, hyaline claw, strongly deflexed from middle,
trilobed; side lobes 1 × 1 mm, erect, rounded; midlobe 1.0 × 1.1 mm, cordate when spread, margin rolled back forming a
pouch at dorsal side, apex obtuse, upper surface rugose; disc with three short, raised calli, middle one confined to the base,
the lateral two positioned at junction of side lobes and midlobe. Column ca.1mm long, dark orange, with a long, up curved
BULBOPHYLLUM PARAMJITII (ORCHIDACEAE) Phytotaxa 273 (1) © 2016 Magnolia Press • 73
FIGURE 1. Bulbophyllum paramjitii. A. Habitat (not to scale). B. Habit. C. Inflorescence. D. Flower (front view). E. Flower (lower side
view showing the pouch of the labellum). F. Flower (lateral view). G. Sepals and petals (ventral surface). H. Sepals and petals (dorsal
surface showing the slightly raised veins). I. Flower without labellum (not to scale). J. Pedicel, ovary and labellum (lateral view). K.
Labellum (lateral view). L. Labellum (flattened). M. Labellum (uncompressed front view). N. Column (lateral veiw). O. Column (front
view). P. Anther and pollinia. Q. Pollinia (separated and enlarged). Photograph by D.K. Agrawala from the holotype (Sharief & Singh
37938).
AGRAWALA ET AL.
74 • Phytotaxa 273 (1) © 2016 Magnolia Press
FIGURE 2. A. Fruiting specimens of Bulbophyllum paramjitii. B. Illustration of Bulbophyllum subtenellum (after Seidenfaden, 1979). C.
Type specimen of Bulbophyllum subtenellum (kept in spirit at C). D. Illustration of Bulbophyllum menghaiense (after Chen & Vermeulen
2009).
foot; stelidia 2, ca.0.5 mm long, nearly as long as the column proper, pointed towards the apex; anther 2-lobed, apiculate,
rugose; pollinia 2, yellow, with broad viscidium; stigmatic cavity obcordate, occupying large part of the column; rostellum
broad, hyaline. Capsule 6 × 3 mm, obpyriform, strongly ridged, with marscescent perianth parts at apex.
Distribution and habitat:Epiphytic on main tree trunk of Schima wallichii (Theaceae) at 1550 m. The small, crowded
pseudobulbs give a mat-like appearance and cannot be recognized from a distance. This species is known from the type
locality only.
Etymology:The species is named in honor of Paramjit Singh, an eminent taxonomist and Director of Botanical Survey
of India, who worked extensively on Sikkim Himalayan flora.
Phenology:Flowering August–October; fruiting October onwards.
BULBOPHYLLUM PARAMJITII (ORCHIDACEAE) Phytotaxa 273 (1) © 2016 Magnolia Press • 75
FIGURE 3. Distribution of Bulbophyllum paramjitii.
Conservation status:This species is so far known from a single patch at the type locality (Fig. 3). Data on its past
population and rate of population decline are not available for application of Criteria A of IUCN (2012). Its Extent of
Occurrence (EOO) and Area of Occupancy (AOO) can be estimated as 4 km2 (Criteria B) by taking the minimum grid size
of 2 × 2 km. Being an epiphytic species, its survival highly depends on that of the host tree and, therefore, the number of
mature individual (Criteria D) is calculated as one (as it was found only on one tree). The quality of habitat is declining
because of development and urbanization. Sexual reproduction in nature depends on the availability of pollinator(s) and
suitable mycorrhiza. Climate change is one of the plausible threats for this species. Number of locations is one (B2a) and a
continuous decline in area, extent, and quality of habitat is projected [B2b(iii)], considering the threats mentioned above. In
view of the above, and as per the IUCN (2013) guidelines, the threat perspective of this species can be assessed as ‘Critically
Endangered’ [CR B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii); D].
Discussion:Seidenfaden (1979) emphasized the number of veins in lateral sepals as an important character when
describing Bulbophyllum subtenellum. The type specimen and illustration (Fig. 2B,C) evidently shows three unbranched
veins in the lateral sepals, absence of leaves during flowering and lack of a callus on the labellum. Seidenfaden (l.c.) also
mentioned the labellum with a fat, glossy, semi-globular apical portion. Bulbophyllum paramjitii matches this in every aspect
but has well-developed leaves at flowering, three prominent calli on the labellum and its semi-globular lip apex is rugose.
It is also closely related to Bulbophyllum menghaiense Tsi (1981:109) from southern Yunnan (Fig. 2D), but the latter has
characteristically larger floral parts, differently shaped sepals, labellum with a triangular basal portion and a linear apical
portion ending in a fleshy apex without a callus.
Acknowledgements
The authors thank the Director, Botanical Survey of India, Kolkata and to the Head of Office, A. J. C. Bose Indian Botanic
Garden, Howrah for facilities and encouragement. Thanks are also due to P. Ormerod, Australia for providing some relevant
literature. H.A.E. Pedersen, Natural History Museum of Denmark, University of Copenhagen is also acknowledged for
AGRAWALA ET AL.
76 • Phytotaxa 273 (1) © 2016 Magnolia Press
providing the images of type specimens of Bulbophyllum subtenellum. The Forest Department, Government of Sikkim is
acknowledged for issuing a permit to carry out the fieldwork.
References
Chen, X. & Vermeulen, J.J. (2009) Bulbophyllum. In: Wu, Z.G., Raven, P. & Hong, D.Y. (Eds.) Flora of China, vol.25. Science Press,
Beijing & Missouri Botanic Garden Press, St. Louis, USA, pp. 404–440.
Chowdhery, H.J. (1998) Orchid flora of Arunachal Pradesh. Bishen Singh Mahendra Pal Singh, Dehradun, 824 pp.
Hooker, J.D. (1890) Orchidaceae. In: The Flora of British India, vol. 5. Reeve, London, pp. 667–858.
Hooker, J.D. (1890) Orchidaceae. In: The Flora of British India vol. 6. Reeve, London, pp. 1–198.
Hynniewta, T.M., Kataki, S.K. & Wadhwa, B.M. (2000) Orchidaceae. In: Hajra, P.K. & Chatterjee, U. (Eds.) Orchids of Nagaland.
Botanical Survey of India, Calcutta, 306 pp.
IUCN (2012) IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria, version 3.1, Second edition. IUCN, Gland and Cambridge, UK, iv + 32 pp.
IUCN Standards and Petitions Subcommittee (2013) Guidelines for Using the IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria. Version 10.
Prepared by the Standards and Petitions Subcommittee. Available from: http://www.iucnredlist.org/documents/RedListGuidelines.
pdf (accessed 1 September 2016)
Kataki, S.K. (1986) Orchids of Meghalaya. Government of Meghalaya, Shillong, 258 pp.
King, G. & Pantling, R. (1898) The orchids of the Sikkim Himalaya. Annals of the Royal Botanic Garden, Calcutta 8: 1–342.
Lucksom, S.Z. (2007) The orchids of Sikkim and north east Himalaya. CONCEPT, Siliguri, 984 pp.
Pearce, N. & Cribb, P.J. (2002) The orchids of Bhutan. In: Flora of Bhutan vol. 3 (3). Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh, and Royal
Government of Bhutan, Thimpu, 643 pp.
Petit-Thouars, A.A. du (1822) Histoire particuliere des plantes orchidees recueillies sur les trios iles australes d’Afrique, de France, de
Bourbon et de Magagascar. Published by the author, Paris, 110 pp.
Seidenfaden, G. (1979) Orchid genera in Thailand VIII: Bulbophyllum Thou. Dansk Botanisk Arkiv 33: 1–228.
Smith, J.J. (1914) Neue orchideen des Malayischen Archipels 7. Bulletin du Jardin Botanique de Buitenzorg, ser 2 13: 1–52.
Tsi, Z.H. (1981) New species of the genus Bulbophyllum from China. Bulletin of Botanical Research, Harbin 1: 10–9121.
Vermeulen, J.J. (2014) Bulbophyllum. In: Pridgeon, A.M., Cribb, P.J., Chase, M.W. & Rasmussen, F.N. (Eds.) Genera orchidacearum,
vol.6, Epidendroideae (part three). Oxford University Press, Oxford, pp. 4–51.
