DSpace at VNU: Orchidantha stercorea sp nov (Lowiaceae) from Vietnam

Nordic Journal of Botany 28: 299Á303, 2010
doi: 10.1111/j.1756-1051.2009.00704.x,
# The Authors. Journal compilation # Nordic Journal of Botany 2010
Subject Editor: Henrik Ærenlund Pedersen. Accepted 14 January 2010

Orchidantha stercorea sp. nov. (Lowiaceae) from Vietnam
Hu˜’u Ða˘ng Tra`ˆ n and Jana Leong-Sˇkornicˇkova´
H. Ð. Tra`ˆ n (), Univ. of Science, Vietnam National Univ., 227 Nguyen Van Cu, Q5, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
Á J. Leong-Sˇkornicˇkova´, the Herbarium, Singapore Botanic Gardens, 1 Cluny Road, 259569 Singapore.

Orchidantha stercorea H. Ð. Traˆ`n & Sˇkornicˇk. (Lowiaceae), a new species from the Kha´nh Ho`a province, Vietnam is
described and illustrated. It is related to two other species known from Indochina, O. laotica K. Larsen and O. vietnamica
K. Larsen. A tabulated comparison as well as a key to the species are provided. An improved description and colour plates
of O. vietnamica, which was earlier described from poor herbarium material only, is also included.

The family Lowiaceae with a single genus Orchidantha is
native to southeast Asia with the highest diversity of species
in Borneo. So far, 18 species has been described from south
China (Wu 1964, 1997, Fang and Qin 1996), Laos (Larsen
1961), Vietnam (Larsen 1973), Thailand (Larsen 1961,
Jenjittikul and Larsen 2002), Malaysia (Scortechini 1886,
Ridley 1893, 1924, Schumann 1900, Henderson 1933,
Holttum 1970), Singapore (Holttum 1970), and Borneo
(Larsen 1993, Nagamasu and Sakai 1999, Pedersen 2001).
Lowiaceae comprises herbs growing in lowland evergreen
forests and sometimes also in clearings (Larsen 1998). The
species tend to have rather small areas of distribution
(Pedersen 2001).
During exploration of central Vietnam in August 2008
and September 2009, the first author found an Orchidantha
species growing in a moist and shady area in a bamboo

forest, near a waterfall. All protologues and type specimens
and other herbarium material of closely related species have
been examined at (K), (P), (SING), (VNM), but the new
material did not match any Orchidantha so far described.
Only two other species have been described from
Indochina, i.e. O. laotica K. Larsen and O. vietnamica K.
Larsen, both based on herbarium material only. The
description of Orchidantha laotica (Larsen 1961) was based
on Kerr’s collection from near Vientiane (A. F. G. Kerr
21284, K!). Orchidantha vietnamica was described a decade
later (Larsen 1973) from rather poor herbarium material
consisting of a single sheet, which included only two leaves
and a single flower (M. Schmid s.n. 9 Nov 1960, holotype:
P!). In 2008 during our fieldwork for ‘Flora of Cambodia,
Laos and Vietnam’, we re-collected Orchidantha vietnamica
from the type locality in Da Hoai (Tran et al. 51; E, P,
RUPP, SING, VNM, Natl Univ. of Laos). To aid in
identification of Orchidantha species in Vietnam, we also
include here a detailed description and colour plates of
O. vietnamica.

Orchidantha stercorea H. Ð. Tra`ˆ n & Sˇkornicˇk.
sp. nov. (Fig. 1)
Orchidanthae laoticae similis, sed elatior (ad 120 cm vs
80 cm); petioli ad 70 cm longi (vs ad 45 cm); bractea ovarii
extensione aequilonga vel brevior (vs longior); petalum laterale
asymmetricum, margine in parte exteriore in dimidio superiori
dentato (vs symmetricum, margine apicem versus dentato);
labellum 3.3Á3.9 cm longum, atroviolaceum ad medio nigro
accedens, basi macula luteocremea (vs 2.0Á2.5 cm longum,

brunneum vitis flavidis).
Type: Vietnam, Kha´nh Ho`a Province, Yang Bay waterfall,
80Á100 m a.s.l., 12811?12.8ƒN, 108854?54.4ƒE, 20 Sep
2009, Tran 192 (holotype: VNM, isotype: SING).
English translation of Latin diagnosis

Similar to O. laotica, but taller (up to 120 cm vs 80 cm),
petioles up to 70 cm (vs up to 45 cm), floral bract as long as
or shorter than ovary extension (vs bract longer than ovary
extension), lateral petal asymmetric, margin toothed at
upper half on outer side (vs symmetric, margin toothed at
the tip), labellum 3.3Á3.9 cm long, dark violet approaching
black towards the middle, with a yellowÁcream patch at
base (vs labellum 2.0Á2.5 cm long, brown with yellowish
stripes).
Rhizomatous herb. Rhizome erect, ca 0.8 cm in diameter,
light brown externally, cream white internally. Stem short,
embedded in the ground. Leafy shoot 60Á120 cm tall. Leaves
5Á8 per shoot; petiole 21Á70)0.4Á0.6 cm, green, glabrous;
lamina ovate-lanceolate to lanceolate, unequal, 28Á50 )8Á
12 cm, green on both sides, shiny, glabrous, coriaceous,
attenuate at base, acute at apex, with mid-vein pale green,
impressed above, prominent beneath. Inflorescence central,
branched, embedded in the ground. Flowers with smell
similar to dung. Bracts ovate, 0.9Á2.4 )0.5Á1.2 cm, cream
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Figure 1. Orchidantha stercorea H. Ð. Tra`ˆn & Sˇkornicˇk. sp. nov. (A) habit, (B) close-up of flower with a dung bee, (C) close-up of ovary,
stigmas in different angles, anthers and lateral petals, (D) flower dissection.

300


Table 1. Comparison of characters of Orchidantha stercorea sp. nov., O. laotica and O. vietnamica.

O. laotica

O. vietnamica

up to 120
up to ca 70
28Á50)8Á12, ovate-lanceolate to
lanceolate, unequal
Floral bract (cm)
3.0Á3.2)1.5Á2.1
Ovary extension (cm) 3.0Á3.2, cream
Dorsal sepal (cm)
3.5Á3.9)1.2Á1.6, ovate
lanceolate to lanceolate
Lateral petals (mm)
15Á17)4.0Á4.5, asymmetric
obovate, margin toothed in upper
half on outer side, dark violet

up to 80
up to 45
35Á50)10Á15, lanceolate, unequal

Labellum (cm)

2.0Á2.5, brown with yellowish
stripes, boat-shaped

up to 80
10Á27
30Á44)6Á9, lanceolate,
unequal
5.0Á6.5)1.0Á1.5
7Á8, cream
6.4Á7.6)1.3Á1.4, narrow
lanceolate
15Á17)2.0Á4.5, asymmetric, margin
toothed in upper half on outer side,
whitish cream with violet tinged
patches
6.5Á7.8)2.0Á2.2, violet approaching
dark violet towards
the middle, lanceolate

Characters

O. stercorea

Leafy shoot (cm)
Petiole (cm)
Lamina (cm)

Stamen (mm)
Style (mm)

3.3Á3.9)1.0Á1.4, dark violet
approaching black towards the
middle, with a yellowÁcream patch
at base, boat-shaped
7Á8
4.5Á7.0

ca 4)1
ca 2.5, greenish white
ca 3)0.5, linear lanceolate
ca 10)4, symmetric, margin
toothed at tip

5Á6
ca 5

to brownish, glabrous. Floral bract ovate, 3.0Á3.2 )1.5Á
2.1 cm, cream at base, tinged maroon towards apex, glabrous. Ovary ovate to obovate, 7Á8)3Á4 mm, cream, glabrous,
3-locular, with axillary placentation. Ovary extension 3.0Á
3.2 )0.20Á0.25 cm, cream, glabrous. Dorsal sepal ovatelanceolate to lanceolate, apex mucronate, 3.5Á3.9 )1.2Á1.6
cm, cream with a red tinged patch in the middle abaxially,
glabrous, arching, forming a claw-like structure. Lateral
sepals ovate-lanceolate to elliptic, apex mucronate, overlapping and forming a boat-shaped structure that supports
the labellum, 3.4Á4.1)1.1Á1.5 cm, cream at base, greenish
or maroon towards apex, glabrous. Lateral petals asymmetric
obovate, margin toothed in upper half on the outer side,
15Á17 )4.0Á4.5 mm, dark violet, glabrous, covering stamen and style. Labellum boat-shaped with main veins
elevated above, 3.3Á3.9 )1.0Á1.4 cm, dark violet approaching black towards the middle, with a yellowÁcream
patch at base, turning dark brown with age, glabrous.

Stamens five, 7Á8 mm long, filament 3.5Á4.0 mm, cream,
glabrous, anther thecae 3.5Á4.0 mm, dehiscing longitudinally, glabrous, introse. Style 4.5Á7.0 mm long, cream,
glabrous, stigma 3-lobed, median lobe 6Á7 )0.8Á1.0 mm,
lateral lobes 5.0Á6.7 )1.8Á2.5 mm, overlapping each
other, cream, all finely fimbriate at margin. Secretion tissue
cordate, 3.0Á3.5)2.0Á2.6 mm, brownish, decurrent along
the style. Fruit not seen.
The measurements and descriptions provided are based
on living and spirit material Tran 192 (holotype: VNM,
isotype: SING) and Tran 120 (SING).
Habitat, ecology, phenology, etymology and conservation
status

Growing as an undergrowth in bamboo forests near the
Yang Bay waterfall, 80Á100 m a.s.l. Prefers moist habitat.
Flowering occurs in AugÁSep, fruiting not seen. The
specific epithet is derived from the Latin word ‘stercoreus’
and relates to the rather unpleasant dung-like smell of the
flowers, which attracts dung flies. No vernacular names or
uses are known. Proposed IUCN conservation assessment:
‘Data Deficient’ (DD), based on the fact that Orchidantha

8Á10
7Á9

stercorea is only known from the type locality (IUCN
2001).
Similar species

Orchidantha stercorea is similar to O. vietnamica and

O. laotica. Its differences from O. laotica were elaborated
above in the diagnosis. Orchidantha vietnamica is smaller
than O. stercorea, reaching only 80 cm (vs 120 cm) and has
shorter petioles (10Á27 cm vs up to 70 cm). However, the
flowers of O. vietnamica are twice as big and the flower
parts are more slender. The colouration of the flowers is
similar in the two species, but the lateral petals of
O. vietnamica are whitish cream with slight violet tinge,
while those of O. stercorea are dark violet. For more details
see Table 1, Fig. 1, 2.

Orchidantha vietnamica K. Larsen (1973,
pp. 345 350, Pham 2003, p. 432, our Fig. 2)
˙
Rhizomatous herb with short stem embedded in the
ground. Leafy shoot up to 80 cm tall. Leaves ca 8 per
shoot; petiole 10Á27)0.6Á0.8 cm, green, glabrous; lamina
lanceolate, unequal, 30Á44 )6Á9 cm, green on both sides,
shiny, glabrous, coriaceous, attenuate at base, acute at apex;
mid-vein pale green, impressed above, prominent beneath.
Inflorescence central, embedded in the ground. Flower with
rotten beef smell. Bracts obovate, 1.2Á4.0)0.7Á1.8 cm,
cream. Floral bract lanceolate, 5.0Á6.5)1.0Á1.5 cm, red
tinged, glabrous. Ovary ovate to obovate, ca 7Á8 )2.5Á3.0
mm, cream, glabrous, 3-locular, with axillary placentation.
Ovary extension ca 7Á8)0.25Á0.30 cm, cream, glabrous.
Dorsal sepal narrow lanceolate, 6.4Á7.6)1.3Á1.4 cm,
cream, dark cream at apex, glabrous. Lateral sepals
lanceolate, overlapping and forming a boat-shaped structure
that supports the labellum, 7.5Á8.0 )1.2Á1.4 cm, cream,

dark cream at apex, glabrous. Lateral petals asymmetric
obovate, margin toothed in upper half on outer side, 15Á
17 )2.0Á4.5 mm, whitish cream with patches tinged
with violet, glabrous, covering stamen and style. Labellum
lanceolate with main veins elevated above, 6.5Á7.8)
2.0Á2.2 cm, violet approaching dark violet towards the

Á

301


Figure 2. Orchidantha vietnamica K. Larsen. (A) habit, (B) close-up of flower, (C) close-up of stigmas in different angles, anthers, lateral
petals and seeds, (D) close-up of lateral petals with stigma, (E) flower dissection and fruit.

302


middle, turning brown with age, glabrous. Stamens five,
8Á10 mm long; filament 2.5Á3.0 mm, cream, glabrous;
anther thecae 5.0Á5.5 mm, dehiscing longitudinally, glabrous, introse. Style ca 7Á9 mm long, white, glabrous;
stigma 3-lobed, median lobe 6.5Á7.0 )0.6Á0.7 mm, lateral
lobes 5.5Á6.0 )1.2Á1.3 mm, cream, all fimbriate at
margin. Secretion tissue cordate, ca 3.5 )2.1 mm, whitish
cream, decurrent along the style. Fruit ovate, ca 2.8 )1.5
cm, tinged with red, glabrous, dehiscing longitudinally.
Seed globose, 3Á4 mm in diameter, brown, shortly hairy;
aril filiform, white. Both flowering and fruiting occurs in
JunÁJul.
The measurements and descriptions provided are based

on living and spirit material Tran et al. 51 (E, P, RUPP,
SING, VNM, Natl Univ. of Laos).
Key to Orchidantha species in Vietnam and Laos
1.

2.

Labellum 6.5 cm long; ovary extension 7 cm
long. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .O. vietnamica
Á Labellum B4 cm long; ovary extension B3.2 cm
long. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Plant up to 80 cm; petiole up to 45 cm long; floral
bract longer than ovary extension; lateral petal symmetric, margin toothed in upper half on both sides;
labellum 2.0Á2.5 cm long, brown with yellowish stripes
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O. laotica
Á Plant up to 120 cm; petiole up to 70 cm long; floral
bract as long or shorter than ovary extension; lateral
petal asymmetric, margin toothed in upper half on
outer side; labellum 3.3Á3.9 cm long, dark violet with a
yellow-cream patch at base. . . . . . . . . . . O. stercorea

Acknowledgements Á The first author thanks Singapore Botanic
Gardens for financial support to visit the herbarium for the current
study; Prof. Le Cong Kiet and Dr Tran Triet for their
encouragement; Prof. Nguyen Thien Tich for guiding, survey in
central Vietnam and his support. We thank curators of the K, P,
SING and VNM herbaria for letting us examine specimens in
their care, SEP project 350 for funding Zingiberaceae expedition
2008 in Vietnam. We are grateful to Dr J. F. Veldkamp (L) for
translating the diagnosis into Latin. The Asian Zingiberaceae

Information Centre at the Singapore Botanic Gardens is acknowledged for providing protologues and related references.

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