Malleola constricta confirmed to be Malleola flammea
Posted on December 12, 2012
Malleola constricta Ames, Orchidaceae 5: 234 (1915).This name is accepted.
Award 20124622 -Chicago JC
Malleola constricta, Award 20124622, has been confirmed
to be  Malleola constricta by SITF
(Dec 2012). Ammended --Malleola constricta, award
20124622, has been confirmed to be  Malleola flammea by
SITF (July 2013), with assistance of Jim Cootes.
A New Aeridinae (Orchidaceae) Species from
the Philippines
Ronny
Boos, Jim Cootes and Wally Suarez
Abstract: A Malleola species thought, in recent
years, to be Malleola constricta Ames, was recently purchased by the partner
of the first author (RB), whence under scrutiny it was found to be a species
still unknown to science. A description for this plant Malleola flammea Boos,
Cootes and Suarez is given below.
The plant markets in Manila, Philippines, are
a constant source of interesting plants, in a multitude of variation. There are
suppliers of all types of plants whether they are species or hybrids. Usually
at these markets there are a few vendors selling orchids, both species and
hybrids. It was from one of these nurseries that the plant described below was
purchased.
Malleola flammea Boos, Cootes and Suarez sp. nov.
Affinis Malleola constricta Ames, flores affinis nullus, vegetativus proprietas pro genere, etsi caules
et inflorescentio longior; lobi laterales erecti, triangulari, apice acuti,
curvus prorsus; lobus medius cauda simili, subsigmoideum; calcar brevi,
crassus, rotundatus; differt. TYPE: Cultivated
in Leyte, 6 August 2010, Ron Boos
001/10, originating in The Philippines, Island
of Luzon (possible province Nueva Vizcaya.) HOLOTYPE: PUH14624
                                                                                 Â
Growth habit: pendulous;
monopodial; epiphytic herb. Roots:
appearing basally, round, smooth when new, becoming papillose with age. Stem: circular at the base, 2 mm in
diameter basally; reaching 37 cm in length where the width is 3.5 mm. Leaves: leathery, oblong to lanceolate;
distinct ridge running lengthwise; apex acute, unequally bi-lobed, 7 to 10 cm
long by 1.2 to 1.5 cm wide; green to purplish green in colour; leaf sheath 1 to
1.5 cm long. Inflorescences:
appearing from near the stem tips, opposite the base of the leaf sheath;
pendulous, to 23 cm long by 1 to 2 mm in diameter, occasionally branching at
its lowermost node, bearing up to 48 flowers about 5 mm across the lateral
sepals. Floral bracts: papery in
texture; acute, 3 mm long. Blooms open from the base of the inflorescence and
face in all directions. Blooms either non-resupinate, or lying on their sides,
and opening first from the base of the inflorescence and facing in all
directions, as with other members of the genus. There is no discernible scent. Flower colour: base colour ranges from
yellow to brownish-orange, sepals and petals with two parallel red stripes of
varying width; labellum white with irregular purple spots, base of labellum
yellow; column is orange/yellow with red striping basally on the side lobes;
spur is white to yellowish. Dorsal sepal:
oblanceolate; cucullate; to 3 mm long by 1.5 mm wide. Petals: oblanceolate; slightly falcate; to 3 mm long by 1.5 mm
wide. Lateral sepals: broadly ovate;
slightly cucullate; to 3.5 mm long by 2 mm wide. Labellum: three lobed, overall 6 mm long by 2 mm wide at base;
sidelobes erect, broadly triangular, rounded in front, apices acute, curved
forwards. Mid lobe fleshy, tapering to a point, sub-sigmoid when viewed from
the side, curving upwards. Spur:
short, circular, slightly constricted at base. Column: squarish at the base; apex bearing 2 triangular-shaped,
fleshy stelidia; another stelid is near the base of the column, hook-like,
pointing upwards. Anther cap: semi-circular bearing 2 pollinia. Pedicel and Ovary: slightly tapering;
lightly channelled, to 7 mm long by 1.5 mm in diameter.
Habitat and Distribution: Malleola flammea is endemic to the island of Luzon where they
have been found in Laguna and Nueva Vizcaya. The nursery from where the holotype
specimen came from is known to receive plants from Aurora, a province on the east
coast of Luzon. The second author (JC) has seen plants of this species in Nueva
Vizcaya, growing at elevations ca.
1200 metres asl.
Discussion: Malleola flammea appears to be unrelated to any
known Philippine member of the genus. Malleola constricta Ames, based on
labellum shape, is related to M. lyonii Ames and perhaps also M.
eburnea Suarez & Cootes. Malleola baliensis J.J. Sm. also has
a tapering midlobe as with M. flammea, but here it is strongly
curved downwards, with a comparatively longer, slightly constricted, diagonally
oriented spur. The longer inflorescences and stems, long, acuminate, subsigmoid
midlobe, the forward pointing sidelobe apices, the fleshy, downward pointing,
triangular stelidia, and the comparatively thicker spur set this species apart
from other Philippine Malleola species. Malleola
constricta Ames also has downward pointing stelidia, but in this
species the apices are rounded.
Etymology: The specific epithet is from the Latin flammea or fiery, in
reference to the colouration of the flowers.
References:
Comber
J. 1990. Orchids of Java. The Bentham-Moxon Trust, Royal Botanic
Gardens, Kew, Richmond, Surrey, England.
Comber
J. 2001. Orchids of Sumatra. Natural History Publications (Borneo) in
association with The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
Cootes
J. 2001. The Orchids of the Philippines. Times Editions, Singapore.
O’Byrne
P. 1994. Lowland Orchids of Papua New Guinea. SNP Publishers, Singapore.
Seidenfaden
G. 1988. Orchid Genera in Thailand XIV. Fifty-nine Vandoid Genera. Opera
Botanica 95.
Seidenfaden
G. and Wood J.J. 1992. The Orchids of Peninsular Malaysia and
Singapore. Olsen and Olsen, Fredensborg, Denmark.
Valmayor
H. 1984. Orchidiana Philippiniana. Eugenio Lopez Foundation Inc., Manila
Philippines.
Williams
L.O. 1938. Orchid Studies VIII. Botanical Museum Leaflets, Harvard
University 6: 96-111.
Wood
J.J., Beaman R.S., and Beaman J.H. 1993. The Plants of Mount Kinabalu 2. Orchids. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
Wood
J.J. and Cribb P.J. 1994. A Checklist of the Orchids of Borneo.
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
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