Three new species of Impatiens (Balsaminaceae) from southern Western Ghats, Kerala

Three new species of Impatiens, Impatiens achudanandanii, I. danii, and I. shailajae, are described from Thiruvananthapuram and Idukki districts of Kerala state (SW-India). Impatiens achudanandanii is similar to I. courtallensis and I. herbicola; I. danii to I. goughii and I. shailajae is to I. minae and I. scapiflora. The newly described taxa are readily distinguished from their allied species by unique character combinations, viz. shape of lateral sepal, lower sepal, dorsal petal, seed and pollen morphology. Detailed descriptions along with illustrations and photographs are provided.

A new Stelis (Orchidaceae: Pleurothallidinae) from the Western Andes of Colombia

Stelis excentrica, a new species endemic to the Cauca slope of the western Andes, municipality of Cali, Valle del Cauca, Colombia, is described and illustrated. It was found in the northern part of the Farallones de Cali National Park, in the vicinity of the protected area “El Danubio” administered by the Cali mayoralty. Stelis excentrica is similar to Stelis gigantissima from Ecuador but differs in the ocher-green flowers (vs. dark purple), the reniform petals (vs. flabellate petals), subquadrate lip with a minute apicule (vs. subcuneate without apicule). Reaching up to 30.6 mm from the apex of the dorsal sepal to the apex of the lateral sepal, Stelis excentrica probably has the largest flowers reported in any member of Stelis subgen. Stelis. Its 60 cm long inflorescence is only rivaled by that of Stelis gigantissima. Ecological notes, in situ photographs, typus illustration, maps, and a composite plate are provided. Key Words: biggest flower, Farallones de Cali, Stelis gigantissima, taxonomy

Cheirostylis wenshanensis, a new species of Orchidaceae from Yunan, China

A new orchid species, Cheirostylis wenshanensis (Orchidaceae; Cranichideae; Goodyerinae), from Yunnan Province, China, is described and illustrated based on morphological. This new species is similar to C. pingbianensis, but it differs by having a leaf-like flora bract at bottom, to 2.3 cm long; Inflorescence raceme with 5 flowers; The rest part of lateral sepal 2.8–3 mm, front of lip 5–6 × 5–6 mm, both with 1 pale green spot at base of lip lobes, without denticulate between lobes.

Platanthera guangdongensis and P. zijinensis (Orchidaceae: Orchideae), two new species from China: Evidence from morphological and molecular analyses

Two new Platanthera (Orchidinae, Orchideae, Orchidoideae) species, P. guangdongensis and P. zijinensis, from the Guangdong Province in China are described and illustrated based on morphological and molecular analyses. Platanthera guangdongensis is leafless and resembles P. fujianensis, but it differs in terms of the shorter and/or smaller inflorescence, floral bract, dorsal sepal, lateral sepal, petal, and ligulate lip. Platanthera zijinensis is morphologically similar to P. minor, but it differs by the ovate-oblong to ovate floral bract, colour of flower, ovate dorsal sepal, oblong lateral sepal, ovate-oblong lip, and curved forward spur. The phylogenetic analyses based on nuclear ribosomal ITS and chloroplast (rbcL and matK) sequence data support that P. zijinensis and P. guangdongensis being sisters to each other and genetically sister to P. minor. The chloroplast rbcL of P. guangdongensis is a pseudogene, supporting its characterization as a holomycotrophic orchid.

Porroglossum raoi, a new species of Pleurothallidinae (Orchidaceae) from Ecuador

A new species of Porroglossum (Pleurothallidinae), Porroglossum raoi Baquero & Iturralde, apparently endemic to a cloud forest close to Chical, is described here. Porroglossum raoi is compared to known species within the genus growing close to the area where it was discovered. The big white flower, the thick, subclavate and brown-purple lateral sepal tails, a single subacute angle on the lower margin of the petals and a strong cinnamon and clove smell, immediately separates this from other species in Porroglossum. Taxonomical and ecological notes are given.