A new species of Luisia (Orchidaceae) from Shan State, Myanmar

Abstract

A new species, Luisia verrucosaKurzweil, Nob.Tanaka & Ormerod, from Shan State in Myanmar is described and illustrated. It is very distinct in the genus, characterised by (1) light pinkish and purple-marked navicular sepals which are coarsely verrucose on the outside, especially in their distal part, (2) light pinkish and irregularly pink-dotted lorate-elliptic petals with yellow tips, and (3) a lip with a comparatively large, oblong-elliptic, maroon-purple epichile with prominent callosities in the form of massive bulges. Because its lip does not have a constriction or prominent boundary line between hypochile and epichile, it is superficially similar to Luisia brachystachys (Lindl.) Blume, but the new species differs by having considerably larger flowers with verrucose sepals and pronounced lip ornaments.