A new species of Nervilia (Orchidaceae) from Singapore

Abstract

The only species of Nervilia Comm. ex Gaudich. included in national checklists and redlists of the Singapore flora is Nervilia punctata (Blume) Makino. This species is treated as presumed nationally extinct. There are three historic collections from Singapore, all collected by H.N. Ridley during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. However, the identity of these specimens has recently been cast into doubt as the Nervilia adolphi/punctata species alliance has become the subject of taxonomic scrutiny. The lack of visible characters on the existing specimens has so far made it impossible to pinpoint the correct identity of the Singapore specimens. We recently discovered a small population of Nervilia in Bukit Timah Nature Reserve in Singapore, which in our opinion is the same taxon that was collected by Ridley. The plants do not agree with other species in the Nervilia adolphi/punctata species alliance and the taxon is here described as a new species based on the clinandrial tissue surrounding the anther cap as well as the narrow oblong and truncate labellum with curled sides. We currently consider the species to be endemic to Singapore.