A New Species of Crepidium (Orchidaceae: Epidendroideae: Malaxideae): From Assam, North East India

Abstract

A new species of the tribe Malaxideae (Orchidaceae), Crepidium assamicum, is described and illustrated here as new species from Assam, North East India. The new taxon is superficially similar to Crepidium purpureum but differs in its habitat, plant size, long floral bract, very densely flowered inflorescences, leaf number, larger petiole size, both winged throughout and flower color. This species is confined to grow in open grassland near river bank of Dibru-Soikhowa, Dibrugarh district of Assam, in a huge population comprising 500–600 individuals. The threat status of this new species is provisionally assessed here as “Threatened” following the IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria version 16 (2024).