Gastrochilusobovatifolius (Orchidaceae, Aeridinae), a new species from the Daba Mountains of Chongqing, China

Chi Xiong; Xiao-Ying Fu; Ke Tan; Ya Huang; Hong-Jing Zhang; Yi-Chen Wang; Yu-Bing Yang; Si-Rong Yi

doi:10.3897/phytokeys.252.133501

Gastrochilusobovatifolius (Orchidaceae, Aeridinae), a new species from the Daba Mountains of Chongqing, China

PhytoKeys. 2025 Feb 7:252:25-40. doi: 10.3897/phytokeys.252.133501. eCollection 2025.

Authors

Chi Xiong¹, Xiao-Ying Fu², Ke Tan¹, Ya Huang³, Hong-Jing Zhang³, Yi-Chen Wang⁴, Yu-Bing Yang⁵, Si-Rong Yi³

Affiliations

¹ Guangxi Key Laboratory of Plant Conservation and Restoration Ecology in Karst Terrain, Guangxi Institute of Botany, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region and Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guilin, 541006, Guangxi, China Guangxi Key Laboratory of Plant Conservation and Restoration Ecology in Karst Terrain, Guangxi Institute of Botany, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region and Chinese Academy of Sciences Guilin China.
² College of Life Sciences, Guangxi Normal University, Guilin 541006, Guangxi, China Guangxi Normal University Guilin China.
³ Chongqing Key Laboratory of Development and Utilization of Genuine Medicinal Materials in Three Gorges Reservoir Area, Chongqing Three Gorges Medical College, Wanzhou, Chongqing, 404120, China Chongqing Key Laboratory of Development and Utilization of Genuine Medicinal Materials in Three Gorges Reservoir Area, Chongqing Three Gorges Medical College Chongqing China.
⁴ Hangzhou Botanical Garden, Hangzhou, 310013, China Hangzhou Botanical Garden Hangzhou China.
⁵ Center for Biodiversity Conservation and Utilization, Key Laboratory of Eco-Environment in the Three Gorges Reservoir Region, Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences, Southwest University, 400715, Beibei, Chongqing, China Southwest University Chongqing China.

Abstract

Gastrochilusobovatifolius, a new species discovered in the Dabashan of northeast Chongqing (China), is described and illustrated. The novelty morphologically resembles G.affinis, G.balangshanensis and G.heminii in having a glabrous and smooth epichile. but can be distinguished by the unique obovate shape of the leaves, smaller epichile, and flower color. The results of molecular phylogenetic analysis, based on nuclear ribosome internal transcribed spacer (nrITS) and four chloroplast DNA fragments (matK, psbA-trnH, psbM-trnD, and trnL-F) of 55 Gastrochilus species, support the inclusion of G.obovatifolius in G.sect.Microphylli, being most closely related to G.balangshanensis from Sichuan. The new species is a trunk epiphyte in evergreen broad-leaved forest.

Keywords: Epidendroideae; Flora of Chongqing; G.sect.Microphylli; Qinling-Daba Mountains; phylogeny; taxonomy.

Chi Xiong, Xiao-Ying Fu, Ke Tan, Ya Huang, Hong-Jing Zhang, Yi-Chen Wang, Yu-Bing Yang, Si-Rong Yi.

Grants and funding

Study on Economic Plant Resources in the Three Gorges Reservoir Area in Chongqing; Basic Research Fund of the Guangxi Academy of Sciences (CQZ-C-1901).