Hemipiliopsis, a New Genus of Orchidaceae Yibo Luo and Singchi Chen (Xinqi Chen) Laboratory of Systematic & Evolutionary Botany, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanxincun 20, Xiangshan, Beijing, 100093, People's Republic of China.
[email protected] ABSTRACT. Hemipiliopsis, a monotypic new genus Hoc genus novum Hemipiliae et Habenariae simile, sed of Orchidaceae, is described based on H. purpureo- ab ambobus forma calcaris, a priore viscidiis plus minusve expositis, stigmatis lobulis duobus elongato-pulvinatis, a punctata (K. Y. Lang) Y. B. Luo & S. C. Chen (Ha- posteriore planta (cum caule, folio, pedunculis, rachidi, benaria purpureopunctata K. Y. Lang) from south- bracteis, pedicellis, ovariis, sepalis et petalis) purpureo- eastern Xizang (Tibet). Its possible relationships to punctata, stigmatis lobulis parieti postico cavitatis af®xis, Brachycorythis, Hemipilia, and Habenaria are dis- atque rostello magno differt. cussed. Terrestrial herb; tubers ellipsoid or subellipsoid, Key words: China, Hemipiliopsis, Orchidaceae. ¯eshy. Stem erect, usually with one leaf near the base. Leaf elliptic to ovate-oblong, acuminate or While the senior author worked on the genus acute, amplexicaul at base. In¯orescence loosely Hemipilia Lindley, he felt it dif®cult to treat a spe- several- to many-¯owered, spotted with purple on cies that is very similar in habit to Hemipilia but rachis and peduncle; bracts ovate-lanceolate, with was described by Lang (Lang & Tsi, 1978) as Ha- evident purple spots dorsally; pedicel and ovary benaria purpureopunctata K. Y. Lang. Moreover, with purple spots. Flowers spotted with purple ex- Lang mentioned that this generic placement was cept the lip; dorsal sepal erect, oblong, concave, based on the presence of a small rostellum, naked forming a hood together with petals; lateral sepals viscidia, and two protruding clavate stigmas (Lang obliquely ovate-elliptic, usually 6 re¯exed; petals & Tsi, 1978).