A Magnificent Orchid Discovered In Myanmar

Scientists in China and Myanmar have documented a new species of orchid from northern Myanmar.

AsianScientist (Oct. 26, 2017) – A China-Myanmar joint field expedition has uncovered a new orchid species native to northern Myanmar. The researchers have reported their findings in Phytokeys.

The genus Coelogyne in the orchid family of plants consists of approximately 200 species. More than 10 new species and 40 new records of Orchidaceae species have been added to the flora of Myanmar since 2001.

During a China–Myanmar joint field expedition of Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden of the Chinese Academy of sciences, researchers found specimens of Coelogyne originating from Putao, Kachin State in northern Myanmar.

Based on a detailed examination of the morphological and anatomical characters of these specimens and that of presumed closely-related species, the researchers confirmed that the specimens belong to an orchid species that is new to science. They named it Coelogyne magnifica.

Morphologically, C. magnifica is most similar to its close cousin, C. corymbosa, with both having white flowers. However, C. magnifica has slightly smaller pseudobulbs, shorter leaf blades and a greater number of larger flowers compared to C. corymbosa, among other structural differences. Such differences were also observed when C. magnifica was compared to C. taronensis, another related species of orchid.

C. magnifica is a predominantly epiphytic species, meaning that it grows on moss-covered branches, tree trunks and sometimes also on rocks in humid mountainous forests, at an elevation 2400 to 2500 meters above sea level. Based on current information and according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List category (IUCN 2012), C. magnifica is assigned a preliminary status of ‘Least Concern’, meaning that it is not an endangered species.


The article can be found at: Yang et al. (2017) Coelogyne magnifica (Orchidaceae), A New Species from Northern Myanmar.

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Source: Chinese Academy of Sciences.
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