A new generic record and distribution notes on two orchid species from Manipur, Indiaa L.R.Meitei1, N.N.Rabha1, Chaya Deori1* & A.A.Mao1 Keywords/Mots-clés : Cleisomeria, Dendrobium, Indian orchid flora/Flore d'orchidées d'Inde. Abstract A new generic record (Cleisomeria) and distribution notes on two orchid species (Cleisomeria pilosulum and Dendrobium delacourii) from India are provided with photographic illustrations to facilitate future identification. Résumé Premier enregistrement d'un genre et d'une espèce d'orchidées au Manipur (Inde) – Le genre Cleisomeria, avec l'espèce C. pilosulum, et Dendrobium delacourii sont enregistrés pour la première fois au Manipur. L'article en fournit une description accompagnée d'illustrations photographiques pour faciliter les identifications futures ; des notes sur la distribution de ces deux espèces sont également proposées. Introduction During a botanical exploration tour to the Yangoupokpi Lokchao Wildlife Sanctuary, Chandel district, Manipur, India for collection of rare, endemic, threatened and economically important plants under the ex situ conservation project of the Botanical Survey of India, Shillong, the first two authors collected two interesting taxa of orchids along with other angiosperms. On perusal of the available literature (Gagnepain, 1934; a : manuscrit reçu le 10 août 2014, accepté le 05 septembre 2014 article mis en ligne sur www.richardiana.com le 13/09/2014 – pp. 274-279 - © Tropicalia ISSN 1626-3596 (imp.) - 2262-9017 (élect.) 274 Richardiana XIV – septembre 2014 New generic and specific record in Indian orchids – Meitei et al. Seidenfaden, 1985; 1988) the identity of the plants was confirmed as Cleisomeria pilosulum (Gagnepain) Seidenfaden & Garay and Dendrobium delacourii Guillaumin respectively. Whereas the presence of Cleisomeria pilosulum in India is herewith recorded for the first time, Dendrobium delacourii has already been reported in India by Kumar & Manilal in 1994 and its presence was confirmed by Misra in 2007. Both publications, however, do not mention any locality and neither Kumar & Manilal nor Misra prepared any herbarium specimen. Thus, our discovery represents the first confirmed finding of the two species for India. The two herbarium specimens are deposited in ASSAM. The photographic illustrations (Fig. 1 and 2) are provided as a help for future identifications. Taxonomic description Cleisomeria pilosulum (Gagnepain) Seidenfaden & Garay Botanisk Tidsskrift 67 : 120 (1972); Seidenfaden, Bulletin du Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle Sér. 3, Botanique, 1-14 : 113 (1973); Opera Botanica, 95 : 131 (1988). Fig. 1. Cleisostoma pilosulum Gagnepain, in Lecomte, H. (éd.), Flore Générale de l'Indochine 6 : 490, Fig 46 (1934). Herbaceous epiphytic plant, 2.5 cm long; roots terete, sparsely branching, glabrous. Stems well developed, erect, rooting. Leaves 1.2-3 cm long, conduplicate, articulate, distichous, linear, thick-coriaceous, apex unequally bilobed. Inflorescence lateral, solitary, usually branching, manyflowered; peduncle elongate, pendent; rachis continuing the line of the peduncle, straight, finely pubescent. Pedicel and ovary 2.9 mm long. Floral bract 4 × 2 mm, much longer than the pedicel and ovary, densely pubescent, greenish yellow, often marked with maroon. Flowers resupinate, 4-5 mm long from the tip of the dorsal sepal to the tip of the spur, ca. 5 mm wide, greenish yellow with maroon and purple markings. Sepals and petals oblong, obtuse, finely pubescent abaxially, margin minutely toothed. Dorsal sepal 3 × 1.5 mm, with 1 branched nerve; lateral sepals 3 × 1.5 mm, with 1 branched nerve. Petals 2.2 × 1 mm, shorter than sepals, margin toothed. Lip 1.9-2 mm long from the tip of the spur to the tip of the midlobe, rigidly attached, trilobed with a distinct longitudinal median septum in the spur; spur saccate, parallel to ovary; side lobes erect, subobtuse; midlobe with a callus at the mouth. Anther 1 × 1 mm, globose, emarginate, glabrous. Column without column foot. Pollinia, 4 in two slightly unequal pairs, XIV – septembre 2014 Richardiana 275 New generic and specific record in Indian orchids – Meitei et al. Fig. 1 : Cleisomeria pilosulum A, B. Habit - C, D & E. Inflorescence - F. Floral bract - G & H. Flower side & front views – I. Floral perigone with lip - J. Lip attached to pedicel & ovary - K. Anther, dorsal & vental views - L. Pollinia - M. Fruit. Ph. L.R.Meitei [A-D] & Chaya Deori [E-M] 276 Richardiana XIV – septembre 2014 New generic and specific record in Indian orchids – Meitei et al. 0.3 mm broad, semiglobular, stipes longer than pollinia. Ovary cylindric, densely pubescent. Type: Cambodia: Kompong Speu (Poilane 17742, P). Flowering: During the month of June 2014 Cleisomeria pilosulum and Dendrobium delacourii were observed in bloom on the same host tree in their natural habitat. Specimen examined: India: Yangoupokpi Lokchao Wildlife Sanctuary, Chandel district, Manipur, altitude 282 m, N 24° 15' 18.9", E 094° 17' 27.7", 21.06.2014, N.N.Rabha & L.RMeitei 131143 (ASSAM). General distribution: India (Manipur); Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, S. Vietnam. Note: The genus Cleisomeria Lindley ex G.Don is easily recognized by the dense, many-flowered, often branched inflorescences with floral bracts that are much longer than the ovary and with densely pubescent rachis, ovary and flowers. The genus comprises only two species: Cleisomeria lanatum (Lindley) Lindley ex G.Don and C. pilosulum. The present record of C. pilosulum represents the first record of the genus in India. Dendrobium delacourii Guillaumin Bulletin du Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle. Paris 30 : 523 (1924); Seidenfaden, Opera Botanica, 83 : 128 (1985). Fig. 2. Herbaceous epiphytic plant; roots filiform. Pseudobulb 3-4 cm long, sheathed. Leaves 2.5-6.5 × 0.5-1.5 cm, oblong, obtuse, obliquely two lobed at the apex. Inflorescence terminal with about 8-10 flowers; rachis 15 cm long. Floral bracts 5.5 × 1.5 mm, lanceolate acute, 1-nerved. Flower 18 mm long from the tip of the dorsal sepal to the tip of the mentum; mentum 4 mm long, pilose. Ovary and pedicel 23 mm long, whitish. Sepals and petals greenish yellow; dorsal sepal 13 × 4 mm, oblong lanceolate, obtuse, 5-nerved; lateral sepals 12 × 4 mm, lanceolate apiculate, (base 5.8-6 mm broad), 5-nerved. Petals 15 × 3-3.2 mm, narrowly oblong, apex undulate, 3nerved, lateral nerves branched. Lip 13-14.5 × 11.2 mm, 3-lobed, side lobes oblong, rounded, obtuse, with many dense purple stripes; midlobe triangular acute, fimbriate, fimbrae 0.8-1,6 mm long, oblong, rounded; disc 3-lamellate, many veined from the base towards the apex of the side lobes. Column and foot 7-8.5 × 2.2 mm; attachment acute. Anther 1-2 × 1-1.2 mm, globose; front minutely toothed. Pollinia, 4, ellipsoid, 1.3-1.5 mm long, yellow. XIV – septembre 2014 Richardiana 277 New generic and specific record in Indian orchids – Meitei et al. Fig. 2 : Dendrobium delacourii A. Habit - B. Inflorescence - C. Floral bract – D & E. Flower, front & side views - F. Floral perigone with lip - G. Lip, side view - H. Column & foot, with anther – I. Column & foot – J & K. Anther dorsal & ventral views - L. Pollinia. Ph. L.R.Meitei [A, B, D] & Chaya Deori [C, E-L] 278 Richardiana XIV – septembre 2014 New generic and specific record in Indian orchids – Meitei et al. Flowering: June Specimen examined: India: Yangoupokpi Lokchao Wildlife Sanctuary, Chandel district, Manipur, altitude 282 m, N 24° 15' 18.9", E 094° 17' 27.7", 21.06.2014, N.N.Rabha & L.R.Meitei 131115 (ASSAM). General Distribution: India (Manipur); Myanmar, Vietnam. Note: The flower colour of Dendrobium delacourii varies from light greenish yellow to clear yellow with the fimbrae that are usually of a golden yellow, and side lobes with dense purple stripes. This taxon has been reported for India by Kumar & Manilal (1994) and Misra (2007), whereby in both cases no specific localities are given. Acknowledgements The authors are thankful to Dr. Paramjit Singh, Director, Botanical Survey of India, Kolkata, for encouragement and facitilies. We are also thankful to the Forest department, Government of Manipur, India for providing permission to survey in the Yangoupokpi Lokchao Wildlife Sanctuary. References Misra, S., 2007. Orchids of India, A glimpse. Bishen Singh Mahendra Pal Singh, Dehra Dun, India. Kumar, C.S. & K.S.Manilal, 1994. A catalogue of Indian Orchids. Bishen Singh Mahendra Pal Singh, Dehra Dun, India. Seidenfaden, G., 1985. Orchid genera in Thailand XII. Dendrobium Sw. Opera Botanica 83 : 128. Seidenfaden, G., 1988. Orchid genera in Thailand XIV. Fifty-nine Vandoid Genera. Opera Botanica 95 :131. Gagnepain, F., 1934. Orchidaceae. In Lecomte, H. (ed.), Flore Générale de I‘Indochine 6 :490. fig 46. _______________________________ 1 : Botanical Survey of India, Eastern Regional Centre, Shillong-793003 * auteur pour la correspondance : drchayadeoribsi@gmail.com XIV – septembre 2014 Richardiana 279 New generic and specific record in Indian orchids – Meitei et al. A Lire Orchidées du Brésil – As orquídeas da Serra do Castelo (Espírito Santo, Brasil). Vol. 4 – Guy R. Chiron & Renato X. Bolsanello 2014. Tropicalia, Voreppe. 528 pages, format 15,5 × 24 cm. 246 photographies et 190 planches botaniques. Couverture souple. Français et portugais. Le Brésil, avec environ 3 000 espèces d'orchidées, est l'une des régions du monde où la biodiversité dans cette famille est la plus grande. A l'intérieur de ce pays, la Mata Atlântica, bien que largement détruite, est probablement un des biomes les plus riches. La Serra do Castelo, dans l'état d'Espirito Santo, est l'un des foyers de diversification de ce biome et, par conséquent, l'une des zones où l'on compte le plus grand nombre d'espèces d'orchidées : environ 700. Pour les présenter toutes, quatre volumes ont été nécessaires. Le volumes 2 et 3 ont déjà été publiés ; aujourd'hui c'est le volume 4, consacré aux Maxillarieae, qui est proposé (le volume 1 sera publié en dernier pour des raisons techniques). Après une brève introduction présentant la phylogénie de la tribu, ce sont 210 espèces, réparties en 69 genres, qui sont analysées. Pour chacune, la taxinomie est rappelée, la répartition géographique précisée et le matériel examiné à l'occasion de l'élaboration du livre indiqué. Une description morphologique complète est donnée, accompagnée le plus souvent d'une photographie en couleur de la fleur et d'une planche botanique. Pour mener à bien ce travail les auteurs se sont appuyés sur un réseau de nombreux orchidophiles locaux, qui parcourent avec passion les forêts de la Serra et ont fourni une grande quantité de matériel vivant. Deux grands herbiers ont en outre permis d'étudier le matériel conservé. 280 Richardiana XIV – septembre 2014