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Issue: Vol. 777 No. 3: 2 Oct. 2026
Type: Article
Published: 2026-10-02
DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.777.3.3
Page range: 249-260
Abstract views: 82
PDF downloaded: 4

Luisia danxiacola, a new species of Orchidaceae from China and notes on the taxonomy of Luisia amesiana

State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Stress Biology; School of Life Sciences; Sun Yat-Sen University; Guangzhou 510275; China
Department of Biology; Health and Wellness; Miami Dade College; Miami; Florida 33167; USA; Institute of Environment; College of Arts; Sciences & Education; Florida International University; Miami; Florida 33199; USA
Independent Researcher; Halle; Germany
Xingguo County Forestry Bureau; Ganzhou City; Jiangxi Province 342400; China
Huichang County Hanxianyan Scenic Area Management Committee; Ganzhou City; Jiangxi Province 342600; China
State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Stress Biology; School of Life Sciences; Sun Yat-Sen University; Guangzhou 510275; China
Monocots Epidendroideae lithophyte miniature orchid Indo-Myanmar Biodiversity Hotspot

Abstract

An interesting lithophytic miniature orchid belonging to genus Luisia was discovered growing on one of the red sandstone cliffs in the danxia region of Jiangxi Province, China, alongside other miniature orchids, Oberonia seidenfadenii and Pelatantheria scolopendrifolia. Owing to its small stature, the smallest known so far in the genus Luisia, with shortest leaves, smallest flowers, and distinctive floral morphology, this taxon can be readily distinguished from all other members of the genus. However, its flowers show close morphological similarity to those of Luisia hancockii and Luisia teres, with which it is compared in this manuscript. It differs in having a shorter labellum with distinct epichile and hypochile; epichile narrower towards apex bearing two lobules separated by a slight notch. Accordingly, it is described here as a new species, Luisia danxiacola. During our study of the genus Luisia in China, we also re-examined the Chinese endemic, Luisia simaoensis and conclude that it is conspecific with the Myanmar endemic Luisia amesiana. We therefore reduce Luisia simaoensis to the synonymy under Luisia amesiana based on their identical morphology and provide detailed notes supporting this taxonomic treatment. Furthermore, because the original description of Luisia amesiana was based on multiple specimens collected in Myanmar and sent to Kew, we designated one of these specimens as the lectotype to ensure nomenclatural stability of the name.

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How to Cite

Huang, Y., Kumar, P., Wojtas, K.P., Wu, Z., Liu, W. & Fan, Q. (2026) Luisia danxiacola, a new species of Orchidaceae from China and notes on the taxonomy of Luisia amesiana. Phytotaxa 777 (3): 249–260. https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.777.3.3