Orchid conservation in China from 2000 to 2020: Achievements and perspectives

Phalaenopsiszhanhouana (Orchidaceae, Vandeae), a new species from Yunnan, China

A new species of Orchidaceae, Phalaenopsiszhanhouana, from Xichou County, Yunnan, China, is described and illustrated. The novelty is close to P.taenialis, P.wilsonii, and P.stobartiana, but differs from them by having a distinct, fleshy anterior callus with a deeply lobed apex at the base of the labellum and lateral lobes of labellum reflexed and facing outward.

Geographical distribution and conservation strategy of national key protected wild plants of China

National key protected wild plants (NKPWPs) are considered flagship species for plant diversity conservation in China. Using data for 1101 species, we characterized NKPWPs distribution patterns in China and assessed conservation effectiveness and conservation gaps. In total, 4880 grid cells at a 20 × 20 km resolution were filled with occurrence records for NKPWPs. We identified 444 hotspot grid cells and 27 diversity hotspot regions, containing 92.37% of NKPWPs. However, 43.24% of these hotspot grid cells were fully or partially covered by national nature reserves (NNRs), where 70.21% of species were distributed. Approximately 61.49% of the NKPWPs species were protected by NNRs, but the populations or habitats of 963 species were partially or fully outside of NNRs. With global warming, the overall change in the extent of suitable habitats for NKPWPs is expected to be small, however, habitat quality in some areas with a high habitat suitability index will decrease.

Thrixspermumtaeniophyllum (Orchidaceae, Epidendroideae), a new species from southwest China, based on molecular and morphological evidence

Thrixspermumtaeniophyllum is described as a new orchid species from Wenchuan County, Sichuan Province of southwest China. It is morphologically similar to T.japonicum, but it differs from the latter in having branched stems, slightly fleshy strap-shaped leaves, longer inflorescences with 3-6 flowers and a capitate gynandrium with a lip-shaped mouth opening. Its species status is also supported by molecular phylogenetic analyses, based on nuclear ribosome internal transcribed spacer (nrITS) and three chloroplast DNA fragments (matK, psbA-trnH and trnL-F), which showed distinct systematic boundaries from the most morphologically similar T.japonicum and their morphological relatives T.saruwatarii and T.pygmaeum.

Ecological and habitat ranges of orchids in the northernmost regions of their distribution areas: A case study from Ural Mountains, Russia

The Orchidaceae, which is one of the most interesting families of angiosperms, contains a large number of rare species. Despite their acknowledged importance, little attention has been paid to the study of orchids distributed in northern territories. In this study, we determined the syntaxonomical diversity and ecological parameters of orchid habitats in two of Europe's largest protected areas, the Pechoro-Ilychsky Reserve and the Yugyd Va National Park (northeastern European Russia), and then compared our findings to those in other parts of orchid distribution ranges. For this purpose, we studied 345 descriptions of plant communities (releves) containing species from Orchidaceae and defined habitat parameters using Ellenberg indicator values with the community weight mean approach, nonmetric multidimensional scaling (NMS), and relative niche width. We found that orchids were distributed in eight habitat types and 97 plant associations. The largest number of orchid species is found in forest communities. Half of the orchid species under study occur in the mires and rock habitats with open vegetation. Several orchids consistently occur in areas disturbed by human activity. In addition, our study indicates that the main drivers of orchid distribution across the vegetation types are light and soil nitrogen. Our analysis of the ecological parameters of orchid habitats indicates that some orchid species can be classified as habitat specialists that are confined to a relatively narrow ecological niche in the Urals (e.g., Goodyera repens, Cypripedium guttatum and Dactylorhiza maculata). Several other species (e.g. Neottia cordata and Dactylorhiza fuchsia) grow under diverse ecological parameters.

Gastrodiabawanglingensis (Orchidaceae, Epidendroideae), a new species from Hainan Island, China

Gastrodiabawanglingensis, a new species of Orchidaceae from Hainan Island, China, is described and illustrated. It is morphologically similar to G.theana, G.albidoides and G.albida with dwarf habits, scarcely opening flowers, elongated fruit stems, curved and fleshy perianth tubes and similar columns and lips, but can be easily distinguished from them by having a pair of lateral wings bent outwards at the apex of the column and lateral wings with acuminate tips lower than the anther. According to the IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria, the new species is assessed as Endangered (EN). The plastome of G.bawanglingensis is greatly reduced and reconfigured with approximately 30876 bp in size and 25.36% in GC content. Morphological characteristics and molecular phylogenetic results based on chloroplast gene sequences support the recognition of G.bawanglingensis as a new species within Gastrodia.

The effect of global warming on the Australian endemic orchid Cryptostylis leptochila and its pollinator

Ecological stability together with the suitability of abiotic conditions are crucial for long-term survival of any organism and the maintenance of biodiversity and self-sustainable ecosystems relies on species interactions. By influencing resource availability plants affect the composition of plant communities and ultimately ecosystem functioning. Plant-animal interactions are very complex and include a variety of exploitative and mutualistic relationships. One of the most important mutualistic interactions is that between plants and their pollinators. Coevolution generates clustered links between plants and their pollen vectors, but the pollination and reproductive success of plants is reduced by increase in the specialization of plant-animal interactions. One of the most specialized types of pollination is sexual deception, which occurs almost exclusively in Orchidaceae. In this form of mimicry, male insects are attracted to orchid flowers by chemical compounds that resemble insect female sex pheromones and pollinate the flowers during attempted copulations. These interactions are often species-specific with each species of orchid attracting only males of one or very few closely related species of insects. For sexually deceptive orchids the presence of a particular pollen vector is crucial for reproductive success and any reduction in pollinator availability constitutes a threat to the orchid. Because global warming is rapidly becoming the greatest threat to all organisms by re-shaping the geographical ranges of plants, animals and fungi, this paper focuses on predicting the effect of global warming on Cryptostylis leptochila, a terrestrial endemic in eastern Australia that is pollinated exclusively via pseudo copulation with Lissopimpla excelsa. As a species with a single pollinator this orchid is a perfect model for studies on the effect of global warming on plants and their pollen vectors. According to our predictions, global warming will cause a significant loss of suitable niches for C. leptochila. The potential range of this orchid will be 36%-75% smaller than currently and as a result the Eastern Highlands will become unsuitable for C. leptochila. On the other hand, some new niches will become available for this species in Tasmania. Simultaneously, climate change will result in a substantial expansion of niches suitable for the pollinator (44-82%). Currently ca. 71% of the geographical range of the orchid is also suitable for L. excelsa, therefore, almost 30% of the areas occupied by C. leptochila already lack the pollen vector. The predicted availability of the pollen vector increased under three of the climate change scenarios analysed. The predicted habitat loss is a serious threat to this orchid even with the potential colonization of Tasmania by this plant. In the reduced range of C. leptochila the pollen vector will also be present assuring fruit set in populations of this orchid. The genetic pool of the populations in New South Wales and Queensland will probably be lost.

Gastrochilusheminii (Orchidaceae, Epidendroideae), a new species from Sichuan, China, based on molecular and morphological data

Gastrochilusheminii (Orchidaceae), a new orchid species from Sichuan Province, Southwest China, is described and illustrated. It morphologically resembles G.affinis and G.yei, but differs markedly from the former in having a thinner and slightly rolled downwards reniform epichile and the central thickened purple-red mat with irregular folds (vs. subtriangular epichile curves upwards, with 2 thick, brown to purplish-brown median ridges from base to apex), and can be clearly distinguished from the latter by having reniform epichile with lobed apex and subconical hypochile with bilobed apex that splits into two conical protrusions (vs. semi-rounded epichile not lobed and subconical hypochile not bilobed). 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 36 Gastrochilus species showed that G.heminii was closely related to G.affinis and G.distichus.

Phalaenopsismedogensis (Orchidaceae, Epidendroideae, Vandeae), a new species from Xizang, China

A new species of Orchidaceae, Phalaenopsismedogensis, from Motuo, Xizang, is described and illustrated based on morphological characters and molecular phylogenetics analysis. Molecular phylogenetic analysis and morphological characters indicate that P.medogensis is close to P.deliciosa, P.gibbosa and P.lobbii, but differs from them by having triangular wings on the column foot, rhombic lip mid-lobe with a fleshy-horned appendage at the base, and concave lip lateral lobes, the lower part white with a deep purplish-red spot and hairy, the upper part pale yellow with dense rust spots.

Geographic Patterns of the Richness and Density of Wild Orchids in Nature Reserves of Jiangxi, China

Orchids have attracted much attention from researchers, because of their richness of species and their great ornamental and medicinal value. Jiangxi Province, which is located in southeastern China and ringed on three sides by mountains, contains many nature reserves and harbors large number of orchids. Here, we conducted field surveys of orchids in 35 nature reserves in Jiangxi, using sampling lines and plots. We also analyzed the relationship between orchid richness and density with environmental variables and studied the relationship among these nature reserves. We found that the mountainous areas of southwestern, southern, and northeastern Jiangxi have a high richness and density of orchids, while the mountainous areas of central and northwestern Jiangxi have low richness and density. Jiulianshan and Jinggangshan are the two most rich-species reserves, with 58 and 55 orchids, respectively. Eight reserves (22% of those surveyed) had fewer than 10 orchids. Compared with soil, climate, and vegetation, topography was more closely related to the richness and density of orchids. Topographical variables explained 19% and 20% of the total variation in SR and SD, respectively. The result of hierarchical clustering analysis showed that the 35 nature reserves of Jiangxi obviously fall into two main clusters, which are separated by the Ganjiang River–Poyang Lake water system. In conclusion, the geographical patterns of richness and the density of orchids in Jiangxi are uneven and are affected by topography and vegetation, while their distribution is affected by the terrain of Jiangxi. Our work explains the richness and density patterns and the assembly mechanism of the orchids in Jiangxi and also provides new ideas for the protection of orchids in this region.