In August 2024, the Philippine Taxonomic Initiative announced the description of a new species of orchid (based on a specimen collected in July 2021) from the Philippines, which was published in Phytotaxa.
๐ฝ๐ช๐ก๐๐ค๐ฅ๐๐ฎ๐ก๐ก๐ช๐ข ๐๐ค๐ ๐ค๐๐๐ฃ๐จ๐
Distribution/habitat: Mossy forest areas of Mt. Purgatory-Mangisi Traverse, Upper Agno River Basin Resource Reserve (UARBRR), Bokod, Benguet (Luzon, Philippines)
Endemic: Yes
Distinctive traits: ๐. ๐ฃ๐ฐ๐ฌ๐ฐ๐ฅ๐ฆ๐ฏ๐ด๐ฆ is an epiphytic herb (a non-parasitic plant that grows on another plant for physical support, but draws nourishment from its environment). It has been observed to bear flowers in July. Similar to Papua New Guineaโs ๐๐ถ๐ญ๐ฃ๐ฐ๐ฑ๐ฉ๐บ๐ญ๐ญ๐ถ๐ฎ ๐ณ๐ช๐ฏ๐ฌ๐ฆ๐ช, ๐. ๐ฃ๐ฐ๐ฌ๐ฐ๐ฅ๐ฆ๐ฏ๐ด๐ฆ possesses a labellum (the most noticeable part of the flower, meant to attract pollinators) with 3 lobes. However, compared to ๐. ๐ณ๐ช๐ฏ๐ฌ๐ฆ๐ช, ๐. ๐ฃ๐ฐ๐ฌ๐ฐ๐ฅ๐ฆ๐ฏ๐ด๐ฆ has a broader leaf, a shorter flower (up to 5 cm long, shorter than an average matchstick), a sharper petal apex, smooth lobes, and longer stelidia (erect, hornlike column projections typically observed in ๐๐ถ๐ญ๐ฃ๐ฐ๐ฑ๐ฉ๐บ๐ญ๐ญ๐ถ๐ฎ plants).ย Additionally,ย ๐. ๐ฃ๐ฐ๐ฌ๐ฐ๐ฅ๐ฆ๐ฏ๐ด๐ฆโs labellum is slightly grooved lengthwise, and its median lobe and apex do not curve inward.
Conservation status: Data Deficient
Etymology: ๐. ๐ฃ๐ฐ๐ฌ๐ฐ๐ฅ๐ฆ๐ฏ๐ด๐ฆ was named after the Municipality of Bokod, Benguet Province, where it was discovered.
Significance
๐. ๐ฃ๐ฐ๐ฌ๐ฐ๐ฅ๐ฆ๐ฏ๐ด๐ฆ bumps up the total number of Philippine ๐๐ถ๐ญ๐ฃ๐ฐ๐ฑ๐ฉ๐บ๐ญ๐ญ๐ถ๐ฎ species (the countryโs most diverse angiosperm plant group) to 208. Its only known habitat, the UARBRR, is a protected area, and is considered a critical watershed (important for the management of water, species, and other natural resources, endangered by unmonitored human intervention). Studying and identifying more components of the UARBRRโs ecosystem helps in improving management strategies for its continued protection and sustainability.
Moreover, the description of ๐. ๐ฃ๐ฐ๐ฌ๐ฐ๐ฅ๐ฆ๐ฏ๐ด๐ฆ was the result of a collaborative effort among researchers from the University of the Philippines Baguio, the Texas Christian University, and the Philippine Taxonomic Initiative, Inc., highlighting the importance of coordination and cooperation in effective environmental management.โMF
Reference: Tamayo, Maverick & Magtoto, Liezel & Penales, Patrick & Baquiran, Ethel & Bustamante, Rene Alfred Anton. (2024). Bulbophyllum bokodense (section Polymeres, Orchidaceae), a new species from Benguet Province, Luzon Island, Philippines. Phytotaxa. 662. 187-194. 10.11646/phytotaxa.662.2.7.
Author: Mikael Angelo Francisco
Bitten by the science writing bug, Mikael has years of writing and editorial experience under his belt. As the editor-in-chief of FlipScience, Mikael has sworn to help make science more fun and interesting for geeky readers and casual audiences alike.
