In January 2024, the Philippine Taxonomic Initiative announced the publication of two new species descriptions from the Philippines in the Nordic Journal of Botany.
๐ฝ๐ช๐ก๐๐ค๐ฅ๐๐ฎ๐ก๐ก๐ช๐ข ๐๐๐ง๐๐๐ก๐ค๐ฃ๐๐
Distribution/habitat: Mossy forest areas of the PantabanganโCarranglan Watershed Forest Reserve, Sitio Binbin, Carranglan, Nueva Ecija, Luzon (holotype discovered in 2021)
Endemic: Yes
Distinctive traits: ๐. ๐ฃ๐ข๐ณ๐ค๐ฆ๐ญ๐ฐ๐ฏ๐ข๐ฆ resembles another native flower, ๐. ๐ค๐ฉ๐ข๐ณ๐ช๐ด๐ข๐ฆ, but differs by having smaller vegetative parts, egg-shaped petals with a rounded tip, a labellum with two ridges that are strongly angled outwards the adaxial (upper) surface, rounded crests that are proximal (closer to the point of attachment), and a grooved lower surface. The species flowers in February, March, October and November, and fruits in February and November. When in full bloom, ๐. ๐ฃ๐ข๐ณ๐ค๐ฆ๐ญ๐ฐ๐ฏ๐ข๐ฆ’s flowers produce a woody scent; they open during daytime, and typically survive between 2 and 7 days.
Conservation status: Data deficient (DD)
Described by: Abigail Garrino & Raab Bustamante
Etymology: Named after Dr. Julie Barcelona, a pteridologist (expert on ferns and related plants), Rafflesia expert, and administrator/editor of Coโs Digital Flora of the Philippines.
๐ฝ๐ช๐ก๐๐ค๐ฅ๐๐ฎ๐ก๐ก๐ช๐ข ๐ฅ๐๐ก๐จ๐๐ง๐
Distribution/habitat: Mossy forest areas of the PantabanganโCarranglan Watershed Forest Reserve, Sitio Binbin, Carranglan, Nueva Ecija, Luzon (holotype discovered in 2021)
Endemic: Yes
Distinctive traits: Thriving in moist, humid areas in mid-elevation forests, ๐. ๐ฑ๐ฆ๐ญ๐ด๐ฆ๐ณ๐ช resembles another orchid, ๐. ๐ข๐ถ๐ณ๐ฆ๐ฐ๐ฃ๐ณ๐ถ๐ฏ๐ฏ๐ฆ๐ถ๐ฎ, but with notable differences (including shorter leaves marked with small spots and pseudobulbs with sheaths that are shed early on). ๐. ๐ฑ๐ฆ๐ญ๐ด๐ฆ๐ณ๐ชโs flowers bloom and fruit from October to November.
Conservation status: Data deficient (DD)
Described by: Jayson Mansibang & Raab Bustamante
Etymology: Named after Dr. Pieter Pelser, a biologist specializing in plant systematics, senior Lecturer at the School of Biological Sciences of University of Canterbury (Christchurch, New Zealand), and administrator/editor of Co’s Digital Flora of the Philippines.
Significance
With the discovery and description of ๐. ๐ฃ๐ข๐ณ๐ค๐ฆ๐ญ๐ฐ๐ฏ๐ข๐ฆ and ๐. ๐ฑ๐ฆ๐ญ๐ด๐ฆ๐ณ๐ช, the number of known Bulbophyllum species in the Philippines has increased to 207. In addition to emphasizing the need for further fieldwork and research in protected areas of the Philippines, the two new species highlight the critical, ongoing threats of illegal logging, land conversion, illegal wildlife trading, and poaching in the countryโhappening even in forest reserves such as the PantabanganโCarranglan Watershedโas well as the devastating effects of climate change and deforestation on all species, especially those that are new to science.โMF
Reference:
Garrino, A.L., Mansibang, J.A., Ann M. Aumentado, J., Pin Ang, Y., Udasco, L.C., Jr, Marie Diego, J., Charles Altomonte, J., Tamayo, M.N., Magtoto, L.M. and Anton Bustamante, R.A. (2024), Two new species of Bulbophyllum (Orchidaceae, sect. Polymeres) from Pantabangan-Carranglan Watershed Forest Reserve, Luzon Island, Philippines. Nordic Journal of Botany, 2024: e04187. https://doi.org/10.1111/njb.04187
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.
