Orchidantha anthracina (Lowiaceae), a new species from Vietnam

Abstract

Orchidantha anthracina (Lowiaceae), discovered at the south central coast of Vietnam, is described and illustrated, bringing the total number of species in the family to 26, of which four occur in Vietnam. The notes on distribution, habitat and etymology are given and a preliminary conservation assessment is provided. The species is compared with O. vietnamica, with which it shares flowers of similar size and colours, but from which it is readily distinguished by a narrow and strongly reflexed dorsal sepal and spreading lateral sepals, not supporting the labellum. Notes with additional comparison to all species with a similar arrangement of lateral sepals are also provided.