Plant Diversity ›› 2024, Vol. 46 ›› Issue (04): 435-447.DOI: 10.1016/j.pld.2023.08.001

• Articles • Previous Articles    

A new infrageneric classification of Gastrochilus (Orchidaceae: Epidendroideae) based on molecular and morphological data

Jun-Yi Zhanga,b, Yue-Hong Chengc, Min Liaoa,d, Yu Fenga, Sen-Long Jinc, Ting-Mei Hec, Hai Heb, Bo Xua,d   

  1. a. China-Croatia “Belt and Road” Joint Laboratory on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services, CAS Key Laboratory of Mountain Ecological Restoration and Bioresource Utilization & Ecological Restoration and Biodiversity Conservation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, P. O. Box 416, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan, China;
    b. College of Life Sciences, Chongqing Normal University, Chongqing 401331, China;
    c. Wolong National Natural Reserve Administration Bureau, Wenchuan 623006, Sichuan, China;
    d. University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
  • Received:2022-12-09 Revised:2023-08-09 Published:2024-07-29
  • Contact: Hai He,E-mail:hehai@cqnu.edu.cn;Bo Xu,E-mail:xubo@cib.ac.cn
  • Supported by:
    This study was supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China (Grant No. 2020YFE0203200), the Second Tibetan Plateau Scientific Expedition and Research (STEP) program (Grant Nos. 2019QZKK0301 & 2019QZKK0502), 2022 Central Finance Forestry Grassland Ecological Protection and Restoration National Park Subsidy Project, 2022–2023 Subsidy Projects of Prohibited Developmental Areas from the Transfer Payment of the National Key Ecological Functional Areas, 2023 Central financial protection and restoration funds for forestry and grassland ecology, and Wild Plants Sharing and Service Platform of Sichuan Province.

Abstract: Gastrochilus is an orchid genus containing 73 species of mainly epiphytic on trees or rocks in mountain forests of tropical and subtropical Asia. Previous phylogenetic analyses and morphological assessments have failed to produce a well-resolved phylogeny at the infrageneric level. In the present study, a new infrageneric classification of Gastrochilus is proposed based on thoroughly morphological and phylogenetic analyses based on 52 species. Our phylogenetic analysis divided the genus into six sections including three new sections, G. sect. Pseudodistichi, G. sect. Brachycaules and G. sect. Acinacifolii. We also reinstate G. suavis to the specific rank. Furthermore, two new species, G. armeniacus Jun Y. Zhang, B. Xu & Yue H. Cheng and G. minjiangensis Jun Y. Zhang, B. Xu & Yue H. Cheng, are described and illustrated. A key to six sections of the genus is presented.

Key words: Gastrochilus, Phylogeny, Character evolution, Taxonomy, New species