Research Paper

Gastrochilus wenchuanensis (Aeridinae; Orchidaceae): A new species from China based on molecular and morphological data

Peng-Yu Wu, Jiaxu Guo, Cheng-Yuan Zhou, Zi-Yang Wang, Qian-Tong Shan, Heng Yong, Yu-Tian Zhang

Published on: 14 November 2025

Page: 755 - 763

DOI: 10.6165/tai.2025.70.755

  • BibTeX
    •
  • EndNote
    •
  • RIS
    •

    Abstract

    The newly discovered orchid, Gastrochilus wenchuanensis (Aeridinae, Orchidaceae), found in Wenchuan, Sichuan of China, is described here based on the data of its morphology, phenology, ecology and distribution. This entity bears resemblance to G. formosanus, G. wolongensis, G. nanchuanensis, G. sinensis, G. minjiangensis and G. armeniacus, but can be distinguished by a distinctive vein on both the petals and sepals, as well as an epichile and hypochile that are devoid of spots or stripes. The molecular phylogenetic analysis, based on the nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer (nrITS) and four plastid regions (atpI, matK, psbA, and trnL-F), supports the conclusion that Gastrochilus wenchuanensis is a new species and is sister to G. formosanus.

    Keyword: Gastrochilus, molecular phylogenetics, morphology, new species, sect. Caespitosi

    Literature Cited

    Don, D. 1825 Prodromus Florae Nepalensis. Journal Gale London XII: 256.

    Hsu, T.C., Hsieh, S.I., Wu, J.H., Hung, H.C. 2018 Gastrochilus deltoglossus (Orchidaceae: Epidendroideae: Vandeae: Aeridinae), a new species from Taiwan. Taiwania 63(4): 360–365
    DOI: 10.6165/tai.2018.63.360View Article Google Scholar

    Jin, X.H., Dai, Z.Q., Liu, Q.Y., Ju, X.Y. 2010 Miscellaneous taxonomic notes on Orchidaceae from China. Acta Bot. Yunnan. 32: 331–333

    Kumar, P., Gale, S.W., Kocyan, A., Fischer, G.A., Averyanov, L.V., Borosova, R., Bhattacharjee, A., Li, J.H., Pang, K.S. 2014 Gastrochilus kadooriei (Orchidaceae), a new species from Hong Kong, with notes on allied taxa in section Microphyllae found in the region. Phytotaxa 164(2): 91–103.
    DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.164.2.3View Article Google Scholar

    Lee, Y.I., Yu, S.K., Liao, P.C., Wang, K.H., Lin, T.P. 2019 Newly discovered native orchids of Taiwan (XIV). Taiwania 64(4): 339–346
    DOI: 10.6165/tai.2019.64.339View Article Google Scholar

    Li, J.W., Ya, J.D., Ye, D.P., Liu, C., Liu, Q., Pan, R., He, Z.X., Pan, B., Cai, J., Lin, D.L., Jin, X.H. 2021 Taxonomy notes on Vandeae (Orchidaceae) from China: Five new species and two new records. Plant Divers. 43(5):379–389.
    DOI: 10.1016/j.pld.2021.01.009View Article Google Scholar

    Li, Y., Jin, W., Zhang, L., Zhou, P., Luo, Y., Zhu, Z., Xiang, X. 2022 Biogeography and Diversification of the Tropical and Subtropical Asian Genus Gastrochilus (Orchidaceae, Aeridinae). Diversity 14(5): 396.
    DOI: 10.3390/d14050396View Article Google Scholar

    Liu, Q. 2017 Taxonomic revision study of Gastrochilus D. Don (Orchidaceae) in 654 China. Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of 655 Sciences, Yunnan, China, pp. 1–145.

    Liu, Q., Gao, J.Y. 2018 Gastrochilus dulongjiangensis (Aeridinae, Vandeae, Epidendroideae, Orchidaceae), a new species from Yunnan Province, China. Phytotaxa 340(3): 283–293.
    DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.340.3.11View Article Google Scholar

    Liu, Q., Song, Y., Jin, X.H., Gao, J.Y. 2019 Phylogenetic relationships of Gastrochilus (Orchidaceae) based on nuclear and plastid DNA data. Bot. J Linn. Soc. 189(3): 228–243.
    DOI: 10.1093/botlinnean/boy084View Article Google Scholar

    Liu, Q., Wu, X.F., Zhou, S.S., Li, J.W., Jin, X.H. 2023 New species and record of Gastrochilus (Orchidaceae, Aeridinae) from China and Laos. Phytotaxa 585(3): 210–224.
    DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.585.3.3View Article Google Scholar

    Pridgeon, A.M., Cribb, P.J., Chase, M.W., Rasmussen, F.N. 2014 Genera orchidacearum: Epidendroideae, volume 6, Part 3. Oxford University Press, Oxford, 544 pp.

    Rao, W. H., Liu, Z.J., Zhang, G.Q., Chen, X.H., Huang, J., Chen, G.Z., Chen, L.J. 2019 A new epiphytic species of Gastrochilus (Orchidaceae: Epidendroideae) from Yunnan, China. Phytotaxa 413(4): 296–300.
    DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.413.4.5View Article Google Scholar

    Tsi, Z.H. 1996 A Preliminary Revision of Gastrochilus (Orchidaceae). Guihaia 16: 149.

    Wu, Z.Y., Raven, P.H., Hong, D. Y. eds. 2010 Flora of China. Vol. 25, Science Press and Missouri Botanical Garden Press, Beijing.

    Zhang, J., Liao, M., Xu, B., He, H. 2024 Characterization of the complete chloroplast genome of Gastrochilus sinensis (Orchidaceae, Epidendroideae), a beautiful epiphytic orchid from China. Mitochondrial DNA B Resour. 9(1): 100–103.
    DOI: 10.1080/23802359.2023.2301033View Article Google Scholar

    Zhang, J.Y., Cheng, Y.H., Liao, M., Feng, Y., Jin, S.L., He, T.M., He. H., Xu, B. 2023 A new infrageneric classification of Gastrochilus (Orchidaceae: Epidendroideae) based on molecular and morphological data, Plant Divers. 46(4): 435–447.
    DOI: 10.1016/j.pld.2023.08.001View Article Google Scholar

    Zhang, J.Y., Cheng, Y.H., Liao, M., Jin, S.L., Qu, C.M., Tan, Y.C., Plenkovi?-Moraj, A., Xu. B. 2022 Gastrochilus wolongensis (Orchidaceae): a new species from Sichuan, China, based on molecular and morphological data. Ecosyst. Health Sustain. 8: 2101546.
    DOI: 10.1080/20964129.2022.2101546View Article Google Scholar

    Zhou, Z.H., Shi, R.H., Zhang, Y., Jin, X.H. 2021a Orchid Diversity in China: Recent Discoveries. Plant Divers. 43(5): 341–342.
    DOI: 10.1016/j.pld.2021.07.004View Article Google Scholar

    Zhou, Z.H., Shi, R.H., Zhang, Y., Xing, X.K., Jin, X.H. 2021b Orchid conservation in China from 2000 to 2020: Achievements and perspectives. Plant Divers. 43(5): 343–349.
    DOI: 10.1016/j.pld.2021.06.003View Article Google Scholar