Hemipilia huanglongensis (Orchidaceae), a new species from north Sichuan, China

A new species of Orchidaceae, Hemipilia huanglongensis D. J. Xie & R. B. Zhang, was discovered on steep karst slopes in northern Sichuan, China and is described and illustrated, based on morphological and molecular phylogenetic evidence. While morphologically similar to H. amplexifolia (Tang & F. T. Wang) Y. Tang and H. Peng, H. faberi (Rolfe) Y. Tang and H. Peng and H. tetraloba (Finet) Y. Tang and H. Peng, it can be distinguished by a squamose lip base with an upwardly protruding lamella, along with larger floral structures, including the sepals, petals, lip and ovary.

Phylogenetic analyses, based on nuclear (ITS) and plastid (mat K, rbc L) DNA sequences, further support its distinction from these three morphologically allied species.