Phylogenetic Study Of Genus Spathoglottis Blume (Orchidaceae) In Malesia

The genus Spathoglottis Blume (tribe Collabieae, subfamily Epidendroideae) is a genus with a total of 49 terrestrial geophyte species and is widely distributed in tropical and subtropical Asia and the Pacific Islands. A total of 44 species were recorded in the Malesian region and are concentrated particularly in New Guinea. Despite of being popular in horticulture, Spathoglottis is a taxonomically confused genus in Orchidaceae. For example, confusion is detected between a pair of species within the yellow-flowered Spathoglottis; the S. aurea and S. microchilina with both species show a complex morphological plasticity

A taxonomic review of yellow Spathoglottis (Orchidaceae) complex in Malaysia

Spathoglottis Blume is a well-known genus with a total of 44 species and widely distributed from Tropical Asia to Subtropical Asia and Pacific Islands; concentrated particularly in the Malesian region. Eight species were recorded from Malaysia and despite of a widely grown genus; Spathoglottis is a taxonomically confused genus in Orchidaceae. Confusion on several species within the Yellow Spathoglottis Complex was resolved using both morphological and molecular evidences

VANILLA YERSINIANA (ORCHIDACEAE), A NEW RECORD FOR PENINSULAR MALAYSIA

MAT ESA, M. I., NORDIN, F. A., GO, R. & RAFFI, A. 2021. Vanilla yersiniana (Orchidaceae), a new record for Peninsular Malaysia. Reinwardtia 20(2): 51−55. — The genus Vanilla Plum. ex Mill. from Peninsular Malaysia is now enriched with the discovery of a newly recorded species, Vanilla yersiniana that made up its regional diversity to eight taxa. This species was documented from two adjacent secondary lowland forests in Perak; further south to the southern tail of Thailand. This paper describes the first record of V. yersiniana in Peninsular Malaysia with some highlights of its morphology and ecology. The data presented will add to the present state of knowledge on the species botanical profile

Orchids in the Montane forests of Peninsular Malaysia

Orchids in the Montane Forests of Peninsular Malaysia is a publication resulted from the many orchid exploration done by the authors team with collaboration mainly from Forest Department of Peninsular Malaysia since 1999. Inspired and invigorated by the immense array of colours, shapes, sizes, number of flowers and even fragrance those wild orchids possess, this book was written in a pictorial but scientifically inclined for the benefit of all groups of readers. Through the years of many botanical field study and explorations, a total of 490 species were recorded, which are represented by all five subfamilies of Orchidaceae. This book showcases only 267 orchid species out of the 490 recorded in montane forests, with their selection mainly based on the availability of the blooming plant photographs. The subfamily Cypripedioideae and Vanilloideae was represented with one genus, Apostasioideae by two genera, Orchidoideae by 15 genera, and Epidendroideae by 71 genera. The occurrence of the high number of species in the Montane region is attributed by the high moisture content (imbibed and stored by mosses and liverworts) and receive substantial amount of sunlight thus make it as a favourable ground for the orchids to thrive. We hope that this book will help to boost public awareness and cue yet another spat in support of efforts to ensure the longstanding existence of this exceptionally magnificent constituent of biodiversity. We have furnished current scientific name, brief gems description, global and local distribution, rarity, and endemism, for the benefit of all wild orchid enthusiasts and nature lovers. We hope you enjoy these magnificent Mother Nature’s gem, the wild orchids featured in this book

Vanilla norashikiniana R. Go et A. Raffi sp. nov., A New Orchid Species From Peninsular Malaysia

A new species, Vanilla norashikiniana R. Go et A. Raffi, from Peninsular Malaysia is described and other aspects of interest discussed. It is so far known from a population in lower dipterocarp forests in Hutan Lipur Chemerong, Hulu Dungun, Terengganu and Hutan Simpan Semangkok, Selangor. A field key to the Peninsular Malaysian taxa (including Vanilla shenzhenica) is also provided

VANILLA YERSINIANA (ORCHIDACEAE), A NEW RECORD FOR PENINSULAR MALAYSIA

ESA, M. I. M., NORDIN, F. A., GO, R. & RAFFI, A. 2021. Vanilla yersiniana (Orchidaceae), a new record for Peninsular Malaysia. Reinwardtia 20(2): 49 − 53. — The genus Vanilla Plum. ex Mill. from Peninsular Malaysia is now enriched with the discovery of a newly recorded species, Vanilla yersiniana that made up its regional diversity to eight taxa. This species was documented from two adjacent secondary lowland forests in Perak; further south to the southern tail of Thailand. This paper describes the first record of V. yersiniana in Peninsular Malaysia with some high-lights of its morphology and ecology. The data presented will add to the present state of knowledge on the species botanical profile

Vanilla montana Ridl.: A NEW LOCALITY RECORD IN PENINSULAR MALAYSIA AND ITS AMENDED DESCRIPTION

Among the seven Vanilla species native to Peninsular Malaysia, Vanilla montana was the first species to be described. But due to its rarity, it took more than 100 years for the species to be rediscovered in two other localities. This paper describes the first record of V. montana in Negeri Sembilan with preliminary notes on its floral development and some highlights on the ecological influences. We also proposed a conservation status for the species. The data obtained will serve as an important botanical profile of the species, and it will add to our knowledge gaps on the distribution of this distinctive orchid in Malaysia

Orchids of cloud forest in Genting Highlands, Pahang, Malaysia

An inventory of orchid species diversity was carried out in cloud forest of Genting Highlands, which is one of the most developed highland areas in Peninsular Malaysia. Since 1967, construction of roads and hotel complexes has had a serious impact on its physical environment and vegetation. Habitat destructions together with climate change might have caused some orchid species to be extirpated locally or extinct. The cloud forest of Genting Highlands consists of four major peaks, Gunung Ulu Kali, Gunung Chin Chin, Gunung Lari Tembakau and Gunung Mengkuang. However, not much study on orchid diversity was conducted in these areas, therefore, this study is timely and essential to evaluate the current orchid diversity after a gap of three decades. Combined findings from the current study, previous published works and specimens deposited in local herbaria, including those at the Universiti Malaya, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Forest Researh Institute of Malaysia and Biology Department, Faculty of Science, Universiti Putra Malaysia and Singapore Botanic Gardens, an updated list of orchid species found in the cloud forests of Genting Highlands is presented. A total of 134 orchid taxa were recorded, comprised of 51 genera, 132 species, 1 subspecies and 2 varieties, of which 46 are new records to Genting Highlands. Hymenorchis javanica, a species previously reported as endemic to West Jawa was recently discovered in Gunung Ulu Kali. Thirty-three species discovered during this study are currently classified as endemic to Peninsular Malaysia, of which 20 are endemic to Pahang, Perak and Selangor and a very narrowly endemic species; Corybas villosus to Gunung Ulu Kali. Through our observations, most of the orchid species in Gunung Ulu Kali are very susceptible to disappearance due to loss of habitat and local climate change. An assessment of conservation status according to IUCN criterion revealed that 47 orchid taxa from Gunung Ulu Kali were threatened with extinction. Conservation actions were suggested to conserve the orchid diversity in the cloud forest areas of Genting Highlands

Morphological Systematics of Spathoglottis Blume (Orchidaceae: Collabieae) in Peninsular Malaysia and Borneo

Seventy-two morphological characters and three ecological characteristics were measured to assess variation and phylogenetic relationships among twelve species and three infraspecific taxa of the genus Spathoglottis from Peninsular Malaysia and Borneo. The morphological analyses divided Spathoglottis into two main groups based on the colours of the flower: Purple-Flowered Spathoglottis and Yellow-Flowered Spathoglottis. Species within the two groupings were further classified based on the size of the plants (Large/Dwarf Purple Spathoglottis and Large/Dwarf Yellow Spathoglottis) and the shapes of the labellum (spathulate, bilobulate or narrow/thread–like). The selected morphological characters appeared to support the taxonomic boundaries between two mostly debated taxa in the genus, S. aurea and S. microchilina

Preliminary checklist of orchids in the Sungai Kangkawat, Imbak Canyon Conservation Area (ICCA), Sabah, Malaysia

A study on orchids diversity was carried out in the Sungai Kangkawat, Imbak Canyon Conservation Area (ICCA), Sabah, Malaysia. The study aimed to record species composition and distribution of orchids in the furtherance of orchid conservation objective in the gazetted conservation area. A total of 95 species and 30 genera were collected from South Rim, Kawang, and Nepenthes trails. The collection consists of 91 epiphytes, two terrestrials, and two mycoheterotrophs. More orchids were found in the riverine than inland areas. Our study on the species composition based on the vegetation types shows that the presence of inconspicuous and achlorophyllous, either mycoheterotrophic or leafless epiphytic orchids, are indicators of the undisturbed vegetation types. Though the finding was preliminary and brief, our encounter of endemic and rare species underlines the importance of Sungai Kangkawat forest area as an orchid biodiversity hotspot