Gastrodia is a genus of mycoheterotrophic orchids comprising about 90 species. Several species, such as Gastrodia elata and Gastrodia angusta, are widely used as traditional Chinese medicine.

Gastrodia angusta S. Chow et S. C. Chen was established in 1983 from Shiping County, Yunnan Province, China. However, the specimens cited were erroneous and the description omitted some key characters.

During their recent botanical survey of Chinese medicine plants in the same locality at Longpeng Town, Shiping County, Yunnan Province, China, researchers of Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden (XTBG) collected some Gastrodia plants very similar to G. angusta.

Morphological characters of G. angusta were examined in the natural habitats and in herbaria.

After careful comparisons with the type specimens of G. angusta, the researchers confirm that these are the same species, but some key characters have not been described. Moreover, there seems to be some mistakes with the typus and isotypus.

The researchers have therefore designated a lectotype and epitype, and provide a revised description.

They designated the specimen collected in  April 1974 at Shuigongqing Nature village, Sanjia Village, Longpeng Town, Shiping County, Yunnan Province as the lectotype; and the specimen collected in 2016 by LI Jianwu at the same locality as the epitype.

G. angusta is leafless, mycoheterotrophic plants. It is terrestrial underbamboo forests at elevations 1680–2050 m. It flowers from March to early May.

For more information about the revised description to Gastrodia angust, please refer to the article entitled “Lectotype, epitype and amendment of Gastrodia angusta (Orchidaceae)” in Phytotaxa.

Contact

LI Jianwu

Center for Integrative Conservation, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Mengla,Yunnan 666303, P. R. China

E-mail: ljw@xtbg.org.cn

Gastrodia angusta S. Chow et S. C. Chen A. Habitat. B. Plant. C. Inflorescence (C-1, C-2).
D. Front view of lip. E. Lateral view of lip. F. Flower without sepals tube, general view of lip, column and ovary. G. Longitudinal section of flower, general view of petals, lip and column. H. Floral bract. I. Pedicel and ovary with column.

(Images by LI Jianwu).