Sciaphila yakushimensis (Triuridaceae), a new mycoheterotrophic plant from Yakushima Island, Japan

Abstract

a new species of Sciaphila (Triuridaceae), S. yakushimensis Suetsugu, Tsukaya & H. Ohashi, is described and illustrated from Yakushima Island, Kagoshima Pref., Japan. The new species is similar to 5. nana, but it is clearly distinguishable by the blackish purple aerial parts, the clevate style with dense papillae, and the filaments not longer than the anthers. a key to the Japanese Sciaphila based on total flower characteristics and another based primarily on stylar characteristics are provided for convenience of easy identification of these rare mycoheterotrophic plants.