Malaxis henanensis D.H.Peng & K.Yang, sp. nov.

(Figs 1, 2)

Type:— CHINA. Henan Province: Neixiang County, 1722 m, Baotianman National Nature Reserve, 26 Jul 2021, Peng M001 (FAFU).

The new species differs from M. malipoensis in height, inflorescence structure, number of leaves and flowers, colour of flower bracts, long-ovate sepals, longer petals and ovoid, apically narrow lip (Table 1).

Terrestrial, erect herbs, 9–25 cm. Leaves usually 2, one larger, base contracted into petiole, clasping, ovate to long ovoid, apex attenuate, 5.0–12.0 × 2.5–5.0 cm. Inflorescence arising from leaf axils, erect, 12–22 cm long, 3.0– 3.5 mm in diameter; racemes 10–15 cm long, 40–80 flowers; floral bracts lanceolate, 1.5–2.0 mm long, yellowish green; pedicel and ovary 3.0– 3.5 mm long, pedicels twisted in a right-handed spiral; fully open flowers 3 mm in diameter, yellowish green; sepals subequal, long-ovate, 1.5–1.8 × 0.7–1.0 mm; petals linear, 1.3–1.5 × 0.2–0.3 mm; lip uppermost (non-resupinate), ovoid, apically narrow, 1.3–1.5 × 0.9–1.2 mm; disk oblate, slightly concave in the middle, both margins hypertrophic and warty, with a short auricles on both sides of the base; column 0.6 mm long; pollinia 4, in 2 pairs, waxy.

Phenology:— Flowering July and August.

Distribution and ecology:— Known only from Neixiang County, Henan Province, growing in humus-rich soil.

Etymology:— Named after Henan Province.

Conservation:— Although we investigated areas in the southern and western hilly regions of Henan that would be suitable for this orchid, we did not find plants. The greatest threat to the survival of the new species in the area is human activity and being eaten by wild boars.

Notes:— Most Malaxis species have small greenish flowers (Jermakowicz et al. 2022), which also applies to M. henanensis and M. moliponesis (Table 1).