Four new species of Gesneriaceae from Yunnan, Southwest China

Abstract Four new species of Gesneriaceae from Yunnan, southwest China, are described and illustrated. They are Petrocosmea rhombifolia, Petrocosmea tsaii, Didymocarpus brevipedunculatus, and Henckelia xinpingensis. Diagnostic characters between the new species and their morphologically close relatives are provided. Their distribution, ecology, phenology, and conservation status are also described.


Introduction
Gesneriaceae (Lamiales) consists of ca. 150 genera and around 3500 species of perennial herbs, shrubs or small trees, with the main distribution in the tropics and subtropics Möller et al. 2016a;Middleton et al. 2018). In China, there are >600 species in 44 genera (Möller et al. 2016a, b;Xu et al. 2017). Major taxonomic changes have been implemented in accordance with phylogenetic evidence affecting the classification of Chinese Gesneriaceae, so many morphologically defined
Etymology. The new species is named after its rhombic leaf blades. Conservation status. Petrocosmea rhombifolia has hitherto only been found at its type locality in Laba, Lancang County. There is very limited information about its natural distribution; a further detailed investigation of the same habitats will help to identify additional populations and individuals of this new species. The lack of sufficient data currently does not allow a risk evaluation and the species can be regarded at present as Data Deficient (DD) according to the IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria (IUCN 2012).
Etymology. The new species is named after its axillary relatively short peduncles. Vernacular. Chinese mandarin: Duan Xu Chang Shuo Ju Tai (短序长蒴苣苔) Phenology. Flowering August-September and fruiting September-October. Distribution and habitat. The new species was found in south Yunnan, Ximeng and Cangyuan Counties. It grows on rock surfaces along a seasonal waterfall or in moist and shady places in evergreen forests, altitude 1000-1200 m.
Conservation status. The localities of this new species, in Ximeng and Cangyuan, are both part of protected areas, and a total of more than one hundred individuals were found in the wild; a further inventory is needed to clarify the habitats and populations. At present, the species is therefore assigned a preliminary status of Endangered (EN D) according to the IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria (IUCN 2012).
Etymology. The new species is named after its type locality Xinping County. Vernacular name. Conservation status. According to our field observations, more than ten populations have been observed around an area of 20 hectares and each population of the new species has more than 100 individuals. The species is therefore assigned a preliminary status of Least Concern (LC) according to the IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria (IUCN 2012).  Note. Henckelia xinpingensis has elliptic leaf blades with a pilose indumentum similar to H. pumila. A comparative list of diagnostic characters of the new species and H. pumila is given in Table 4.