Corresponding author: Fang Wen (
Academic editor: Eberhard Fischer
Five new species of
Li S, Xin Z-B, Chou W-C, Huang Y, Pan B, Maciejewski S, Wen F (2019) Five New Species of the Genus Primulina (Gesneriaceae) from Limestone Areas of Guangxi Zhuangzu Autonomous Region, China. PhytoKeys 127: 77–91.
The genus
The Guangxi Institute of Botany continues to support the Gesneriad Conservation Center of China (
CHINA. Pingguo County, Xin’an Town, Gusha village,
Perennial herbs. Rhizome subterete, 1–1.5 cm long, 5–10 mm in diameter. Leaves 4–6, all basal, opposite pairs; petiole compressed, cross section semi-elliptic, 1.5–2.5 cm long, 0.6–1.1 cm wide, shortly reddish purple to purplish brown strigose on both surfaces; blades dark green to purplish green, coriaceous or stiffly chartaceous, obliquely ovate, elliptic to broadly oblong-ovate, left-right asymmetric or symmetric, 2–6.5 × 1.5–3.5 cm, upper surface distinctly bullate, cuneate at base, commonly symmetric, occasionally oblique, margin entire, obtuse or rounded at apex, with erect reddish purple pubescence on both surfaces, margins with ciliate, pubescence 0.5–1 mm long, lateral veins 3 or 4 on each side, impressed adaxially and prominent abaxially. Cymes axillary, 2–4, 1- or 2-branched or single, 1- or 2–4-flowered on one cyme; peduncle 5.5–14.5 cm long, slender, 1–1.2 mm in diam., erect white glandular-pubescent; bracts 2, opposite, purplish green, linear or linear-lanceolate, ca. 6 × 1.5 mm, margin entire, acute at apex, sparsely purple puberulent outside, glabrous inside. Bracteoles 2, opposite, shape, hairs and color same as bracts but obviously smaller, ca. 3 × 0.8 mm. Pedicel 1–1.6 cm long, 0.8–1 mm in diam. Calyx 5-parted near to the base, lobes narrowly lanceolate-linear, 3–4 × 0.8–1 mm, margin entire, acute at apex, spreading white pubescent outside, glabrous nearly inside. Corolla pinkish purple, within 8–10 longitudinal dark purple stripes from corolla throat to the bottom of corolla tube, 1.5–1.8 cm long, spreading glandular puberulent outside, glabrous inside; tube tubular, pink, 8–9 mm long, 5–6 mm in diameter in medium, 5.5–6.5 mm in diam. at the mouth; limb distinctly 2-lipped, dark pink to purplish pink, adaxial lip 2-lobed to the middle, lobes ovate or nearly oblong, ca. 5 × 3 mm, obtuse to rounded at apex, with 2 or 3 deep purple lines inside; abaxial lip 3-lobed over the middle, two lateral lobes in apparently obliquely oblong, the central one zygomorphic, oblong, ca. 7 × 4 mm, rounded at apex. Stamens 2, adnate to ca. 5.5 mm above the base of the corolla tube; filaments white, geniculate at the middle, ca. 5.5 mm long, glabrous; anthers pale brown to purplish brown, subreniform, slightly contracted in the middle, ca. 1 mm long, glabrous. Staminodes 2, translucent, 0.8–1 mm long, glabrous, adnate to ca. 5 mm above the base of the corolla tube. Disc annular, ca. 0.7 mm high, margin entire. Pistil 1–1.1 cm long, ovary yellowish brown, linear, ca. 5 mm long, 0.8–1 mm in diam., glandular-puberulent; style white to translucent, 5–6 mm long, nearly glabrous; stigma obtrapeziform, ca. 0.9 mm long, apex 2-lobed. Capsule glabrous, valvate dehiscence when mature, 1.5–2 cm long.
Flowering in Nov., fruiting time in Dec.
The specific epithet, ‘
Along with the further field investigations for the current survival situation of
CHINA. Yangshuo County, Gaotian Town, Lexiang village,
Perennial herbs. Rhizome subterete, 5–6 cm long, 8–10 mm in diam. Leaves 6–10, crowded at apex of rhizome, petiolate; petiole cylindrical, upper slightly smaller and the bottom slightly inflated but the base slightly applanate, 8–15 cm long, 6–8 mm in diam. at base, densely eglandular-pubescent; leaf blade herbaceous, rhomboid-ovate or elliptic, 6–11 × 5–9.5 cm, apex acute, obtuse or slightly round, base cordate, broadly cuneate to cordate, slightly inequilateral, margin irregularly serrate in different numbers, densely pubescent on both surfaces, lateral veins 2 or 3 on each side, impressed adaxially and prominent abaxially. Cymes 4–10, 1–3-branched, 12–30-flowered; peduncle 12–20 cm long, 2–2.5 mm across, densely glandular-pubescent; pedicel 1–3 cm long, densely glandular-pubescent; bracts opposite, linear, 6–7 × 1.5–2 mm, margin entire, apex acute, adaxially glandular-puberulent, abaxially nearly glabrous. Calyx 5-parted nearly to base, lobes narrowly lanceolate, 4.5–5.5 × ca. 1 mm, margin entire and ciliolate, outside densely glandular-pubescent, inside glabrous. Corolla pinkish, fuchsia to pale purple, 7.5–10 mm long, 4–4.5 mm in diam. at mouth, outside glandular-puberulent; tube short, 5.5–6.5 mm long, ca. 4.5 mm in diam. in middle, tube base slightly swollen, ca. 2 mm in diam. at base; limb distinctly 2-lipped, adaxial lip 2-lobed to more than the middle, lobes oblong, apex round, 3.2–3.8 × 2.5–3 mm, abaxial lip 3-lobed to more than the middle, lobes oblong, apex round, 4.5–5.2 × 3.3–3.6 mm. Stamens 2, adnate to 2.5 mm above corolla tube base, filaments 4–4.5 mm long, curved at middle, anthers elliptic or reniform, ca. 1.5 mm long, glabrous; staminodes 3, lateral ones 0.8–1 mm long, adnate to 1.8–2 mm above corolla tube base; middle one 0.5 mm long, adnate to ca. 1.3 mm above corolla tube base. Disc annular, ca. 0.6 mm in height, margin entire. Pistil 6.5–7.5 mm long, ovary ovoid, ca. 2.5 × 1.3–1.5 mm, glandular-puberulent; style indumentum same as ovary, 4–5 mm long, ca. 0.5 mm in diam. in the middle; stigma obtrapeziform, ca. 0.8 mm long, apex 2-lobed. Capsule ovoid, ca. 8 mm long, valvate dehiscence when mature, outside pubescent.
Flowering from May to June; fruiting from June to August.
The specific epithet, ‘
The original habitat of this species was almost destroyed because of road building in 2013; it directly resulted in a single small population with no more than 50 surviving individuals. We hope we can find more populations in the future through field surveys. The habitat of
CHINA. Yizhou city, Beiya Town, Xiaozhudong village,
Perennial herbs. Rhizome small and short, indistinctive but nearly cylindrical, 3–8 mm long, 2–3 mm in diam. Leaves numerous, 8–20 or more, all basal, petiolate; petiole pale brownish purple to dark brownish purple, cylindrical, 7.5–12 cm long, 3–3.2 mm in diam., extremely short puberulent to nearly glabrous; leaf blade dark green, slightly fleshy to thickly chartaceous, herbaceous when dried, nearly rounded to cordate rounded, 3–5.5 × 3.5–5.5 cm, apex obtuse to rounded, base cordate to deeply cordate, margin undulant to crenate; lateral veins 3–4 on each side, slightly impressed adaxially and apparently prominent abaxially. Cymes 8–16, 1–3-branched, 16–30-flowered per cyme; peduncle 8–15 cm long, ca. 2.5 mm in diam., densely erectly eglandular-puberulent; pedicel 5–10 mm long, ca. 1 mm in diam., indumentum same as pedicel; bracts 2, opposite, brownish purple, linear to oblanceolate, 5–12 × 1–4 mm, margin entire to inconspicuously dentate, apex acuminate to acute, adaxially very shortly puberulent, abaxially nearly glabrous. Calyx 5-parted nearly to base, lobes brownish purple, narrowly lanceolate, 3–4 × ca. 1 mm, margin entire, outside sparsely extremely short puberulent, inside nearly glabrous. Corolla beige to pale yellow mixed slightly reddish brown, 1.8–2 cm long, 4–5 mm in diam. at mouth, outside sparsely eglandular-puberulent to nearly glabrous, inside glabrous; tube tubular, 1.5–1.8 cm long, 3.5–4 mm in diam. at the middle, tube base slightly constricted, 1–1.5 mm in diam. at base; limb distinctly 2-lipped, adaxial lip 2-lobed to base, lobes oblong, apex rounded, 2.5–3 × 2–2.5 mm, abaxial lip 3-lobed to over middle, lobes oblong, apex rounded, ca. 3.5 × 3 mm. Stamens 2, adnate to ca. 3 mm above corolla tube base, filaments ca. 6 mm long, curved at middle, anthers elliptic or reniform, ca. 1.8 mm long, glabrous; staminodes 2, extremely small and inconspicuous, punctate, ca. 0.05 mm long, adnate to corolla tube base. Disc annular, ca. 0.9 mm in height, margin entire to sinuate. Pistil 10.5–11 mm long, ovary ovoid, ca. 2.5 × 1 mm, densely eglandular-puberulent; style ca. 8 mm long, ca. 0.2 mm in diam. at the middle, the lower part of style sparsely eglandular- and glandular-puberulent but the upper half part of style nearly glabrous; stigma obtrapeziform, ca. 0.5 mm long, apex 2-lobed. Capsule ovoid, valvate dehiscence when mature, 4–4.5 × ca. 3 mm.
Flowering from April to May; fruiting from June to July.
The specific epithet, ‘
CHINA. Yizhou city, Beiya Town, Jiucai village,
Perennial herbs. Rhizome cylindrical, 3–15 mm long, 1.5–3 mm in diam. Leaves numerous, 16–40 or more, all basal, petiolate; petiole green, oblong-oblate, 4–8 cm long, 6–15 mm in diam., spreading appressed white pubescent to lanate; leaf blade pale green to green, fleshy to thickly chartaceous, herbaceous when dried, narrowly oblong, narrowly oblanceolate to oblong-elliptic, 5–10 × 2.5–4.5 cm, apex obtuse and occasionally rounded, base gradually attenuated to form petiole, margin entire, undulatet to crenate, both surfaces densely villous to lanate with long, spreading white hairs, lateral veins 4 or 5 on each side, slightly impressed adaxially and apparently prominent abaxially. Cymes axillary, 6–12 per plant, 2–4-branched, 16–36-flowered per cyme; peduncle 15–25 cm long, 2.5–3.5 mm in diam., green, densely white villous and lanose; bracts 3, whorled, brownish green, margin entire to undulate, apex acuminate to acute, adaxially white pubescent, abaxially nearly glabrous, lateral ones bigger, ca. 15 × 6 mm, narrowly oblong to broadly oblanceolate, central one smaller, ca. 15 × 3.5 mm; pedicel 1–1.5 cm long, ca. 1 mm in diam., indumentum same as pedicel; pedicel green, 1–2.5 cm long, 1–1.5 mm in diam., densely white pubescent. Calyx 5-parted nearly to base, lobes green to brownish green, linear to narrowly oblanceolate, 5–7 × ca. 2 mm, margin entire, outside white puberulent, inside nearly glabrous. Corolla pale pink to white, inside with two dark pink to pinkish orange stripes, 1.5–1.8 cm long, 5–7.5 mm in diam. at mouth, outside and inside glabrous; tube infundibular, pale pink, 1.1–1.3 cm long, 4.5–5.5 mm in diam. at the middle, 1.3–1.8 mm in diam. at base; limb distinctly 2-lipped, adaxial lip 2-lobed to over middle, lobes oblong to rounded, apex rounded, 3.5–4 × ca. 4 mm, abaxial lip 3-lobed to over middle, lobes oblong to rounded, apex rounded, 4–4.5 × ca. 4 mm. Stamens 2, adnate to ca. 1.8–2.2 mm above corolla tube base, filaments 1.8–2.3 mm long, geniculate at 1/3 from the bottom, glabrous, anthers elliptic or reniform, ca. 1 mm long, ca.0.5 mm in diam. per anther, white beard; staminodes 3, glabrous, lateral ones adnate to 1.7–2 mm above corolla tube base, white to translucent, ca. 2 mm long, apex capitate, central one adnate to ca. 1.6 mm above corolla tube base, capitate. Disc annular, glabrous, ca.0.6 mm in height, margin entire to sinuate. Pistil ca. 8 mm long, ovary ovoid, ca. 2 × 1.3 mm, densely eglandular lanose; style ca. 6 mm long, ca. 0.3 mm in diam. at the middle, the lower part of style sparsely eglandular-puberulent but the upper half part of style nearly glabrous; stigma obtrapeziform, ca. 0.5 mm long, apex 2-lobed. Capsule ovoid, glabrous, valvate dehiscence when mature, 4–4.5 × ca. 3 mm.
Flowering from March to April; fruiting from April to May.
The specific epithet, ‘
About 100 mature individuals have been recorded and confirmed, growing on a wet rock surface under evergreen broad-leaved forest on a limestone hill. Because the local government of Yizhou city is planning to develop a scenic spot project at this place, the habitat of this new species is likely to be subjected to human activities. Thus, based on currently available information,
CHINA. Nanning city, Suxu Town, Shibaluohandong village,
Perennial herbs. Rhizome cylindrical, the long rhizome up to 50 cm long or longer and branched repeatedly after several years of growth, 5–6 mm in diam.; branch up to 8–15 cm long, sparsely appressed hazel pubescent when young, gradually glabrous when mature. Leaves ternate, occasionally opposite, subsessile to sessile; leaf blade fleshly to thickly herbaceous when fresh, hard chartaceous when dried, often asymmetric, obliquely oblanceolate to broadly ensiform, 6.5–16 × 1.5–2.5 cm, apex acuminate to acute, base narrowly cuneate, gradually attenuated to be petiole, margin entire, adaxially and abaxially densely appressed pubescent and strigose, lateral veins 4 or 5 on each side, slightly impressed adaxially and apparently prominent abaxially. Inflorescences axillary, cymes 2–6 on the near top of every branch, 1-branched, (1)2–6-flowered per cyme; peduncle reddish brown, 3–7.5 cm long, 1–1.5 mm in diam., densely spreading eglandular-pubescent; bracts 2, opposite, green to yellowish green, elliptic to cymbiform, 1.2–2.3 cm × 3–6.5 mm, margin entire, apex acuminate to acute, adaxially and abaxially densely appressed pubescent; pedicel reddish brown, 2–3 cm long, ca. 1 mm in diam., indumentum same as peduncle. Calyx 5-parted to base, lobes reddish brown, narrowly lanceolate-linear to linear, ca. 8 × 0.3 mm, margin entire, outside densely puberulent, inside nearly glabrous. Corolla dark pink to purplish pink, ca. 3.5 cm long, 11–12.5 mm in diam. at mouth, outside sparsely glandular-puberulent, inside glabrous; tube tubular, 2.4–2.8 cm long, 3–3.5 mm in diam. at the middle, tube slightly upswept, base gradually constricted, 2.5–3.5 mm in diam. at base; limb distinctly 2-lipped, adaxial lip 2-lobed to over middle, slightly obliquely oblong, apex rounded, 4.5–5.5 × 3.8–4.5 mm, abaxial lip 3-lobed to about middle, lateral ones slightly obliquely oblong, 6.5–7.5 × ca. 4.5 mm, central one oblong, apex rounded, 7.5–8 × 6.5–7 mm, mm. Stamens 2, adnate to ca. 7 mm above corolla tube base, filaments white, 8–9 mm long, geniculate at middle, anthers white, reniform to fusiform, ca. 3 mm long, nearly glabrous; staminodes 3, lateral translucent to white, ones adnate to 6.2–6.5 mm above corolla tube base, 4–4.5 mm long, apex capitate, central one adnate to 4.8–5 mm above corolla tube base, small, punctate, ca. 1 mm long. Disc annular, white, 0.8–1 mm in height, margin entire. Pistil 1.8–2.0 cm long, ovary reddish brown, cylindric, 9–10 mm long, 1–1.3 mm in diam., densely white glandular-puberulent; style 9–10 mm long, 0.6–0.7 mm in diam., pale reddish brown from case to middle, white from middle to top, densely glandular-puberulent; stigma obtrapeziform, ca. 1.2 mm long, apex 2-lobed, lobes truncate. Capsule linear, valvate dehiscence and glabrous when mature, 4.8–5.5 cm × 2.2–2.5 mm.
The morphologically similar congeners of the five new species of
Flowering from November to the beginning of December; fruiting in January of the next year.
The new species is named after Mr. Yu-Yang Lei, who first discovered and collected this rare species and who accompanied us on a number of subsequent field expeditions in Nanning, Guangxi. The Chinese name is “Léi Shì Bào Chūn Jù Tái” (雷氏报春苣苔).
It is currently known only from the type locality in a single population with ca. 100 individuals. Although it might be endangered, more surveys are needed to clarify its conservation status. The species is only known growing on the surface of wet rocks on the limestone hills along the edges of village roads.
We carefully explored the type locality on five visits over a period of three years.
We are grateful to Mr. Sheng-Yu Liang from Pingguo County, Mr. Xiang-Chen Pan from Yizhou city and Mr. Yu-Yang Lei from Nanning city for their discoveries of special species. We thank Prof. Yi-Gang Wei from the Guangxi Institute of Botany (GXIB) for the identification of specimens and Mr. Wen-Hua Xu for preparing the excellent figures. This study was financially supported by the Fund of Guangxi Key Laboratory of Plant Conservation and Restoration Ecology in Karst Terrain (17-259-23), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (31860047), the Natural Science Foundation of Guangxi (2017GXNSFAA198006), Science Research Foundation of Guangxi Academy of Sciences (2017YJJ23022), the Key Sci. & Tech. Research and Development Project of Guangxi (Guike AB16380053), Project of the Forestry Administration of Guangdong Province (Grant No. YUE CAI NONG [2019] No. 51) and the Foundation of Key Laboratory of Plant Resources Conservation and Sustainable Utilization, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences. For editorial assistance, we thank Michael LoFurno (Adjunct Professor, Temple University) from Philadelphia, USA.