Research Article |
Corresponding author: Ming-Tai An ( gdanmingtai@126.com ) Academic editor: Wendy Achmmad Mustaqim
© 2024 Hong-Fen Hu, Jian Xu, Ming-Tai An, Ying Guo, Jia-Wen Yang.
This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY 4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
Citation:
Hu H-F, Xu J, An M-T, Guo Y, Yang J-W (2024) Impatiens beipanjiangensis (Balsaminaceae), a new species from Guizhou, China. PhytoKeys 241: 201-213. https://doi.org/10.3897/phytokeys.241.113700
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Impatiens beipanjiangensis Jian Xu & H. F. Hu (Balsaminaceae), a new species of Impatiens subg. Clavicarpa discovered in Guizhou, China, is described and illustrated in this study along with its molecular phylogenetic analysis. I. beipanjiangensis is similar to I. liboensis, I. chishuiensis and I. clavigera in morphology, but I. tubulosa has the closest relationship to it. However, there are various ways in which the new species can be easily distinguished from these four species: Inferior nodes swollen rhizoid, pale green and with hooked outer sepals, longer lateral united petals, subovate auricle, deeper lower sepal and shorter spur that is reflexed towards the lower sepal. Furthermore, I. beipanjiangensis is distinguished from other Impatiens species, based on morphological, micromorphological and palynological evidence and molecular data (PP 0.967).
Balsaminaceae, Flora of China, morphology, phylogeny, taxonomy
The genus Impatiens L. is a member of the family Balsaminaceae, which contains over 1000 species worldwide, including approximately 270 species in China, primarily distributed in tropical and subtropical regions, such as Africa, India, south-western Asia, southern China and Japan, with a few species also being found in Europe, Siberia and northern China (
A new taxonomic system of Balsaminaceae with two subgenera (Impatiens and Clavicarpa), based on morphological and molecular evidence, was recently proposed by
Southwest China is the distribution centre of the Impatiens subg. Clavicarpa, with Guangxi and Yunnan being areas where numerous explorations have been conducted for Balsaminaceae in recent years, resulting in a number of new species discoveries (
The morphological characters of the new species, such as leaves, flowers and fruits, were carefully observed and measured in the field, with the plants subsequently being returned to the lab for detailed analysis. The specimens were then compared to the specimens available online, namely Kew Herbarium Catalogue (http://apps.kew.org/herbcat/navigator.do), Chinese National Herbarium (PE) (https://pe.ibcas.ac.cn/index.html) and JSTOR Global Plants (http://plants.jstor.org/). At the same time, specimens from online plant herbaria, such as China Virtual Herbarium (CVH) (https://www.cvh.ac.cn/index.php), Royal Botanical Garden Edinburgh (
Mature, whole pollen grains and seeds collected from the field were observed directly and measured under magnification using an anatomical lens. Subsequently, they were mounted on double-sided adhesive tape and coated with a layer of gold before being photographed using a Hitachi SU8100 SEM. The micro-morphological characters were described following
DNA sequences of the ITS marker from 150 species of Balsaminaceae were used for phylogenetic analysis, based on prior research (
The new species were sequenced using the ITS molecular marker (ITS-1 and ITS-4). The plant DNA isolation kit was used to extract DNA from fresh leaves using the Sangon Biotech Ezup column plant genomic DNA extraction kit (B518261). By amplified sequencing, agarose electrophoresis and gel recovery, the amplified PCR products were detected and purified. Sequencing reactions were carried out using an ABI Prism Bigdye Terminator Cycle Sequencing Kit (Applied Biosystems, Foster City, CA, USA). The products were analysed on an ABI3730xl automated DNA sequencer. All DNA samples were sent to Sangon Biotech (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. for sequencing.
Bayesian Inference (BI) was employed to infer the phylogenetic relationships in this study and all sequences were processed using Phylosuite v.1.2.3 (
China, Guizhou, Panzhou City, Pugu Township, humid valley, alt. 1306 m, 26°3'13.66"N, 104°44'33.93"E, 06 Oct 2019, Jian Xu, Ying Guo and Jia-Wen Yang (holotype: GZAC!20191006PZ001, isotype: GZAC!20191006PZ002).
This species is similar in morphology to I. liboensis, I. chishuiensis and I. clavigera and is close in phylogeny to I. tubulosa. Their leaf margin with crenate and fimbriae, raceme, stamens 5, ovary clavate, capsule hammer-shaped. However, it is different in the following aspects: inferior nodes swollen rhizoid, pale green and with hooked outer sepals, longer lateral united petals, subovate auricle, deeper lower sepal and shorter spur that is reflexed towards the lower sepal.
Impatiens beipanjiangensis Jian Xu & H.F. Hu, sp. nov. A whole plant B root C margin of leafD flower in side viewE flower in front view F spur G lateral sepals H dorsal petal I inner lateral sepal J lateral united petals K inner lateral sepal L outer lateral sepal M fruit N fruit anatomy O seeds (Drawn by Gan-Yang Yu from Guizhou University).
Plants perennial, 40–70 (110) cm tall, glabrous. Procumbent rhizome, inferior nodes swollen, nodes 3–5 cm long and 1–3 cm wide; stem erect, unbranched, fleshy. Leaves alternate, often dense in the upper part of the stem, membranous, elliptic or elliptic-lanceolate, 7–15 cm long, 2.5–4.5 cm wide, deep green above, pale green beneath, apex acuminate, base cuneate; margin obtusely crenate, with fimbriae between teeth, lateral veins 5–7 pairs; petioles 0.5–2 cm long, without glands. Racemes in upper leaf axils, 5–7 flowers, a bract at base, ovate, 0.7–1 cm long, persistent. Peduncle 5–7 cm long. Pedicels 1.5–3 cm long. Flowers yellow, with red spots or not, 3–5 cm long. Lateral sepals 4, pale green, semi-transparent; the outer 2 oblique ovate, outwards hooked to dorsal petal, 1.1–1.3 cm long, 0.5–0.7 cm wide, unequal sides, longitudinally 4–5 veined, apex inwardly curved; the inner 2 linear-lanceolate, 1–1.3 cm long, 0.1–0.3 cm wide, apex recurved. Dorsal petal obovate, 1–1.5 cm long, 0.9–1 cm wide, abaxial mid-vein narrowly carinate. Lateral united petals not clawed, connate, 2–lobed, 2.3–2.8 cm long; basal lobes oblique ovate, 0.9–1.1 cm long, apex acute; lower lobes, elliptic, 2–2.3 cm long, slightly retuse at apex, with a abaxial auricle inflexed, subovate. Lower sepal infundibuliform, 4–5 cm deep, mouth oblique, 1.8–2.3 cm wide, apex acute, gradually constricted to a reflexed and short spur at base; spur 0.8–1.2 cm long, apex bilobed, reflexed towards lower sepal. Stamens 5, anthers small and white, apex obtuse; filaments linear, 2.8–3.3 cm long. Ovary clavate, 4-carpellate, fusiform, ca. 0.5 cm long. Capsule hammer-shaped, 1.4–1.8 cm, superior part inflated, apex mucronulate. Seeds 4, narrowly ellipsoid, dark brown, 0.38–0.43 cm long, 0.19–0.22 cm wide.
Impatiens beipanjiangensis Jian Xu & H.F. Hu, sp. nov. A habitat B whole plant and root C adaxial surface of leaf blade and margin of leaf (inset) D abaxial surface of leaf blade E flower in front view F flower in side view and spur (inset) G flower anatomy and auricle (inset) (a) dorsal petal (b) outer lateral sepals (c) inner lateral sepals (d) lateral united petals (e) lower sepal (f) filaments and anthers H lateral sepals I fruit J fruit anatomy and seeds (Photographed by Jian Xu).
Flowering October to November, fruiting November to December.
The specific epithet “beipanjiangensis” refers to the river basin of the type specimen, Panzhou City (Beipanjiang River Basin), Guizhou, China.
The Chinese name is “Bēi Pán Jiāng Fèng Xiān Huā” (北盘江凤仙花).
This species is only known to be found in western Guizhou (Fig.
According to the current distribution of the population, we provisionally assess its status as Endangered [EN], based on criterion B2ab[i,ii], with the five distribution points and AOO of 20 km2, within the range of “Endangered” status(
China, Guizhou, Panzhou City, Pugu Township, humid valley, alt. 1487 m, 26°3'42.55"N, 104°44'30.47"E, 06 Oct 2019, Jian Xu, Ying Guo and Jia-Wen Yang (paratype: GZBG!XJ20191006001, isotype: GZBG!XJ20191006001).
I. beipanjiangensis is similar to I. liboensis, I. chishuiensis and I. clavigera in morphology, but I. tubulosa has the closest relationship to it. However, after careful comparison, we found that the five species were significantly different in life form, root, outer lateral sepals, lateral united petals, lower sepal, pollen, seed and other traits. Additionally, the traits expression of each population of the new species was relatively stable and there was no significant difference. Deleted morphological comparison of four species is shown in Table
Detailed comparison diagram of Impatiens beipanjiangensis, I. liboensis and I. chishuiensis A flower anatomy of I. beipanjiangensis B flower of I. beipanjiangensis C flower anatomy of I. liboensis D flower of I. liboensis E flower anatomy of I. chishuiensis F flower of I. chishuiensis (Photographed by Jian Xu).
Detailed comparison of I. beipanjiangensis, I. liboensis, I. chishuiensis, I. tubulosa and I. clavigera.
Characters | I. beipanjiangensis | I. liboensis | I. chishuiensis | I. tubulosa | I. clavigera |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Life form | perennial | perennial | annual | annual | perennial |
Plant height | 40–70(10) cm | 22–50 cm | 30–50 cm | 30–40 cm | 50–60 cm |
Root type | rhizome, inferior nodes swollen | underground tuber | rhizome, not swollen | fibrous root | rhizome, not swollen |
Petiole | 0.5–2 cm | 1.5–5 cm | 0.5–2 cm | 0.5–1.5 cm | 1–2 cm |
Flowers colour | yellow | white or pink-white | yellow | yellow or yellow-white | pale yellow |
Outer lateral sepals | pale green, oblique ovate, hooked curved, 1.1–1.3 cm long | white, oblique ovate, 0.9–1 cm long | yellow, oblique ovate or ovate, 0.9–1 cm long | white, oblique ovate, 0.5–0.6 cm long | yellow green, oblique ovate, 0.8–1.2 cm long |
Lateral united petals | not clawed, 2.3–2.8 cm long; lower lobes elliptic, slightly retuse at apex, with a abaxial auricle inflexed, subovate | not clawed, ca. 2 cm long; lower lobes obovate-oblong or obliquely obovate, slightly retuse at apex, with a abaxial auricle inflexed, suborbicular | not clawed, ca. 2.5 cm long; lower lobes oblong, apex obtuse, with a abaxial auricle inflexed, suborbicular | shortly clawed, ca. 1.5 cm long, lower lobes obovate, apex obtuse, auricle absent | not clawed, 2.5–2.6 cm long; lower lobes oblong, with a abaxial auricle, round, |
Lower sepal | infundibuliform, 4–5 cm deep; mouth oblique, 1.8–2.3 cm wide | saccate, 2.5–3 cm deep; mouth vertical, 2.5–3 cm wide | broadly infundibuliform, ca. 2 cm deep; mouth vertical, ca. 2 cm wide | saccate, 2–2.5 cm deep; mouth lightly oblique, ca. 1.5 cm wide | deeply saccate, ca. 3 cm deep; mouth oblique, ca. 2 cm wide |
Spur | 0.8–1.2 cm long, apex bilobed, reflexed towards the lower sepal | 0.8–1.2 cm long, apex bilobed, incurved | 1.5–1.8 cm long, apex acuminate, incurved | ca. 2 cm long, apex acuminate, recurved | ca. 1 cm long, apex acuminate, incurved |
The pollen grains of I. beipanjiangensis are triangular in polar view, tricolpate with long, thin colpi, an exine with reticulate ornamentation and dense granules in lumina (Fig.
Detailed palynology comparison of Impatiens beipanjiangensis, I. liboensis, I. chishuiensis, I. tubulosa and I. clavigera.
Species | Shape in polar view | Polar length × equatorial length (P × E)/um | Granules in lumina |
---|---|---|---|
I. beipanjiangensis | triangular | 19.44 (18.42–20.36) × 31.12 (29.61–32.42) | ++++ |
I. liboensis | triangular-subcircular | 15.3 (14.8–15.5) × 39.2 (38.8–40.6) | +++ |
I. chishuiensis | subellipsoid | 27.0–29.2 × 25.8–26.5 | +++++ |
I. tubulosa | triangular | 13.3 (14.8–15.5) × 36.2 (34.7–37.6) | +++ |
I. clavigera | triangular-subcircular | 32.4 (30.5–32.9) × 36.8 (32.5–37.3) | ++++ |
In the phylogenetic tree, based on the ITS sequences (Fig.
The authors wish to genuinely appreciate Qiang Deng of the Panzhou Converged Media Center and Hua-Kai Zou of the Guizhou University for their help in the fieldwork.
The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.
No ethical statement was reported.
This work was supported by the National Natural Foundation of China (31960042), Science and Technology Foundation of Guizhou Province (QKHJC[2023]1Y235) and Survey and Assessment of Newly Added National Key Protected Wild Plant Resources in Guizhou Province (Second stage) (MCHC-ZD20232020).
Conceptualisation and Methodology: Ming-Tai An. Investigation: Jian Xu, Ying Guo, Jia-Wen Yang. Data Curation: Jian Xu. Software and Visualisation: Hong-Fen Hu. Writing-Original draft: Hong-Fen Hu and Jian Xu. Writing-Review and Editing: Ming-Tai An. All authors have read and approved the final manuscript.
Hong-Fen Hu https://orcid.org/0009-0008-4761-8242
Jian Xu https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0714-0917
Ming-Tai An https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3886-0287
All of the data that support the findings of this study are available in the main text or Supplementary Information.
The GenBank accession numbers for DNA sequences used in this study
Data type: doc