Research Article |
Corresponding author: Yan-Ling Liu ( liuyanling@wbgcas.cn ) Academic editor: Chun-Lei Xiang
© 2024 Wen-Bin Xu, Xiao-Dong Li, Shu-Hui Wang, Ang Liu, Yan-Ling Liu.
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:
Xu W-B, Li X-D, Wang S-H, Liu A, Liu Y-L (2024) Callicarpa yongshunensis (Lamiaceae): A new species from Hunan, China. PhytoKeys 241: 131-141. https://doi.org/10.3897/phytokeys.241.119343
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This study provides detailed description of a newly-discovered Callicarpa yongshunensis Wen B. Xu, Xiao D. Li & Yan Ling Liu (Lamiaceae) species from Hunan, China. The species shares similarities in the inflorescence, glandular colour and leaf shape features with C. luteopunctata H. T. Chang and C. giraldii Hesse ex Rehd., while its white fruits are similar to those of C. longifolia Lamk. However, its procumbent, evergreen shrub and white fruits are distinctly different from those of C. luteopunctata and C. giraldii, while its procumbent, scarless nodes and stellate pubescence free fruits distinguishes it from C. longifolia. Images, distribution, morphological features, molecular phylogenetic classification and conservation assessment of this new Callicarpa species are explored.
Callicarpa, China, Hunan, Lamiaceae, morphology, new species
The genus Callicarpa L. was established by
The genus Callicarpa harbours approximately 140 species and it is distributed in the tropical to temperate Asia, America, Australia, Pacific Islands and Madagascar (
For a long time, we have been puzzled by a species of Callicarpa with a quite large population cultivated in Wuhan Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences. The species has attracted considerable attention due to features, such as procumbent branches, evergreen leaves, white fruits, scarless nodes and stellate pubescence free fruits. These features make the species distinguishable from any other previously-characterised Callicarpa species. In order to further analyse this species, we reviewed the original records and revisited its original source area in March 2023 in Yongshun, Hunan, China. Species specimens were also collected in December 2023 from Hupingshan, Shimen, Hunan, China. Careful literature review combined with comprehensive morphological and molecular characterisation obviously identified this plant as a new species in the genus Callicarpa from China.
All available specimens in the genus Callicarpa from Hunan Province were retrieved from the China Virtual Herbarium (http://www.cvh.ac.cn/) and JSTOR Global Factory (https://plants.jstor.org/) and examined. Observation and morphological description of the new species was conducted, based on living plants cultivated in Wuhan Botanical Garden and individuals obtained from their type localities. The microstructure of flowers, fruits and glands were observed and photographed using a Nikon SMZ25 stereomicroscope (Nikon, Japan), while additional images were taken with a Canon 90D digital camera (Nikon, Japan). The morphological traits of the new species were described according to previous reports (
Sixteen Chinese Callicarpa species (
China. Hunan Province, Yongshun County, Shanmuhe Forestry Farm, growing under the forest by the edge of a valley, 29.16517°N, 109.84132°E, 676 m alt., 16 March 2023(fr.), W.B. Xu & X.W. Li 230155 (holotype: HIB, barcode no. 0250267, isotype: HIB, barcode no. 0250265).
Images of Callicarpa yongshunensis Wen B. Xu, Xiao D. Li & Yan Ling Liu A inflorescence in ventral view B inflorescence in lateral view C fruit branch in lateral view D infructescence in ventral view E individual in the fruiting period of wild populations F roots developed from the node area of fruit branches G glands on the abaxial surface of the leaf H leaf, adaxial surface I leaf, abaxial surface J typical species natural habitat. Photos by Wen-Bin XU and Shu-Hui WANG.
C. yongshunensis is morphologically similar to C. luteopunctata H.T. Chang, C. giraldii Hesse ex Rehd. and C. longifolia Lamk. (Table
Morphological comparison of C. yongshunensis, C. luteopunctata, C. giraldii and C. longifolia (
Characters | C. yongshunensis | C. luteopunctata | C. giraldii | C. longifolia |
---|---|---|---|---|
Life form | procumbent shrub | erect shrub | erect shrub | erect shrub |
Leaf habit | evergreen | deciduous | deciduous | evergreen |
Leaf size | 7.5–16 × 3.5–5.5 cm | 7–16 × 2–5 cm | 5–17 × 2–10 cm | 8–20 × 2–6 cm |
nodes with a transverse scar | absent | absent | absent | present |
Calyx length | ca. 0.7 mm | ca. 0.7 mm | ca. 1.5 mm | ca. 1 mm |
Corolla colour | light red to light purple | purple | purple | pale purple |
Corolla length | ca. 1.3 mm | ca. 1.4 mm | ca. 3 mm | ca. 2 mm |
Fruit diameter | ca. 2 mm | ca. 1 mm | 2.5–4 mm | ca. 1.5 mm |
Fruit colour | white | red ( |
purple | white |
Mature fruit overlay | glabrous with yellow glands | glabrous with yellow glands | glabrescent without glands | stellate pubescent with sparse yellow glands |
Procumbent shrub without an obvious main stem, up to 1.3 m high, branches slender, often base close to the ground and apex rising, sometimes roots growing from nodes when the nodes reaching the ground, nodes without transverse scar. Branchlets slightly 4-angled, densely covered with yellowish-brown stellate indumentum and yellow glands. Leaf with petiole 1.5–2.5 cm long, blade ovate-elliptic to oblong-elliptic, 7.5–16 × 3.5–5.5 cm, base narrowly cuneate and decurrent, margin serrate, apex acuminate, both surfaces subglabrous (with occasional hairs) and densely covered with small yellowish glands. Cymes 2–3 cm in diameter, 4–5-bifurcated, densely covered with stellate hairs and yellow glands; peduncle 4–7 mm. Calyx cup-shaped, 0.6–0.7 mm long, glabrous, sparsely yellow glandular, margin obscurely dentate and apex subtruncate. Corolla light red to light purple, 1.1–1.4 mm long, petals 4, elliptical, glabrous, slightly covered yellow glands outside. Stamens strongly exserted, usually twice as long as corolla. Style nearly as long as stamens, stigma bifid. Fruit white, 1.7–2.2 mm in diam., glabrous with sparsely yellow glands.
Currently, C. yongshunensis has been found in Yongshun and Shimen Counties in Hunan Province, China. It occurs in forests with weak light, at an elevation of 600–680 m. The companion species mainly include Litsea elongata (Wall. ex Nees) Benth. et Hook. f., Camellia costei Levl., Camellia oleifera Abel., Dichroa febrifuga Lour., Maesa japonica (Thunb.) Moritzi. ex Zoll. and Monachosorum henryi Christ.
Flowers in cultivated plants at the Wuhan Botanical Garden appeared between May and July, while fruits were observed in both wild and cultivated plants at the Botanical Garden from October to March of the following year.
The type specimen of this species was collected from Yongshun County, Hunan Province. Thus, we chose the specific epithet “yongshunensis” for this species. Its Chinese name is “永顺紫珠”.
The on-going field investigation only identified few populations within narrow altitude ranges. More fieldwork is still warranted to better understand this taxon. According to the guidelines of IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria (
C. yongshunensis (Paratypes): China. Hunan Province: Shimen County, Hupingshan National Nature Reserve, Xiahuanglian River, growing by the stream in the valley, 603 m alt., 20 December 2023 (fr.), Zhenfa Chen 231202 (HIB, barcode nos. 0250264 & 0250266, CSFI, barcode no. 080033). Hubei Province: Cultivated in Wuhan Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 15 m alt., 20 June 2022 (fl.), W. B. Xu 20230302 (HIB, barcode no. 0233004).
C. luteopunctata: China. Sichuan Province: E. H. Wilson 5100 (IBSC); Emei Mountain, 10 July 1937, Chong-Shu Qian 6024 (PE); Leshan City, Mount Emei, 7 July 1941, Wen-Pei Fang 17200 (PE); Leshan City, Mount Emei, shishungou, 4 November 1952, Ji-Hua Xiong, Xiu-Shi Zhang & Xing-Lin Jiang 33464 (PE); Emei Mountain, near Hongchunping, 1000 m alt., 20 August 1957, Guang-Hui Yang 56774 (PE); Xuyong County, Shuiwei Town, Guandou Village, evergreen broad-leaved forest, 105°38'16"E, 28°16'39"N, 790 m alt., 8 June 2013, Xin-Fen Gao, Yun-Dong Gao & Wen-Bin Ju HGX11767 (CDBI); ibid., growing by the stream, under the forest, 105°23'44"E, 28°09'20"N, 14 September 2013, Wen-Bin Ju & Heng-Ning Deng HGX13448 (CDBI). Yunnan Province: Yongshan County, growing in a ravine, 1400 m alt., 13 July 1932, H. T. Tsai 51132 (LBG); Jinping County, Mengla, Tuomazhai, 900 m alt., 28 June 2009, Yunnan expedition team YN-ET400 (PE).
C. giraldii: China. Hunan Province: Yuanling County, Jiaomuxi, found at the mountain top, 1000 m alt., 23 June 1988, Wuling team 533 (IBSC); Zhijiang County, muyexi, in ravine, 90 m alt., 3 October 1988, Wuling team 1773 (IBSC); Xinning County, Ziyun Mountain, 1150 m alt., 20 October 1962, Lin-Han Liu 15240 (IBSC); Changsha, Lushan, wetland, 400–500 m alt., 2 July 1929, Shu-Zhi Xin S.H.23 (IBSC); Chengbu County, Dalao Mountain, occurring under dense forest at the mountaintop, 1500 m alt., 12 July 1959, Pei-Xiang Tan 63685 (IBSC); Sangzhi County, Shadiping, Luojiatai, valley dense forest with a slope of 20°, 1500 m alt., 22, June 1958, Lin-Han Liu 9056 (PE). Hubei Province: Yingshan County, growing near Miaoergang, subtropical coniferous broad-leaved mixed forest, roadside, 116°02'31.47"E, 30°58'41.70"N, 991 m alt., 10 August 2018, Xin-Xin Zhu et al. ZXX18584 (KUN). Jiangxi Province: Jiujiang County, mingshan, obtained under the broad-leaved forest in the valley, by the stream, 200 m alt., 3 June 1993, Ce-Ming Tan 93192 (PE). Guangdong Province: Ruyuan County, Wuzhi Mountain, Shikeng, 750 m alt., 8 August 1983, Nian-He Xia & Nian Liu 148 (IBSC).
C. longifolia; China. Guangdong Province: Zhaoqing, Dinghu Mountain, near Qingyunshi, 22 July 1979, Hua-Gu Ye 45 (IBSC); Yangshan County, Wuyuan, Yunyong Mountain, in the shade of the valley slopes, 1000 m alt., 6 June 1956, Liang Deng 1313 (PE). Hainan Province: Sanya, Ganshiling Reservoir, 17 October 1987, Ze-Xian Li 2611 (IBSC); Wanning County, xinglong, 14 May 1995, Fu-Wu Xing et al. 6717 (IBSC). Yunnan Province: Xishuangbanna Prefecture, Jinghong City, Mengyang Town, Guanping, by the edge of the forest, 900 m alt., 10 August 1977, Guo-Da Tao 17611 (HITBC); Cangyuan County, Nanla, Mangka, growing in dense forests within valleys, 1050 m alt., 6 July 1974, Yan-Hui Li 12620 (HITBC).
Similar topology of the Bayesian and ML trees, both displaying monophyly of the Callicarpa was observed (Fig.
Morphological comparison between C. luteopunctata (A–D) and C. yongshunensis (E–H) A, E life form showing erect shrub and procumbent shrub B, F fruit branch C, G fruit colour D, H leaf behaviour in winter showing deciduous and evergreen phenotypes (Date: 27 February 2024). Photos by Wen-Bin XU.
We thank Dr. Li Chen from the Public Laboratory and Equipment Platform of Wuhan Botanical Garden for her kind assistance with stereomicroscopic photographing. We are also grateful to the curators and staff in HIB for their making and depositing of the type specimens of C. yongshunensis.
The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.
No ethical statement was reported.
No funding was reported.
WBX: Investigation; Writing – original draft. YLL: Methodology; Writing – review; Funding acquisition. XDL: Investigation. SHW: Project administration; AL: Investigation.
Wen-Bin Xu https://orcid.org/0009-0002-2645-0053
Xiao-Dong Li https://orcid.org/0009-0002-2910-1449
Shu-Hui Wang https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0067-2344
Ang Liu https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6281-7145
Yan-Ling Liu https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8594-0573
All of the data that support the findings of this study are deposited at NCBI (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/).