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Research Article
Polygala qii, a new species of Polygalaceae from limestone landform in Southern Hunan, China
expand article infoAng Liu‡, Jian-jun Zhou§, Xiong Li|, Xun-lin Yu‡, Lei Wu‡
‡ Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha, China
§ Hunan Agriculture and Forestry Industry Survey and Design Institute Co., Ltd, Changsha, China
| Guangxi Forestry Inventory and Planning Institute, Nanning, China

Corresponding author: Xun-lin Yu ( csfuyuxl@163.com )

Corresponding author: Lei Wu ( wuleiibk@163.com )

Academic editor: Bo Li
© 2024 Ang Liu, Jian-jun Zhou, Xiong Li, Xun-lin Yu, Lei Wu.
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: Liu A, Zhou J-j, Li X, Yu X-l, Wu L (2024) Polygala qii, a new species of Polygalaceae from limestone landform in Southern Hunan, China. PhytoKeys 244: 77-87. https://doi.org/10.3897/phytokeys.244.121759
Open Access

Abstract

Polygala qii, a new species, is described and illustrated from limestone landform in southern Hunan, China. The new species resembles P. fallax and P. arillata in flower structure of the plants, but readily differs from the latter two in having erect and shorter inflorescences (0.2–1cm VS 10–15cm VS 7–10cm), and fewer flowers (1–5 flowers VS 10–30 flowers VS 10–20 flowers), and the latter two have a later flowering period (late March to mid-April VS May to August VS May to October). And it is an extremely unique new species that will hibernate in the hot summer of July and August. Following the IUCN Red List Criteria, P. qii is assessed as ‘Data Deficient (DD)’.

Key words

Hunan province, limestone landform, new species, Polygala, taxonomy

Introduction

There are approximately 500 species in the Polygala L. (1753:701) (Polygalaceae), which are almost globally distributed. The Flora of China includes 44 species, of which 21 are endemic to China (Chen et al. 1997; Chen et al. 2008; APG 2016). The roots of some plants in the genus Polygala can be used as medicinal materials, such as P. fallax.

In March 2020, during our investigation in the limestone area of southern Hunan, we discovered a unique species of Polygala plant which they grew in the crevices of dry limestone. The plant is different from all the plants of the Polygala genus recorded in Hunan Province; for example, it is a deciduous shrub, blooms very early (usually in late March), leaves have membranous transparent edges, and fewer but denser flowers on the inflorescence and so on. In August of the same year, when we visited the area again to investigate, we found that this plant had already fallen leaves.

In the following year, we collected more specimens of this species, and through phenological observation and morphological research, we finally confirmed that this is a new species.

Material and methods

The specimens are mainly stored in the Herbarium of Forest Plants in Central South University of Forestry and Technology (CSFI). Morphological observations of the new species were derived from field observations, as well as study of specimens. The conservation status of this new species is based on field observations in accordance with IUCN Red List guidelines (IUCN 2022).

Taxonomic treatment

Polygala qii X.L.Yu, J.J.Zhou & A.Liu, sp. nov.

urn:lsid:ipni.org:names: 77344993-1
Figs 1, 2

Diagnosis

This new species is similar to P. fallax Hemsl. and P. arillata Buch.-Ham. & D. Don, but it differs from the latter two in having erect and shorter inflorescences (0.2–1cm VS 10–15cm VS 7–10cm) and fewer flowers (1–5 flowers VS 10–30 flowers VS 10–20 flowers). Its caruncle is foam, and the latter two are helmeted in shape. Please refer to Fig. 3 and Table 1.

Table 1.
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Comparison of morphological characters among Polygala qii, P. fallax and P. arillata.

Characters Polygala qii sp. nov. P. fallax P. arillata
Plants 0.5–1.5m 1–3m 1–5m
Leaves 5–11 × 2–5cm 8–20 × 4–6.5cm 6.5–14 × 2–2.5cm
Racemes erect drooping drooping
0.2–1cm, to 5cm at fruiting 10–15cm, to 30cm at fruiting 7–10cm, to 30cm at fruiting
1–5 flowers 10–30 flowers (or more) 10–20 flowers (or more)
Flowers yellowish white, apex with purplish red yellow yellow, or apex with orange red
Caruncle foam helmeted helmeted
Flowering period late March to mid-April May to August May to October
Figure 1. 

Polygala qii sp. nov. A habit B plant C plant D branch with flowers E inflorescence F front view of flowers G infructescence H capsules and Seeds. Photographed by Ang Liu.

Figure 2. 

Polygala qii sp. nov. A branches with flowers B top view of flower C side view of flower D anatomical structure of flower, sepals, petals and pistil E longitudinal section of flower F infructescence G capsule H seed. Drawn by PhD Jing Tian.

Figure 3. 

Morphological comparison between Polygala fallax (A1–A3), Polygala qii sp. nov. (B1–B3), Polygala arillata (C1–C3). A1, B1, C1 inflorescence A2, B2, C2 infructescence A3, B3, C3 seeds, the red arrow represents caruncle. C2, C3 photographed by Xin-xin Zhu, others photographed by Ang Liu.

Type

China. Hunan: Yongzhou City, Dao County, Yueyan Forest Farm, in the crevices of dry limestone, elevation ca. 290 m, 25 March 2021, Ang Liu DX01 (Holotype CSFI!, isotype CSFI!, HIB!). Please refer to Fig. 4.

Figure 4. 

Holotype of Polygala qii sp. nov. (Ang Liu DX01, CSFI 076291).

Description

Shrubs, 0.5–1.5m high. Branchlets yellow, sparsely pilose, and the branch bark is cracked into irregular thin scales, especially on the specimens. Leaves alternate, clustered at the top of branchlets. Petiole ca. 1 cm, pubescent. Leaf blade papery, elliptic to oblong elliptic, 5–11 × 2–5cm, with membranous transparent edge, full margin, ciliate, both sides sparsely pubescent, dense along the veins, then gradually glabrous, midvein raised abaxially, depressed adaxially, lateral veins 5 or 6 pairs, apex acuminate or short tail tip, base cuneate or obtuse. Racemes opposite to leaves, with 1–5 flowers, erect or slightly drooping at the apex, densely pubescent, 0.2–1cm long, up to 5cm at fruiting. Pedicel glabrous, ca. 0.5cm long, to 1cm at fruiting. Flowers 1.6–2.3cm. Sepals 5, ciliate, fall off after flower, outer 3 small, unequal in size, upper 1 deep pocket shaped, 0.5cm long, lateral 2 oval, ca. 0.3cm long, inner sepals 2, petal shaped, yellowish white, obliquely obovate, edge rolled in a boat shape, 1.5–2cm, and at right angles to the petals. Petals 3, connate in lower 2/3, yellowish white, with light purplish red at the apex, slightly fleshy; keel longer than lateral petals, apex with multifid appendages, appendages with short stalks at the base, ca. 0.15cm. Stamens 8; filaments ca. 1.5cm, lower 2/3 united, forming an open staminal sheath, adnate with petals; anthers ovoid. Disk fleshy. Ovary round, flattened, ca. 0.4cm, glabrous, style ca. 1.5cm, bent to the top, with knee bending at 2 / 3, and obviously expanded to the apex in a trumpet shape. Capsules green, baccate, broadly reniform or slightly cordate, ca. 1 cm, margin winged, ciliate, apex emarginate, mucronate. Seeds globose, sparsely white pubescent, caruncle foam.

Phenology

Flowering from late March to mid-April; fruiting from late April to early May. What is very special is that this new species enters a dormant period with leaf withering in mid-July.

Etymology

The new species is named after Professor Cheng-jing Qi (CSUFT&CSFI), who has made great contributions to the study of Hunan flora (Qi & Yu, 2002).

Vernacular name

The Chinese name of the new species is ‘石山远志’,and the pronunciation of the Chinese Pinyin is ‘shí shān yuǎn zhì’.

Distribution and habitat

This new species is currently only found in the limestone landform areas of Dao County and Ningyuan County, which usually grows in the crevices of dry limestone.

Additional specimens examined

(Paratypes). China. Hunan: Yongzhou City, Dao County, Yueyan Forest Farm, in the crevices of dry limestone, elevation ca. 250 m, 22 April 2020, Xiong Li &Ang Liu LK0421(CSFI!, HIB!&CSH!); Yongzhou City, Ningyuan County, Jiuyi Mountain, in the crevices of dry limestone, elevation ca. 300 m, 29 April 2020, Jian-jun Zhou NY005(CSFI!). Please refer to Figs 5, 6.

Figure 5. 

Paratype of Polygala qii sp. nov. (Xiong Li & Ang Liu LK0421, CSFI 076288).

Figure 6. 

Paratype of Polygala qii sp. nov. (Jian-jun Zhou NY005, CSFI 080027).

Conservation status

At present, we have only found two populations with a total of about 30 individuals in the limestone areas of Dao County and Ningyuan County. However, there are vast limestone landforms in southern Hunan, and there may be distribution of this new species in these areas. Of course, we need a broader and deeper investigation to confirm that. According to the IUCN red list criteria (IUCN 2022), the conservation status of the new species should be better categorized as ‘Data Deficient (DD)’.

Discussion

We have previously discovered some new species of Primulina in the limestone areas of southern Hunan, such as P. jiangyongensis X. L. Yu & Ming Li (Li et al. 2014), P. porphyrea X. L. Yu & Ming Li (Li and Yu 2015), P. cataractarum X. L. Yu & A. Liu (Ding et al. 2021) and P. gracilipes X. L. Yu & A. Liu (Gong et al. 2022) and so on. The discovery of the new species illustrates the rich plant diversity in limestone landforms of southern Hunan once again, most of which have inconvenient transportation and dangerous terrain, and explains that we still need to conduct more in-depth research in this area.

This unique new species withers its leaves in July and August (Please refer to Fig. 7), which may be to adapt to the high summer temperatures in the limestone areas of southern Hunan. This phenomenon has important reference significance for studying the adaptation of plants to the environment in limestone areas. Especially in areas with well-developed karst landforms, it’s worth making a more profound study.

Figure 7. 

The plants of Polygala qii sp. nov. had fallen leaves in July. Photographed by Jian-Jun Zhou, 21 July 2020.

Acknowledgements

Thanks for PhD Jing Tian’s exquisite preparation of the line drawing and PhD Xin-xin Zhu’s beautiful Photos.

Additional information

Conflict of interest

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Ethical statement

No ethical statement was reported.

Funding

Special Investigation on Wild Orchidaceae Plant Resources in Hunan Province (20200707011).

Author contributions

Investigation: XL, AL, JZ. Writing - original draft: AL. Writing - review and editing: XY, LW.

Author ORCIDs

Ang Liu https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6281-7145

Jian-jun Zhou https://orcid.org/0009-0009-9527-7152

Lei Wu https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1451-7855

Data availability

All of the data that support the findings of this study are available in the main text.

References

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  • Chen SK, Ma HY, John ANP (2008) Polygala. In: Wu ZY, Raven PH (Eds) Flora of China, Vol. 11. Science Press, Beijing & Missouri Botanical Garden Press, St. Louis, 141–158. http://www.iplant.cn/info/Polygala?t=foc
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