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Research Article
Salvia penghuana (Lamiaceae), a new species from Guizhou, China
expand article infoFeng-Jin Qiu‡, Deng-Li Yu§, Hong-Bo Lan|, Ming-Tai An‡, Yan-Fei Geng‡, Chun-Lei Xiang, Guo-Xiong Hu‡
‡ Guizhou University, Guiyang, China
§ Management Department of Maolan National Nature Reserve, Libo, China
| Kuankuoshui National Nature Reserve Administration, Zunyi, China
¶ Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, China

Corresponding author: Yan-Fei Geng ( yfgeng@gzu.edu.cn )

Corresponding author: Guo-Xiong Hu ( gxhu@gzu.edu.cn )

Academic editor: Bo Li
© 2024 Feng-Jin Qiu, Deng-Li Yu, Hong-Bo Lan, Ming-Tai An, Yan-Fei Geng, Chun-Lei Xiang, Guo-Xiong Hu.
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: Qiu F-J, Yu D-L, Lan H-B, An M-T, Geng Y-F, Xiang C-L, Hu G-X (2024) Salvia penghuana (Lamiaceae), a new species from Guizhou, China. PhytoKeys 246: 179-187. https://doi.org/10.3897/phytokeys.246.130332
Open Access

Abstract

Salvia penghuana, a new species from Guizhou Province of southwestern China, is described and illustrated. Morphologically, Salvia penghuana is similar to S. filicifolia, but can be easily distinguished from the latter by ovate-lanceolate bracts, purple corolla, and foot-shaped fused lower arms of connective. In addition, S. penhuana is morphologically similar to S. cavaleriei, but differs by having 3–4-pinnate leave, ovate-lanceolate bracts, puberulent calyx, and longer upper arms of connective. Based on the fibril root, small calyx and corolla, and completely reduced posterior thecae, S. penghuana should be placed in section Sobiso of subg. Glutinaria.

Key words

Salvia cavaleriei, Salvia filicifolia, sect. Sobiso, stamen movement, Subg. Glutinaria

Introduction

As currently defined, the genus Salvia L. includes the five traditionally defined genera (Dorystaechas Boiss. & Heldr. ex Benth., Meriandra Benth., Perovskia Kar., Rosmarinus L., and Zhumeria Rech. f. & Wendelbo) and is classified into 11 subgenera (Drew et al. 2017; Hu et al. 2018; Kriebel et al. 2019; Moein et al. 2023). With approximately 1000 species, Salvia is the largest genus within Lamiaceae (Walker et al. 2004; Wei et al. 2015; Hu et al. 2018), and has a subcosmopolitan distribution, but mainly radiates in Mesoamerica/South America, Southwestern Asia and the Mediterranean region, and Eastern Asia (Walker and Sytsma 2007; Wei et al. 2015; Hu et al. 2018). Recently, a large number of new species or hybrids of this genus have been reported around the world (Celep et al. 2020; González-Gallegos et al. 2021, 2023; Ilçim et al. 2023; Jin et al. 2023; Huang et al. 2024).

In East Asia, ca. 100 Salvia species have been recorded, most of which are found in China. To date, 89 native species (Li and Hedge 1994; Hu et al. 2014, 2017; Hu and Peng 2015; Chen et al. 2016; Wang et al. 2016; Xiang et al. 2016; Ding et al. 2019; Wei et al. 2019, 2021; Jin et al. 2023; Huang et al. 2024) and three naturalized species from the New World (viz. S. coccinea Buc’hoz ex Etl., S. reflexa Hornem., and S. tiliifolia Vahl) have been reported in China (Li and Hedge 1994; Hu et al. 2013; Shao et al. 2019). Based on the staminal morphology, Salvia in East Asia had been placed in subg. Salvia, subg. Sclarea (Moench) Benth., and subg. Allagospadonopsis Briq. (Sun and Wu 1977; Murata and Yamazaki 1993). Recently, based on molecular and morphological evidence, Hu et al. (2018, 2020) classified East Asiatic Salvia into two subgenera. Salvia grandifolia (endemic to the Hengduan Mountains) and S. deserta (distributed in Xinjiang of China, and Central Asia) are retained in the subg. Sclarea that includes ca. 120 species mainly from Southwestern Asia, Europe, Mediterranean region (Kriebel et al. 2019; Hu et al. 2020), and the other East Asiatic Salvia species were placed in the newly established subg. Glutinaria (Raf.) G.X.Hu, C.L.Xiang & B.T.Drew (Hu et al. 2018, 2020).

In January 2021, we were attracted by a Salvia population with 3–4-pinnately compound leaves in Libo, southern Guizhou, China. The plants without flowers morphologically resemble S. filicifolia Merr. Another population was later found in Kuankuoshui National Nature Reserve (northern Guizhou, China) in April 2021 and some living materials were collected and cultivated at Guizhou University. After careful observation of the flower morphology of the cultivated plants, we confirmed that these collections are not S. filicifolia, and may represent a new species. Over the next three years, we continued to observe the species in the field and carefully compared it with other species of Salvia. Finally, we confirmed that the new collections represented an undescribed species, and therefore described the new species here.

Materials and methods

Specimens of the potential new species were collected in Libo and Suiyang counties, Guizhou Province, China. Morphological comparisons between the new species and its morphologically similar species (S. cavaleriei and S. filicifolia) were performed based on fresh materials as well as herbarium specimens deposited at GACP and KUN. Ten diagnostic characters involved in leaf, verticillaster, bract, calyx, corolla, stamen, and nutlet were selected to conduct the comparisons (Table 1). Morphological descriptions mainly referred to the Flora of China (Li and Hedge 1994).

Table 1.
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Comparison of morphological characters between Salvia penghuana and its morphologically similar species.

Characters Salvia penghuana Salvia filicifolia Salvia cavaleriei
Leaves 3–4-pinnate 3–4-pinnate simple to 2-pinnate
Verticillasters 6-flowered 6–10-flowered 2–6-flowered
Bracts ovate-lanceolate linear-lanceolate lanceolate
Calyx tube sparsely glandular or puberulent along veins outside, glabrous or apically fine strigose inside sparsely glandular or villous along veins outside, sparsely villous annulate inside glabrous outside, apically fine strigose inside
Corolla color purple yellow or white blue-purple to purple-red or white
The middle lobe of the lower lip of corolla subrectangular obcordate obcordate
Lower arm foot-shaped, fused subulate, separated foot-shaped, fused
Upper arm length ca. 5 mm ca. 5 mm ca. 3 mm
Lower arm length ca. 1.5 mm ca. 1.8 mm ca. 1.5 mm
Nutlets pale brown, ca. 2 mm brown, ca. 1.5 mm black, ca. 0.8 mm

Taxonomy treatment

Salvia penghuana G.X.Hu & C.L.Xiang, sp. nov.

urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:77347687-1
Figs 1, 2

Type

China • Guizhou Province: Libo County, Yaoshan Town, Pobashao, karst forest margin, elevation 790 m, 1 May 2022, G. X. Hu & Y. F. Geng 758 (holotype: GACP!; isotypes: GACP!, KUN!).

Diagnosis

Salvia penghuana is similar to S. filicifolia, but differs in having 6-flowered verticillasters (vs. 6–10-flowered verticillasters), ovate-lanceolate bracts (vs. linear-lanceolate), purple corolla (vs. yellow or white), foot-shaped fused lower arms of connective (vs. subulate separated lower arm). It is also similar to S. cavaleriei, but differs by having 3–4-pinnate leaves (vs. simple to 2-pinnate), ovate-lanceolate bracts (vs. lanceolate), puberulent calyx (vs. glabrous), longer upper arms of connective (ca. 5 mm vs. ca. 3 mm).

Figure 1. 

Salvia penghuana sp. nov. A habit B flower C dissected corolla D dissected calyx E fertile stamens. Drawn by Xiao-Yu Wang from the holotype.

Description

Perennial herbs. Roots fibrous, 5–15 cm long. Stems erect, 10–60 cm tall, finely minutely pubescent or glabrous, simple, or branched from the base. Leaves mostly basal, cauline leaves absent or 1–2 paired; the most basal leaves 1–2-pinnate, usually 1-paired, caducous, petiole 4–10 cm long, terminal leaflets ovate, margin serrate; other basal leaves 3–4-pinnate, petiole 6–12 cm long, leaf blades ovate, 9–16 × 8–13 cm, lobes numerous, elliptic to linear-lanceolate, margin entire or few lobulate, terminal leaflets lanceolate, ca. 7 × 2 mm, adaxially dark green, glabrous or sparsely puberulent, abaxially greenish or purplish-brown, glabrous or villous along veins. Verticillasters 6-flowered, in racemes or panicles; rachis puberulent and glandular pilose. Bracts ovate to lanceolate, 4–6 × 1.5–2.5 mm, apex acuminate, margin entire, glabrous; bracteoles similar to bracts in shape but smaller. Pedicels 2–3 mm long, puberulent. Calyx tubular-campanulate, 4–6 mm long, bilabiate to one-fourth its length, pale purple, sparsely glandular or puberulent along veins outside, glabrous or apically fine strigose inside; upper lip semicircular-triangular, ca. 2 × 3 mm, margin entire; lower lip ca. 2 × 2.5 mm, shallowly 2-toothed, teeth triangular, apex acuminate. Corolla purple, 9–13 mm long, densely puberulent or glandular hairs; corolla tube 6–9 mm long, creamy yellow inside calyx tube, ca. 1 mm wide, densely puberulent annulate, gradually dilated after extending out of the calyx tube, purple, ca. 2 mm wide at the throat, sparsely villous; lips subequal, upper lip oblong, 3–4 × 2–3 mm, apex emarginated; lower lip 3-lobed, middle lobe subrectangular, 3–4 × 2.5–3.6 mm, lateral lobes oval-triangular. Fertile stamens 2, purple, glabrous, filament ca. 1.5 mm long; connective ca. 6.5 mm long, upper arm ca. 5 mm long, the lower arm ca. 1.5 mm long; anterior thecae oblong, ca. 1.5 mm long, fertile, connivent; posterior thecae boot-shaped, sterile, fused. Staminodes 2, 0.7–1.1 mm long. Style exerted slightly, stigmatic lobes unequal, posterior lobe shorter. Nutlets ellipsoid, pale brown, glabrous, ca. 2 mm long.

Figure 2. 

Salvia penghuana sp. nov. A habitat B, C plant D leaf (adaxial surface) E leaf (abaxial surface) F inflorescence G verticillaster H calyx (external view) I calyx (internal view) J–K corolla (side view) L (front view) M fertile stamens. Photographs by Guo-Xiong Hu.

Distribution and habitat

The new species is currently only known from Libo and Suiyang counties, Guizhou Province, China, at elevations between 770 and 1220 m (Fig. 3). Both populations grow in karst evergreen and deciduous broad-leaved mixed forest. The common companion species include Handeliodendron bodinieri (H. Lév.) Rehder, Sarcococca ruscifolia Stapf, Selaginella uncinata (Desv.) Spring, Hedera nepalensis var. sinensis (Tobler) Rehder, Aster ageratoides Turcz., and Ajuga decumbens Thunb.

Figure 3. 

Known geographic distribution of Salvia penghuana.

Phenology

Flowering from April to June, and fruiting from May to June.

Etymology

The specific epithet ‘penghuana’ was selected to honor Prof. Hua Peng, who is a renowned expert on plant taxonomy at the Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China.

Vernacular name

Chinese Mandarin: Péng huá shǔ wěi cǎo (彭华鼠尾草)

Conservation status

Currently, two populations are found in Guizhou, China. The population in Libo is close to Maolan National Nature Reserve, and another population in Suiyang is located in the Kuankuoshui National Nature Reserve. Two populations have no plausible threats, and the area is relatively well-known. Under IUCN criteria, the species was categorized as “Least Concern” (IUCN 2024).

Additional specimens examined

(Paratypes). China • Guizhou: Suiyang County, Kuankuo Town, Honghe village, elevation 1182 m, 4 May 2024. W. Wu & L. Chen sy01 (GACP) • Guizhou Province: Libo County, Yaoshan Town, Pobashao, karst forest margin, elevation 790 m, 1 May 2023, G. X. Hu & W. Wu 779.

Notes

Based on molecular and morphological evidences, Hu et al. (2018) established the subg. Glutinaria, of which eight sections were recognized. Sect. Sobiso (Raf.) G.X.Hu, A.Takano & B.T.Drew is characterized by fibril roots, small calyx (4–7 mm), small corolla (5–10 mm), and completely reduced posterior thecae. Salvia penghuana has these synapomorphies and therefore should be included in this section. Within sect. Sobiso, two lineages were recognized. The Salvia chinensis group mainly consists of species distributed to China and a total of 17 species were reported (Hu et al. 2018; Wei et al. 2019). This group is characterized by the stamen movement whereby the upper connective arms bend downward from the upper lips at early anthesis to the middle lobe of the lower corolla lips at the end of flowering (Hu et al. 2018). This stamen movement is considered to be a diagnostic between the S. chinensis group and S. lutescens group endemic to Japan and Taiwan Island. A similar phenomenon is also observed in this new species, so S. penghuana should be placed in the S. chinensis group.

Acknowledgments

We would like to express our gratitude to Xiao-Yu Wang for the line drawings of the new species, Rong-Rong Yan, Wei Wu, and Lang Chen for their help during the fieldwork.

Additional information

Conflict of interest

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Ethical statement

No ethical statement was reported.

Funding

This research was funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (32060048, 32260099), and the Natural Science Foundation of Guizhou Province (Qiankehejichu-ZK [2021] 091, Qiankehezhongyindi [2023] 029).

Author contributions

Conceptualization: GXH. Formal analysis: GXH, FJQ, YFG, CLX. Resources: DLY, HBL, MTA, GXH. Writing-original draft: FJQ, DLY, HBL, YFG, GXH. Writing-review and editing: GXH, CLX. Funding acquisition: MTA, GXH, YFG.

Author ORCIDs

Feng-Jin Qiu https://orcid.org/0009-0005-2909-7488

Deng-Li Yu https://orcid.org/0009-0005-3206-6383

Hong-Bo Lan https://orcid.org/0009-0007-1715-7687

Ming-Tai An https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3886-0287

Yan-Fei Geng https://orcid.org/0009-0005-4160-4497

Chun-Lei Xiang https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8775-6967

Guo-Xiong Hu https://orcid.org/0009-0007-6983-0626

Data availability

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

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