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Research Article
Four new species of Gesneriaceae from Yunnan, Southwest China
expand article infoBin Yang‡, Hong-Bo Ding‡, Kai-Cong Fu§, Yi-Kai Yuan§, Han-Yu Yang§, Jian-Wu Li‡, Li-Xia Zhang|, Yun-Hong Tan‡
‡ Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Mengla, China
§ Pu’er Traditional Ethnomedicine Institute, Pu’er, China
| Institute of Medicinal Plant,Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinghong, China

Corresponding author: Li-Xia Zhang ( 87050233@qq.com )

Corresponding author: Yun-Hong Tan ( tyh@xtbg.org.cn )

Academic editor: Jie Cai
© 2019 Bin Yang, Hong-Bo Ding, Kai-Cong Fu, Yi-Kai Yuan, Han-Yu Yang, Jian-Wu Li, Li-Xia Zhang, Yun-Hong Tan.
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: Yang B, Ding H-B, Fu K-C, Yuan Y-K, Yang H-Y, Li J-W, Zhang L-X, Tan Y-H (2019) Four new species of Gesneriaceae from Yunnan, Southwest China. In: Cai J, Yu W-B, Zhang T, Li D-Z (Eds) Revealing of the plant diversity in China’s biodiversity hotspots. PhytoKeys 130: 183-203. https://doi.org/10.3897/phytokeys.130.34001
Open Access

Abstract

Four new species of Gesneriaceae from Yunnan, southwest China, are described and illustrated. They are Petrocosmea rhombifolia, Petrocosmea tsaii, Didymocarpus brevipedunculatus, and Henckelia xinpingensis. Diagnostic characters between the new species and their morphologically close relatives are provided. Their distribution, ecology, phenology, and conservation status are also described.

Keywords

China, Gesneriaceae, taxonomy, Petrocosmea, Didymocarpus, Henckelia

Introduction

Gesneriaceae (Lamiales) consists of ca. 150 genera and around 3500 species of perennial herbs, shrubs or small trees, with the main distribution in the tropics and subtropics (Weber et al. 2013; Möller et al. 2016a; Middleton et al. 2018). In China, there are >600 species in 44 genera (Möller et al. 2016a, b; Xu et al. 2017). Major taxonomic changes have been implemented in accordance with phylogenetic evidence affecting the classification of Chinese Gesneriaceae, so many morphologically defined genera have been split or merged, or new genera described (reviewed in Möller et al. 2016a). Southern China harbours most species of Gesneriaceae, and Guangxi, Yunnan, Guizhou and Guangdong are species richness regions in Gesneriaceae (Xu et al. 2017).

During botanical surveys from 2012 to 2018 in Yunnan, several specimens of Gesneriaceae were collected. From the vegetative forms and flower characters, they were identified as members of Petrocosmea Oliv. (Oliver 1887), Didymocarpus Wall. (Wallich 1819), and Henckelia Spreng. (Sprengel 1817), respectively. Petrocosmea has more than 50 known species distributed in China, Vietnam, Thailand and India (Han et al. 2018b); Didymocarpus has approximately 70 species range from northwest India, eastwards through Nepal, Bhutan, northeast India, Myanmar, to southern China, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Thailand, the Malay Peninsula and northwards to Sumatra (Weber and Burtt 1998; Weber et al. 2000; Möller et al. 2016a; Hong et al. 2018); Henckelia has 64 known species found in Sri Lanka, southern and north-eastern India, Nepal, Bhutan, southern China, northern Laos, northern Vietnam and northern Thailand (Weber et al. 2011; Sirimongkol et al. 2019). After thorough comparisons of diagnostic morphological, anatomical features and herbarium specimens available at BM, E, HITBC, K, KUN, NYBG and P with similar taxa of Petrocosmea, Didymocarpus, and Henckelia, and consulting the relevant literature for Petrocosmea (Wang 1985; Wang et al. 1990, 1998; Burtt 1998a; Li and Wang 2004; Wei and Wen 2009; Gou et al. 2010; Middleton and Triboun 2010; Zhao and Shui 2010; Shaw 2011; Xu et al. 2011; Qiu and Liu 2015; Qiu et al. 2011, 2012, 2015a, 2015b; Wang et al. 2013; Zhang et al. 2013; Han et al. 2017, 2018a, 2018b), Didymocarpus (Wang et al. 1998; Burtt 1998b, 1999, 2001; Weber et al. 2000; Hilliard 2001; Li and Wang 2004; Nangngam and Maxwell 2013; Wen et al. 2013; Li and Li 2014; Nangngam and Middleton 2014; Phuong et al. 2014; Li and Wang 2015; Cai et al. 2016; Joe et al. 2016; Hong et al. 2018), and Henckelia (Wang et al. 1998; Weber and Burtt 1998; Burtt 2001; Weber et al. 2011; Middleton et al. 2010; Ranasinghe et al. 2016; Sirimongkol et al. 2019) from China and adjacent regions, it was confirmed that the four species were new to science. Here, they are described and illustrated with photographs and drawings.

Material and methods

Morphological observations were carried out on living plants in the field and greenhouse, as well as dried specimens. All morphological characters were measured under a dissecting microscope and descriptions were made following the terminology presented by Wang 1985 and Wang et al. 1998. Literature studies included all relevant monographs of Petrocosmea, Didymocarpus, and Henckelia, and recently published papers (see introduction), and also similar taxa, i.e. Petrocosmea rosettifolia C. Y. Wu ex H. W. Li (Li 1983, Wang et al. 1998, Zhao and Shui 2010), P. kerrii Craib var. kerrii (Craib 1918, Wang 1985, Wang et al. 1998), P. menglianensis H. W. Li (Li 1983, Wang 1985, Wang et al. 1998), Didymocarpus purpureobracteatus W.W. Smith (Smith 1912, Wang et al. 1998), and Henckelia pumila (D. Don) A. Dietr. (Dietrich 1831, Wang et al. 1998, Weber et al. 2011). Specimens at BM, E, HITBC, K, KUN, NYBG, P, and PE were checked and the images of type specimens were also obtained from the Chinese Virtual Herbarium (CVH, http://www.cvh.ac.cn), KUN (http://kun.kingdonia.org) and JSTOR Global Plants (http://plants.jstor.org/). Species Conservation Assessment was undertaken using the IUCN methodology (IUCN 2012; IUCN Standards and Petitions Subcommittee 2016).

Taxonomic treatments

Petrocosmea rhombifolia Y.H.Tan & H.B.Ding, sp. nov.

urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:60479351-2
Figures 1, 2

Diagnosis

Petrocosmea rhombifolia is similar to P. rosettifolia, but differs from the latter in having rhombic leaf blades (vs. broadly ovate to orbicular or broadly elliptic) and much longer petiole to 15 cm long (vs. to 4 cm long); the flowers have upper white lip (vs. purple-blue flowers throughout), corolla adaxial lip 14–15 × 9–10 mm (vs. ca. 5 mm), abaxial lip 27–28 × 12–14 mm (vs. ca. 7–8 × 6–8 mm), and flowering March-April (vs. October).

Type

CHINA. Yunnan Province: Lancang County, Laba village, 22°36'42.52"N, 99°42'57.10"E, a.s.l. 1900 m, 1 April 2017, Y.H. Tan & H.B. Ding, T0119 (holotype: HITBC!).

Figure 1. 

Petrocosmea rhombifolia Y.H.Tan & H.B.Ding, sp. nov. A, B Habit C, D flower in front view E flower in side view F flower in back view G flower H dissected corolla (showing pistil and stamens) I cyme J calyx in abaxial view K leaves. Photographed by H.B. Ding.

Figure 2. 

Petrocosmea rhombifolia Y.H.Tan & H.B.Ding, sp. nov. A Habit B calyx in adaxial view C leaf blade in abaxial view D pedicel with calyx and pistil E anthers F corolla in front view G dissected corolla. Drawn by Zhen-Meng Yang.

Description

Perennial herb with short rhizomatous stem and crowded fibrous roots. Leaves 14 to 25, all in basal rosette; petioles 0.5–15 cm long, densely white pubescent to sericeous; leaf blades ovate or ovate to rhombic, 1.5–5.3 × 1.3–2.8 cm, rounded or cuneate at base, with nearly entire or slightly repand margins and acute or obtuse apex, densely pubescent to sericeous on both surfaces; lateral veins abaxially conspicuous, 2–3 on each side. Inflorescences 1–flowered, 4–6 cm long; Peduncles 2.5–3.2 cm long, pedicels 1.6–2.0 cm, densely pubescent to sericeous; Bracts 2, opposite, subulate, 2–3 mm. Calyx actinomorphic, equally divided into 5 lobes from base, lobes lanceolate, 4–5 mm, sparsely pubescent inside, densely sericeous outside. Corolla light blue, sparsely pubescent to puberulous outside, sparsely puberulent or subglabrous inside; tube 5–6 mm, sometimes with 2 ovate brown spots inside below the stamens; throat light blue or whitish blue with 2 oblong deep blue blotches; adaxial lip ca. 14–15 × 9–10 mm, semi-orbicular, light blue or whitish blue, distinctly 2-lobed, lobes reflexed, with rounded apex and repand margin; abaxial lip ca. 27–28 × 12–14 mm, blue, 3-lobed to or over the middle, with sub-orbicular to obovate lobes, lobes with rounded apex and repand to slightly crenate margin. Stamens 2, about 6 mm long, adnate to the base of the corolla tube; filaments about 3 mm long, sparsely pubescent; anthers ovate, about 3 mm long, dehiscence poricidal, glabrous, dorsifixed, coherent at apex. Staminodes 3, ca. 2 mm, adnate to the corolla tube at the base, sub-glabrous. Pistil ca. 1.1 cm; ovary densely villous, oblate, ca. 3 mm; style ca. 8 mm, sparsely pubescent near base; stigma capitate. Fruit a short capsule, 8–10 mm long.

Etymology

The new species is named after its rhombic leaf blades.

Vernacular name

Chinese mandarin: ling ye shi hu die (菱叶石蝴蝶).

Phenology

Flowering March-May and fruiting April-June.

Distribution and habitat

Petrocosmea rhombifolia grows on moist rock faces in limestone forest, at elevation ca. 1900 m in Laba, Lancang County.

Conservation status

Petrocosmea rhombifolia has hitherto only been found at its type locality in Laba, Lancang County. There is very limited information about its natural distribution; a further detailed investigation of the same habitats will help to identify additional populations and individuals of this new species. The lack of sufficient data currently does not allow a risk evaluation and the species can be regarded at present as Data Deficient (DD) according to the IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria (IUCN 2012).

Note

Petrocosmea rhombifolia has ovate leaf blades with pubescence on the surfaces that are similar to P. rosettifolia, but mainly different from the leaf blade and flower characters. A comparative list of diagnostic characters of the new species and P. rosettifolia is given in Table 1.

Table 1.
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Morphological comparison between Petrocosmea rhombifolia sp.nov. and P. rosettifolia C. Y. Wu ex H. W. Li.

Characters P. rhombifolium P. rosettifolia
Leaf blade
Shape and size ovate or ovate to rhombic, 1.5–5.3 × 1.3–2.8 cm broadly ovate to orbicular or broadly elliptic, 0.5–4.0 × 0.4–3.0cm
Margin nearly entire or slightly repand entire to crenulate-serrulate toward apex
lateral veins conspicuous, 2–3 pairs inconspicuous
Base rounded or cuneate broadly cuneate to cuneate
Apex acute or obtuse broadly acute
indumentum densely white pubescent to siliceous densely appressed puberulent or sericeous to tomentose
Petiole to 15 cm long to 4 cm long
Cymes 1-flowered 1-flowered
Corolla
Calyx actinomorphic, equally divided into 5 lobes from base actinomorphic, equally divided into 5 lobes from base
colour and indumentum light blue, upper lip white, outside sparsely pubescent to puberulous, inside sparsely puberulent or subglabrous purple-blue throughout, outside sparsely puberulent, inside glabrous
adaxial lip 14–15 × 9–10 mm, distinctly 2-lobed with the two lobes reflexed ca. 5 mm, distinctly 2-lobed
abaxial lip 27–28 × 12–14 mm ca. 8 × 7 mm
Throat whitish light blue or somewhat light blue with 2 oblong deep blue blotches white
Tube 5–6 mm ca. 5 mm
Stamens
filaments ca. 3 mm, sparsely pubescent ca. 3 mm, minutely hispid
anthers ca. 3 mm ca. 1 mm, beakless
Pistil ca. 1.1 cm ca. 1 cm
Ovary oblate, densely villous elliptic-ovoid, appressed puberulent
Style ca. 8 mm, sparsely pubescent near base 5–7 mm, sparsely puberulent near base
Flowering time March to May October

Petrocosmea tsaii Y.H.Tan & JianW.Li, sp. nov.

urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:60479352-2
Figures 3, 4

Diagnosis

Petrocosmea tsaii is similar to P. kerrii var. kerrii and P. menglianensis in having elliptic leaf blade, oblique and rounded leaf base, acute leaf apex, ellipsoid anthers with brevirostrate apex; but it can be easily distinguished from the two similar taxa by its bluish purple corolla (vs. white) and much longer inflorescences. Petrocosmea tsaii also differs from P. kerrii var. kerrii by having actinomorphic calyx (vs. zygomorphic), and differs from P. menglianensis by its leaf blade abaxially densely villous (vs. pubescent along midrib and lateral veins).

Type

CHINA. Yunnan Province: Mengla county, Menglun, Mengxing, 21°49'N, 101°23'E, a.s.l. 1200 m, 13 Sep. 2016, Jian-Wu Li 4577 (holotype: HITBC!).

Description

Perennial herb with short rhizomatous stem. Leaves 8–15, in basal rosette; inner leaves with petioles short or absent, ovate or suborbicular; outer leaves with long petioles, elliptic or ovate to widely ovate; 1.5–10.5 × 1.2–8.2 cm, apex acute to rounded, base rounded to subcordate, sometimes oblique, margin crenate, densely villous on abaxial surfaces, sparsely pubescent to puberulous on adaxial surface; lateral veins 4–10 on either side of midrib, adaxially impressed, abaxially conspicuous; petioles up to 10 cm long, densely white villous. Inflorescences 6.0–14.5 cm long; Peduncles 3.5–11.0 cm long, 2.0–2.5 mm in diam., densely villous and with glandular hairs; bracts 2–3, ovate to broadly ovate, or somewhat leaf like, with 4–5 lateral veins on side, ovate-elliptic, 8–19 × 6–18 mm; cymes usually 3–6(–8)-flowered, hypopodium 0.5–3.5 cm, pedicels 1.2–2.3 cm, villous and with glandular hairs; bracteoles 2, opposite, linear-lanceolate, 3.5–8.3 × 1.5–2 mm. Calyx actinomorphic, equally divided into 5 lobes from base, lobes linear-lanceolate, 6–7 × 1–1.5 mm, internally sparsely with glandular hairs, externally villous and with glandular hairs, margin with 1–3 linear teeth above middle. Corolla 10.5–12 mm long, externally sparsely puberulous to glabrous, internally glabrous; tube 4–4.5 mm; throat dark bluish purple; adaxial lip ca. 7–9 × 10–12 mm, indistinctly 2-lobed with the two lobes reflexed, lobes semi-orbicular, with rounded apex and entire margin, base white; abaxial lip ca. 16–20 × 9–11 mm, 3-lobed to the middle, lobes semi-orbicular, with rounded to obtuse apex, bluish purple. Stamens 2, 4–4.5 mm long, adnate to the base of the corolla tube; anthers adnate face to face; filaments 1.5–2 mm long, with short glandular hairs near base; anther ovoid to ellipsoid, 3–3.5 mm long, with brown capitate-glandular hairs, dorsifixed, apex brevirostrate. Staminodes 2–3, ca. 1 mm, adnate to the corolla tube at the base, linear, glabrous. Pistil 11–12 mm; ovary 3–3.5 mm long, narrowly ovoid, sparsely pubescent and with yellow glandular hairs; style 7.5–9 mm, sparsely with yellow glandular hairs at base, upper part glabrous; stigma capitate. Fruit a short capsule, 10–12 mm long.

Figure 3. 

Petrocosmea tsaii Y.H.Tan & JianW.Li, sp. nov. A, B Habit C leaves D, E inflorescence F flower in front view G flower in back view H flower in side view I dissected flower J calyx in abaxial view K pistil L stamens. Photographed by J.W.Li, Y.H.Tan & H.B.Ding.

Figure 4. 

Petrocosmea tsaii Y.H.Tan & JianW.Li, sp. nov. A Habit B adaxial Leaf surface indumentum C corolla (Dissected) D pedicel with bracteoles, calyx and pistil E pistil F stamens. Drawn by Zhengmeng Yang.

Etymology

The specific epithet commemorates the late Prof. Cai Xitao (Tsai Hse-Tao), who was the founder of Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden (XTBG) and devoted all his life to the study of Chinese plants.

Vernacular name

Chinese mandarin: Cai Shi Shi Hu Die (蔡氏石蝴蝶)

Phenology

Flowering September-October and fruiting October-November.

Distribution and habitat

The species grows on moist rock faces in limestone forests, Mengla County, Yunnan, China.

Conservation status

Due to insufficient field surveys so far, very few details about its natural distribution and population status are currently known. The lack of sufficient data does not allow a risk evaluation and the species can be regarded at present as Data Deficient (DD) according to the IUCN Red List Categories (IUCN 2012).

Note

A comparison of the diagnostic characters of the new species and P. kerrii var. kerrii, P. menglianensis is given in Table 2.

Table 2.
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Morphological comparison among Petrocosmea tsaii sp. nov., Petrocosmea kerrii Craib var. kerrii and Petrocosmea menglianensis H. W. Li.

Characters P. tsaii P. kerrii var. kerrii P. menglianensis
Leaf blade
shape and size elliptic or ovate to widely ovate; 1.5–10.5 × 1.2–8.2 cm elliptic to rhombic-elliptic or ovate, 1.8–13.5 × 1.2–8.5 cm elliptic to elliptic-ovate, 7.5–8.5 × 5–6 cm
margin crenate dentate irregularly dentate
Base sometimes oblique, rounded to subcordate, usually oblique, broadly cuneate to rounded oblique, rounded to cuneate
Apex acute to rounded broadly acute to obtuse, rarely rounded broadly acute to obtuse
indumentums adaxially sparsely pubescent to puberulous, abaxially densely villous adaxially and abaxially densely hirsute to densely puberulent adaxially rust-brown pubescent, abaxially rust-brown pubescent along midrib and lateral veins
Bracts ovate to broadly ovate, or somewhat leaf like, 8–19 × 6–18 mm lanceolate, ca. 2.0 × 0.5 mm subulate to lanceolate, 3–4 × 1.0–1.5 mm
Calyx аctinomorphic zygomorphic actinomorphic
Corolla colour bluish purple white white
Throat of corolla dark bluish purple white with yellow blotches blackish
Filaments 1.5–2.0 mm, with short glandular hairs near base ca. 1.2 mm, puberulent ca. 1 mm, puberulent
Anthers ovoid to ellipsoid, 3.0–3.5 mm long, apex brevirostrate ellipsoid, ca. 3 mm, apex brevirostrate broadly ellipsoid, ca. 3 mm, apex brevirostrate
Ovary sparsely pubescent and with yellow glandular hairs sparsely puberulent minutely villous
Style sparsely with yellow glandular hairs at base sparsely puberulent near base glabrous
Flowering September to October April to May August to October

Didymocarpus brevipedunculatus Y.H.Tan & Bin Yang, sp. nov.

urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:60479353-2
Figures 5, 6

Diagnosis

Didymocarpus brevipedunculatus is similar to D. purpureobracteatus in bracts ovate to orbicular and calyx tubular, but it can be easily distinguished from the latter by its leaf base extremely obliquely cordate (vs. leaf base sometimes oblique, cuneate to cordate), inflorescence gracile, pendulous (vs. erect), inflorescence much shorter than leaf (vs. inflorescence much longer than leaf), peduncles (4.0–5.5 cm vs 4.0–10 cm long), flowers white with purplish to deep red longitudinal stripes (vs. purple to pinkish purple with darker stripes), and peduncles villous with eglandular, multicelluar hairs (vs. glabrous).

Type

CHINA. Yunnan: Ximeng, Mengsuo, grows on rock surfaces along a seasonal waterfall or moist and shade places in evergreen forest, 22°38'04.83"N, 99°35'34.17"E, a.s.l. 1200 m, 8 September 2012, Yun-Hong Tan 6930 (holotype: HITBC! Isotype: HITBC!).

Figure 5. 

Didymocarpus brevipedunculatus Y.H.Tan & Bin Yang, sp. nov. A, B Habit C, D inflorescence E flowers F young capsules G dissected calyx H dissected corolla I bracts J bracteoles. Photographed by Y.H. Tan.

Figure 6. 

Didymocarpus brevipedunculatus Y.H.Tan, sp. nov. A Habit B leaf base in abaxial view C inflorescence D bract in abaxial view E bracteole F flower in front view G dissected corolla H stamens I young capsule J calyx K pistil L stigma. Drawn by Yun-xi Zhu.

Description

Deciduous, perennial, epilithic herb, 30–40 cm tall, stem 4–6 mm in diameter. Dry season juvenile leaves distinct, blades symmetrically ovate, c. 1.5 × 1 cm, with much denser indumentum than when mature. Rainy season stems succulent, erect, green, densely and finely villous with multicellular eglandular hairs; pigment glands absent. Leaves 4–6 arranged in opposite, decussate, anisophyllous pairs; blades asymmetrically ovate, thin, papery when dry, upper surface dull dark green and drying medium brown, densely villous with eglandular, multicellular hairs, lower side pale light green and drying light brown, densely villous with eglandular, multicellular hairs along veins, 10–25 cm long, 6.5–15.5 cm wide, apex attenuate to acuminate, base extremely obliquely cordate, margins serrate, often irregularly so, or doubly serrate, midrib with 9–11 arching secondary veins on each side, distinct on both surfaces, finer venation reticulate; petioles 4.5–12.0 cm long, with indumentum as on the stems. Inflorescence solitary per axil, cymose, gracile, pendulous, 7–12 cm long, villous with eglandular, multicellular hairs, laxly cymose, axes succulent, light green to green; Peduncles 4.0–5.5 cm long, densely villous with eglandular, multicellular hairs; Hypopodium 1.0–2.0 cm long, glabrous or sparsely villous; Pedicels 3–5 mm long, glabrous or sparsely villous. Bracts paired; green to light green, sparsely villous with eglandular, multicellular hairs, orbicular to ovate, 5.5–6.0 mm long and wide. Bracteoles paired, whitish to light green, glabrous or sparsely villous, orbicular to ovate, 4.0–5.5 mm long and wide. Flowers numerous. Calyx campanulate, glabrous, often light green on both side, sometimes purplish outside; tube c. 6 mm long; lobes ovate, subequal to equal, 5(6) lobed, apices obtuse to rounded; 0.5–1.0 mm long. Corolla funnelform, 4.0–4.5 cm long, glabrous, white, inside with 9 purplish to deep red longitudinal stripes, 3 per lobe in the lower lip; tube 3.2–3.5 cm long, gradually widening from the base to the throat, 0.8–1.0 cm wide at base, 1.8–2.0 cm at throat; lobes ovate to suborbicular, broadly rounded; anterior (lower or abaxial) lip 3-lobed, 6–7 mm long, 7–8 mm wide apices rounded, posterior (upper or adaxial) lip 2-lobed 5–6 mm long, 7–8 mm wide, apices rounded. Fertile stamens 2, inserted at c. 2 cm above the base of the corolla; filaments 0.9–1.0 cm long, glabrous; anther locules oblong, c. 2 × 1 mm, tips and bases rounded, white-bearded, cream; Staminodes 3, inserted slightly below the stamens, lateral ones 5 mm long, the other one 3 mm long, glabrous. Disc ring-like, thickened, glabrous, margin entire or slightly lobed, 2–3 mm high, persistent in fruit. Ovary cylindric, slightly stipitate, glabrous, light green, c. 2.5–3.0 cm long, 1 mm wide; style continuous with the top of the ovary, c. 5 mm long, glabrous, whitish or light green; stigma discoid, concave medially, whitish, 1 mm diameter. Capsules cylindric, slightly stipitate, erect, straight, light green, when maturing light brown, 4.5–5 cm long and 2.5 mm wide. Seeds, numerous, elliptic, appendage absent, cell ornamentation straight, cell faces finely verrucate.

Etymology

The new species is named after its axillary relatively short peduncles.

Vernacular

Chinese mandarin: Duan Xu Chang Shuo Ju Tai (短序长蒴苣苔)

Phenology

Flowering August-September and fruiting September-October.

Distribution and habitat

The new species was found in south Yunnan, Ximeng and Cangyuan Counties. It grows on rock surfaces along a seasonal waterfall or in moist and shady places in evergreen forests, altitude 1000–1200 m.

Conservation status

The localities of this new species, in Ximeng and Cangyuan, are both part of protected areas, and a total of more than one hundred individuals were found in the wild; a further inventory is needed to clarify the habitats and populations. At present, the species is therefore assigned a preliminary status of Endangered (EN D) according to the IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria (IUCN 2012).

Note

A comparative list of diagnostic characters of the new species and D. purpureobracteatus is given in Table 3.

Table 3.
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Morphological comparison of Didymocarpus brevipedunculatus and its closely related species.

Characters D. brevipedunculatus D. purpureobracteatus
Shape of leaf Blade asymmetrically ovate, base extremely obliquely cordate, apex attenuate to acuminate symmetrically ovate to elliptic or obovate, base oblique, cuneate, to cordate, apex acute to acuminate
Leaf indumentum upper surface densely villous with eglandular, multicellular hairs, lower side densely villous with eglandular, multicellular hairs along veins adaxially sparsely appressed puberulent to nearly glabrous along veins, sparsely glandular
Petiole 4.5–12.0 cm long, densely villous with eglandular, multicellular hairs 0.3–11.0 cm long, puberulent, sparsely glandular
Bracts orbicular to ovate, green to slightly green, sparely villous with eglandular, multicellular hairs ovate to elliptic-ovate, sometimes connate at the base, galeate, covering calyx when flowering, glabrous
Calyx 6–7mm long, tubular campanulate, glabrous, lobe ovate to semiorbicular 10–12 mm long, tubular campanulate, glabrous, lobes semiorbicular
Inflorescence gracile, pendulous, much shorter than leave erect, much longer than leave
Peduncle 4.0–5.5 cm long 4.0–10.0 cm long
Corolla white, inside with purplish to deep red longitudinal stripes purple to pinkish purple with darker stripes, glabrous, corolla tube funnelform
Filaments 0.9–1 cm long, glabrous ca. 1 cm, glabrous
Staminode three, 1.0–3.0 mm long two, 1.5–3.0 mm long

Henckelia xinpingensis Y.H.Tan & Bin Yang, sp. nov.

urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:60479354-2
Figures 7, 8, 9 (A1–A4)

Diagnosis

Henckelia xinpingensis is similar to H. pumila in having elliptic leaf blades sometimes with purple spots abaxially, appearing brown-green adaxially, and funnel form corolla, but differs in having intensive yellow (vs. white to purple) corollas, stigma undivided or slightly 2-lobed (vs. conspicuous 2-lobed), calyx from base to below the middle (vs. 5-lobed from below to above middle); leaf blade symmetrical, base rounded to cordate (vs. asymmetrical, base oblique) and producing slender stolons.

Type

CHINA. Yunnan Province: Xinping county, Yubaiding, 24°09.32'N, 102°07.71'E, a.s.l. 1500 m, 17 Aug. 2018, Y.H. Tan, B. Yang, H.B. Ding & X.D. Zeng Y0130 (holotype: HITBC!).

Description

Annual herbs, usually producing slender stolons from stem base, leaf axils or occasionally bract axils, stolons 10–25 cm, pubescent. Stems erect, 5–25 cm, pubescent to sparsely pilose. Leaves 4–6, opposite, widely spaced nodes; petiole 0.5–3.5 cm; blade symmetrical, ovate-elliptic to elliptic, 2–15 × 1.2–8.0 cm, herbaceous, puberulous to sparsely pilose, eglandular, abaxially sometimes with purple spots, adaxially appearing brown-green, base rounded to cordate, margin repand to entire, apex acute or obtuse; lateral veins 5–9 on each side of midrib, conspicuous. Cymes 1–4-flowered; Peduncle 0.5–3.5 cm, sparsely pilose; Bracts 2, free, linear to lanceolate, 3–6 mm long. Pedicel 2.5–5.0 cm, sparsely pilose. Calyx 1.2–1.7 cm, narrowly bell-shaped, divided into 5 lobes from base to below the middle; tube 3.5–4 mm; lobes subequal, lanceolate, 12–14 × 2–3 mm, outside sparsely pilose, inside glabrous, margin entire, apex subulate-attenuate. Corolla intensive yellow with two yellow-orange stripes on the abaxial lip, 3.7–4.2 cm long, outside sparsely glandular pilose, inside glabrous; tube narrowly funnelform, 3.4–3.8 × 0.9–1.2 cm; adaxial lip 1.9–2.3 × 0.8–1.0 cm, 2-lobed, abaxial lip 2.5–3.0 × 0.9–1.2 cm, 3-lobed, all lobes semi-orbicular, with rounded apex. Stamens 2, 1.3–1.5 cm long, adnate to the corolla tube below middle; filaments 1.1–1.3 cm long, sparsely puberulent to glabrous, bending in the middle, with knee; anthers fused by entire adaxial surfaces, ca. 3.5 mm, glabrous, dediscence; Staminodes 3, 2.5–6.0 mm. Pistil 2.5–2.8 cm, sparsely puberulent to puberulous, with short glandular hairs near apex; ovary 2.2–2.5cm; style 3–6 mm long, sparsely glandular puberulent. Stigma flabellate, 2–3 mm, undivided or slightly 2-lobed. Capsule sub-erect, 5–10 cm, loculicidal dehiscence .

Figure 7. 

Henckelia xinpingensis Y.H.Tan & Bin Yang, sp. nov. A, B, D Habit C habit (showing stolons) E flower in side view F flower in front view G dissected flower. Photographed by B.Yang.

Figure 8. 

Henckelia xinpingensis Y.H.Tan & Bin Yang, sp. nov. A Habit B calyx lobes C corolla (Dissected) D pedicel with pistil. Drawn by Zheng-meng Yang.

Figure 9. 

Henckelia xinpingensis Y.H.Tan & Bin Yang, sp. nov. (A–D) A, B Habit C flower (side view) D flower (front view); Henckelia pumila (D. Don) A. Dietr. (E–H) E, F habit G, H flower (front view). Photographed by H.B. Ding.

Etymology

The new species is named after its type locality Xinping County.

Vernacular name

Chinese mandarin: Xin Ping Chun Zhu Ju Tai (新平唇柱苣苔).

Phenology

Flowering in August and fruiting from August to September.

Distribution and habitat

This species is only known from Xinping county, but is relatively common there growing in moist areas near stream sides and roadsides under the subtropical broad leaf forests.

Additional specimens examined

(paratypes). CHINA. Yunnan Province: Xinping, Dapingzhang, 102°04.435'E, 24°04.672'N, a.s.l. 580 m, 16 Aug. 2018, Y.H. Tan, B. Yang Y0115 (HITBC!); Ibid., 16 Aug. 2018, Y.H. Tan & B. Yang Y0118 (HITBC!).

Conservation status

According to our field observations, more than ten populations have been observed around an area of 20 hectares and each population of the new species has more than 100 individuals. The species is therefore assigned a preliminary status of Least Concern (LC) according to the IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria (IUCN 2012).

Note

Henckelia xinpingensis has elliptic leaf blades with a pilose indumentum similar to H. pumila. A comparative list of diagnostic characters of the new species and H. pumila is given in Table 4.

Table 4.
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Morphological comparison of Henckelia xinpingensis and its closely related species.

Characters H. xinpingensis H. pumila
Habit producing slender stolons not stolons
Leaf blade symmetrical, base rounded to cordate, ovate-elliptic to elliptic, 2–15 × 1.2–8.0 cm asymmetrical, base oblique, lanceolate to ovate or elliptic, 2–17 × 1.2–5.5(–8.0) cm
Leaf margin repand to entire denticulate to serrulate
Cymes 1–4-flowered (1 or) 2–7 -flowered
Peduncle 0.5–3.5 cm 2.8–10.0 cm
Bracts 2, free, linear to lanceolate, 3–6 × 1–3 mm 2, free, ovate to lanceolate or obovate, 5–18 × 1–4 mm
Pedicel 2.5–5.0 cm 0.3–2.0 cm
Calyx 1.2–1.7 cm, 5-lobed nearly to base or below the middle; tube 0.5–4.0 mm 0.9–1.8 cm, 5-lobed to middle or slightly below; tube 4–10 mm
Calyx lobes subequal, lanceolate, 12–14 × 2–3 mm, apex subulate-attenuate slightly unequal, narrowly triangular to ovate, 4–10 × ca. 2 mm, apex subulate-acuminate, hornlike, spreading
Corolla intensive yellow, outside glandular pilose white to purple, outside puberulent to pilose,
Pistil 2.5–2.8 cm long, with short glandular hairs near apex 2.5–3.8 cm long, glabrous to puberulent
Stigma labellate, 2–3 mm, undivided or slightly 2-lobed flabellate, ca. 3 mm, conspicuous 2-lobed
Capsule 5–10 cm 6–12 cm

Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to Prof. Richard T. Corlett for his constructive suggestions and comments. We are also grateful to Mr. Xiaodong Zeng, Mr. Kaichun Xiong and Yingcai Ni for their help with the fieldwork. We thank Mr. Zhengmeng Yang, Mr. Yunxi Zhu for the illustration, Dr. Xin Hong for providing useful literature, Dr. Mingxu Zhao and Mr. Hailei Zhen for providing the photos. This work was financially supported by Lancang-Mekong Cooperation (LMC) Special Fund (Biodiversity Monitoring and Network Construction along Lancang-Mekong River Basin project) and the CAS 135 program (No. 2017XTBG-F03), and the project of the Southeast Asia biodiversity research institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences (Y4ZK111B01) and the Specific funds for Fourth National Survey on Chinese Materia Medica Resources (GZY-KJS-2018-004) and Ministry of Environmental Protection of the People’s Republic of China Special Fund (Biodiversity conservation 2016HB2096001006) and Major increase or decrease expenditure projects of the central government (2060302) .

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