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Research Article
The rediscovery and delimitation of Elatostema setulosum W.T.Wang (Urticaceae)
expand article infoLong-Fei Fu‡§, Alexandre K. Monro|, Fang Wen§, Zi-Bing Xin§, Yi-Gang Wei§, Zhi-Xiang Zhang‡
‡ Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, China
§ Guangxi Institute of Botany, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region and Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guilin, China
| Herbarium, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, United Kingdom

Corresponding author: Zhi-Xiang Zhang ( zxzhang@bjfu.edu.cn )

Academic editor: Clifford Morden
© 2019 Long-Fei Fu, Alexandre K. Monro, Fang Wen, Zi-Bing Xin, Yi-Gang Wei, Zhi-Xiang Zhang.
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: Fu L-F, Monro AK, Wen F, Xin Z-B, Wei Y-G, Zhang Z-X (2019) The rediscovery and delimitation of Elatostema setulosum W.T.Wang (Urticaceae). PhytoKeys 126: 79-88. https://doi.org/10.3897/phytokeys.126.35707
Open Access

Abstract

Of the 280 species of Elatostema documented in China, 189 are known only from a single collection. Elatostema setulosum is one such species, having been known only from the type collection for nearly half a century, until recent field investigations in Guangxi. Due to its morphological similarity to E. huanjiangense and E. tetracephalum, we undertook a critical review of all three species using morphological and molecular evidence. Our results suggest that all three names refer to the same species, which based on priority should be known as Elatostema setulosum. We recognize E. huanjiangense and E. tetracephalum as synonyms. A distribution map of E. setulosum and the extinction risk according to the IUCN criteria is provided. After recircumscription, the taxon must be considered as Least Concern (LC).

Keywords

Taxonomy, synonymy, Elatostema huanjiangense, Elatostema tetracephalum, China, Guangxi, Guizhou, Rosales, karst landscapes

Introduction

Elatostema J.R.Forst. & G.Forst. (Urticaceae) is one of two species-rich genera in the Urticaceae, comprising several hundred species of herbs and subshrubs that grow under shade in forests, gorges, stream-sides and caves (Wang 2014, Monro et al. 2018). Elatostema is distributed in tropical and subtropical Africa, Australia, Asia and Oceania, but is absent from the Neotropics. Recent phylogenetic research demonstrates that Elatostema is a monophyletic group that includes most species of Pellionia and excludes Elatostematoides and Procris (Tseng et al. 2019).

The first revision of Chinese Elatostema was undertaken by Wang (1980), at which time 95 species were recognized. This was followed by a second revision in 1995 (Wang and Chen 1995) for Flora Reipublicae Popularis Sinicae, and a third in 2003 (Lin et al. 2003) for the Flora of China, which recognized 137 and 146 Chinese species, respectively. Since then, many new species have been collected and described. Wang (2014) recognized 280 species in the fourth revision of Chinese Elatostema. All revisions of the genus indicate southwestern China as the center of Chinese Elatostema diversity. This is likely because of its widespread karst landscape, with which 184 out of the 280 species are associated (Wang 2014), and its more tropical climate.

Karst landscapes are characterized by exposed rocks with shallow soils deficient in N and P, but with excessive Ca and Mg that are subject to seasonal droughts and an absence of surface water (Hao et al. 2015, Fu et al. 2017a) in which weathered material is exported subterraneously in solution (Bystriakova N. from The Natural History Museum, London, London, United Kingdom, personal communication), and soil is generated at a very slow rate (Pérez-García and Meave 2005). It is also rich in caves, whose cavern entrances are significant sources of Elatostema species diversity and discovery (Monro et al. 2018). Considering the importance of karsts to species discovery and the high frequency of point-endemics amongst karst species (Kong et al. 2017), it is important that this flora is well documented in order for the species conservation to be prioritized effectively and endangered species recognized (Fu et al. 2019a).

Collecting in karst, however, is difficult as there are relatively few roads and the terrain is steeply dissected, the very sharp eroded surfaces making it difficult and dangerous to traverse. As a consequence, there are relatively few collections from such areas and undescribed species are frequently known by only one or two collections. Based on Wang (2014), we find that 2/3 (67%) of species are known from a single collection, and 42% from a single specimen (holotype). Describing a species based on a single collection is problematic as there is no estimate of variation within the species and so there is a risk of applying too many names to the biota (Wei et al. 2011). The over-application of names can make it hard to communicate information about a taxon and to identify specimens. The over-application of names also results in high rates of synonymy that can make taxonomic revision challenging. This is compounded where many taxa in a genus are described from a single collection, as comparisons between taxa become, in effect, comparisons between individual herbarium specimens. Molecular data, however, can provide a means to use paraphyly to identify potentially conspecific groupings (Gao et al. 2012) and to evaluate the phylogenetic informativeness of morphological characters (Scotland et al. 2003).

Elatostema setulosum W.T.Wang was described from a single specimen (holotype) in 1982. This specimen was first identified as Elatostema sessile J.R.Forst. & G.Forst. var. polycephalum Wedd. in 1964, but later raised to specific rank by Wang in 1982. No additional material was collected until June 2018, at which time a population was discovered close to the type locality. In identifying this recently collected material, we observed that it was morphologically very similar to several species, E. pergameneum W.T.Wang, E. huanjiangense W.T.Wang & Y.G.Wei and E. tetracephalum W.T.Wang, Y.G.Wei & F.Wen, the latter considered to be a synonym of E. huanjiangense by Wang (2014). Furthermore, our ongoing research into Chinese Elatostema also discovered two new populations of E. huanjiangense in Guizhou between 2014 and 2017.

Material and methods

In order to clarify the relationship among E. huanjiangense, E. setulosum and E. tetracephalum, we undertook a critical examination and comparison of all collections of these related species based on morphological and molecular evidence.

Sample collection

Fieldtrips in Guangxi and Guizhou were undertaken between 2007 and 2018 to collect specimens of Elatostema huanjiangense, E. pergameneum, E. setulosum and E. tetracephalum which were deposited at BM, IBK, K and PE. For all collections, samples of leaf material were dried in the field using silica gel for use in DNA extraction (Chase and Hills 1991).

Genomic DNA extraction, PCR amplification and sequencing

Two universal barcodes: the nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region and the trnH-psbA intergenic spacer were used to establish hypotheses of evolutionary relationships due to their ability to detect variation at the species level (China Plant BOL Group 2011, Gao et al. 2012). The primers used to amplify the ITS region were those of the China Plant BOL Group (2011). The primers used to amplify the trnH-psbA intergenic spacer were those developed by Kress et al. (2005). Genomic DNA extraction, PCR amplification and sequencing followed Gao et al. (2012) and Tseng et al. (2019).

Taxon sampling

To elucidate phylogenetic relationships between the ingroup taxa, Elatostema huanjiangense, E. pergameneum, E. setulosum and E. tetracephalum, we analyzed three accessions of E. huanjiangense, and one of E. pergameneum, E. setulosum and E. tetracephalum. As outgroups, we selected E. grijsii (Hance) Y.H.Tseng & A.K.Monro and E. scabrum (Benth.) Hallier f. based on the most recent published phylogeny for Elatostema, Elatostematoides and Procris (Tseng et al. 2019). Genbank accession numbers for ITS and trnH-psbA, and voucher specimens information, are listed in Table 1.

Table 1.
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Species name, voucher specimen and accession numbers of trnH-psbA and ITS used in this study (*denoted newly generated sequences).

Speices name Voucher specimen trnH-psbA ITS
Elatostema grijsii (Hance) Y.H.Tseng & A.K.Monro Y.H. Tseng 1167 KC420504 KC420491
Elatostema huanjiangense W.T.Wang & Y.G.Wei Y.G. Wei g124 KP858730 KP858875
Elatostema huanjiangense W.T.Wang & Y.G.Wei A.K. Monro & L.F. Fu 7705 MK656519* MK651815*
Elatostema huanjiangense W.T.Wang & Y.G.Wei A.K. Monro & L.F. Fu 7719 MK656518* MK651816*
Elatostema pergameneum W.T.Wang Y.G.Wei 07298 MK656516* MK651817*
Elatostema scabrum (Benth.) Hallier f. Y.H. Tseng 1219 KC420503 KC420492
Elatostema setulosum W.T.Wang L.F. Fu et al. FLF180606-01 MK656515* MK651813*
Elatostema tetracephalum W.T.Wang, Y.G.Wei & F.Wen A.K. Monro & L.F. Fu 7696 MK656517* MK651814*

Phylogenetic analysis

Sequence data were edited and assembled using the software Lasergene Navigator (DNAStar, Madison, Wisconsin, USA). Edited sequences were then aligned with the MEGA 5.1 (Tamura et al. 2011). The incongruence length difference (ILD) test was implemented in PAUP* 4.0b10 (Swofford 2002) to assess potential incongruence between ITS and trnH-psbA. The p-value (p = 1) suggested no significant incongruences between datasets. Therefore, we reconstructed the phylogenetic trees based on combined datasets. Phylogenetic analyses were performed using maximum parsimony (MP) and Bayesian inference (BI). MP analysis implemented in PAUP* 4.0b10 which followed Fu et al. (2017b). For BI analyses, the best-fit DNA substitution model HKY+I was selected in Modeltest v 2.7 (Posada and Crandall 1998) according to the Akaike Information Criterion (AIC). BI analyses were conducted in MrBayes 3.2.6 (Huelsenbeck and Ronquist 2001) which followed Wu et al. (2013).

Distribution map

Distribution map of Elatostema huanjiangense, E. setulosum and E. tetracephalum was made using the software ArcGIS 10.2 (ESRI, Inc.).

Morphology examination and conservation assessments

A morphological species concept was employed to compare the taxa based on Wei et al. (2011). Specimens were examined using dissecting microscopy followed Fu et al. (2014, 2017c, 2019b). Extinction threat assessments were undertaken using IUCN criteria (IUCN 2012).

Results and discussion

Molecular analysis

The combined matrix had a length of 1036 characters, 715 for ITS and 321 for trnH-psbA. Of the 208 (20.1%) variable characters, 117 (11.3%) were parsimoniously informative, including the indels. The maximum parsimony analysis on the combined matrix resulted in three equally parsimonious trees of 241 steps long, a consistency index (CI) of 0.959, retention index (RI) of 0.938 and homoplasy index (HI) of 0.041. MP and BI analyses have same topology (Fig. 1) showing the phylogenetic relationships between Elatostema huanjiangense, E. pergameneum, E. setulosum and E. tetracephalum. The result suggests E. pergameneum as sister to remaining ingroup taxa, from which it can readily be distinguished morphologically by its leaves narrower (width less than 30 mm) and adaxial surface glabrous (Wang 1982). Secondly, E. setulosum and E. tetracephalum are nested within a strongly supported clade that includes a paraphyletic E. huanjiangense. After consulting the original descriptions and the type specimens of all three species (Wang 1982, Wang and Wei 2007, Wang 2012), we agreed with the decision of Wang (2014) to consider E. tetracephalum as conspecific to E. huanjiangense. We were also unable to trace any obvious morphological differences between E. huanjiangense and E. setulosum, with the exception of leaf pubescence (strigose vs. setulose). Microscope images (Fig. 2) clearly show that the type specimens of both species share the same setulose trichome type. Based on the above, we believe that E. huanjiangense and E. setulosum represent the same species.

Figure 1. 

Maximum parsimony phylogenetic tree based on the combined trnH-psbA and ITS data, showing relationships of Elatostema huanjiangense, E. pergameneum, E. setulosum and E. tetracephalum. Numbers on the branches indicate bootstrap values (≥60%) of the maximum parsimony analysis and the posterior probability (≥0.8) of Bayesian inference analysis.

Figure 2. 

Comparison of type specimens between Elatostema setulosum (A, C–E) and E. huanjiangense (B, F–H): A, B habit C, F stem D, G leaf pubescence E, H pistillate inflorescence.

Taxonomic treatment

Elatostema setulosum W.T.Wang, 1982: 120

Figs 2, 3

Type

CHINA. Guangxi: Tianyang County, Anning Gongshe, Anon. 262 (holotype: IBK![IBK00200113]). = Elatostema huanjiangense W.T.Wang & Y.G.Wei, 2007: 816. Syn. nov. Type: China. Guangxi: Huanjiang County, Mulun, Hongdong, 19 April 2006, Y.G. Wei 06128 (holotype: PE![02050267]). = Elatostema tetracephalum W.T.Wang, Y.G.Wei & F.Wen, 2012: 1100. Syn. nov. Type: China. Guizhou: Huangping County, in forest of earth mount, 20 March 2010, Y.G. Wei & F. Wen 1067 (holotype: PE!, isotype: IBK!).

Description

Perennial herb, terrestrial, dioecious. Stem 50–250 × 2–3 mm, ascending or erect, simple or branched, glabrous. Stipule 2, persistent, 2–2.2 × 0.2 mm, lanceolate-linear, glabrous. Leaves distichous, alternate, sessile or short petiole; laminae 30–150 × 14–60 mm, length:width ratio 2.1–2.5:1, obliquely elliptic, papery; triplinerve or rarely semitriplinerve; abaxial surface glabrous, adaxial surface sparsely setulose; cystoliths densely scattered, bacilliform; base asymmetrical, broader-half rounded or auriculate, narrower-half cuneate; margin crenate; apex shortly acuminate or acuminate. Staminate and pistillate inflorescences not borne on the same stems. Staminate inflorescences paired, axillary, cymiferous, bearing ca. 30 flowers, ca. 10 mm in diam., peduncle 1.6 × 0.4 mm, subglabrous; bracts membranous, linear-lanceolate or lanceolate-linear, 1.2–2.5 × 0.3–1 mm, sparsely ciliate; staminate flower bud ovoid, flowers ca. 1.6 × 1 mm, glabrous, tepals 5, subapical appendage ca. 1 mm, corniculate. Pistillate inflorescences paired, axillary, capitate, bearing ca. 20 flowers, inflorescences with three types: (1) simple capitulum, 1.5 mm in diam., receptacle inconspicuous, bracts ca. 10; (2) composite capitulum, comprised by four 2-branched simple capitulum; (3) simple capitulum, receptacle discoid-oblong, 2–3 × 0.8–2 mm, weakly divided into two lobes, glabrous, subtended by marginal bracts; bracts numerous, triangular, ca. 0.5 × 0.2–0.3 mm, glabrous; bracteoles 2 per flower, subequal, 0.5–1 mm, linear, semitransparent; Pistillate flowers: ovary ovoid, ca. 0.6 mm; achene 6.122–7.99 × 3.891–5.119 mm, length:width ratio 1.56–1.57:1, broadly ellipsoid, with 4 longitudinal ribs and tuberculate, two opposite longitudinal ribs winged.

Additional specimen examined

CHINA. Guangxi: Huanjiang County, Mulun nature reserve, Hongdong, 8 April 2009, Y.G. Wei g124 (IBK!, PE!); Huanjiang County, Mulun nature reserve, Leyi Village, Donglai, 3 May 2011, Y.S. Huang, Y.B. Liao & R.C. Peng y0216 (IBK!); Huanjiang County, Mulun nature reserve, Leyi Village, Donglai, 18 April 2012, W.B. Xu, R.C. Peng & R.C. Hu ML1037 (IBK!); Huanjiang County, Mulun nature reserve, Hongdong, 16 April 2012, L.F. Fu FL004 (IBK!, PE!); Huanjiang County, Chuanshan Town, on the way from Hongdong to Zhonglun, 9 May 2006, Man-Fu Hou 117 (PE!); Tianyang County, Babie Village, Anning Village, 6 June 2018, L.F. Fu, Y.C. Liu & W.J. Xu FLF180606-01 (IBK!); Guizhou: Huangping County, Feiyun gorge, 17 May 2012, Y.H. Tseng & L.F. Fu Zn1217 (IBK!), 8 Nov. 2015, A.K. Monro & L.F. Fu 7696 (IBK!, K!); Shibing County, Yun Tai Mountain, 10 Nov. 2015, A.K. Monro & L.F. Fu 7705 (IBK!, K!); Zhen Yuan County, Tiexi Tourist Park, 10 Nov. 2015, A.K. Monro & L.F. Fu 7719 (IBK!, K!).

Conservation status

An Extinction Threat Assessment was undertaken using the IUCN methodology (2012). Elatostema setulosum is known from five localities in Guangxi (one population) and Guizhou (four populations), China. We estimate that the population of mature individuals is greater than 1000. The given surface area of a polygon including the known localities for this species is greater than 27,000 km2 (Fig. 3); it is also likely that there remain as yet undiscovered populations. For these reasons we assess E. setulosum as Least Concern (LC).

Figure 3. 

Distribution map of Elatostema huanjiangense (circle), E. setulosum (star) and E. tetracephalum (triangle).

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank the staff at BM, IBK, K and PE who provided help for checking specimens. We are also grateful to Mr. Yu-Chun Liu from National Taiwan University and Ms. Wen-Jing Xu from Anhui University for participating in fieldwork. We extend our appreciation to Dr. Shen-Jian Xu from Beijing Forestry University (BFU) for dealing with images and Dr. Hong-Fei Zhuang from BFU for preparing the distribution map. This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (grant number 31570307), Guangxi Natural Science Foundation Program (grant number: 2017GXNSFBA198014) and the STS Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (grant number: KFJ-3W-No1).

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