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Research Article
Sedum formosanum subsp. miyakojimense (Crassulaceae), a new subspecies from Miyako-jima Island of the Ryukyu Islands, Japan
expand article infoTakuro Ito‡§, Chih-Chieh Yu|, Masatsugu Yokota, Goro Kokubugata‡
‡ National Museum of Nature and Science, Ibaraki, Japan
§ Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Yunnan, China
¶ University of the Ryukyus, Okinawa, Japan

Corresponding author: Takuro Ito ( 896wfbt5@gmail.com )

Academic editor: Yasen Mutafchiev
© 2020 Takuro Ito, Chih-Chieh Yu, Masatsugu Yokota, Goro Kokubugata.
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: Ito T, Yu C-C, Yokota M, Kokubugata G (2020) Sedum formosanum subsp. miyakojimense (Crassulaceae), a new subspecies from Miyako-jima Island of the Ryukyu Islands, Japan. PhytoKeys 148: 51-70. https://doi.org/10.3897/phytokeys.148.48957
Open Access

Abstract

We re-examined the taxonomic status of plants treated as Sedum formosanum (Crassulaceae) from Miyako-jima Island of the Ryukyu Islands, Japan, using morphological comparison and molecular phylogenetic analyses with related species. In morphology, plants from Miyako-jima Island bore a close resemblance to the other plants of S. formosanum, but differed in being perennial, polycarpic, and having lateral axillary branches. Molecular analyses based on ITS of nrDNA and six regions of cpDNA sequencing indicated that the Miyako-jima plants formed a distinct subclade. This subclade was part of a polytomy with three other subclades comprising nine taxa endemic to Taiwan and S. formosanum from other areas, including the type locality. Therefore, we propose and describe the Miyako-jima plants as a new subspecies, Sedum formosanum subsp. miyakojimense.

Keywords

Miyako Islands, phylogeny, stone crop, succulent plants, taxonomy

Introduction

The genus Sedum L. (Crassulaceae) comprises about 470 succulent herbaceous species (Thiede and Eggli 2007). Species within this genus are widely distributed in the Northern Hemisphere, and are most diverse in the Mediterranean Sea, Central America, the Himalayas, and East Asia (Stephenson 1994; Thiede and Eggli 2007). A previous phylogenetic study indicated that Sedum is a polyphyletic group within seven American genera (Carrillo-Reyes et al. 2009). However, in East Asia, Sedum has been shown to be monophyletic (Mayuzumi and Ohba 2004; Carrillo-Reyes et al. 2009). The Flora of China (Fu and Ohba 2001) divides East Asian Sedum species into three sections (sects.); Sedum, Oreades (Fröderström) K.T. Fu, and Filipes (Fröderström) S.H. Fu. Section Sedum is distinguished from sects. Oreades and Filipes by adaxially gibbous carpels and follicles, and sect. Oreades is differentiated from sect. Filipes by the absence of spurred leaves at the base. Additionally, species of sect. Oreades generally have yellow or purple-red (rarely red) petals, whereas members of sect. Filipes have white or reddish purple (rarely yellow) petals (Fu and Ohba 2001). Seventeen species of Sedum are reported from Japan, including four subspecies and four varieties within sect. Sedum, and one species within sect. Filipes (Ohba 2001).

Sedum formosanum N. E. Brown, described based on a type specimen collected from Taiwan (Brown 1885), occurs on rocky seashore slopes in the southern part of Kyushu in the Ryukyu Islands of Japan, in Taiwan, and on Batan Island in the Philippines (Hatusima 1975; Lin 1999; Ohba 2001; Hotta 2013; Shiuchi and Hotta 2015; Ryukyu Plant Research Group 2018). Sedum formosanum, a monocarpic biennial herb, is one of the few species of East Asian Sedum characterized by a trichotomous branching form (Ohba 2001). In Japan, populations of S. formosanum are scattered on the Ryukyu Islands (the Ryukyus), which comprise approximately 140 islands in a 1,300-km-long stretch between Kyushu and Taiwan (Fig. 1). Owing to its scarcity, this species is classified as ‘Near Threatened’ (NT) on the Red List of Threatened Species of Japan (Japanese Ministry of the Environment 2019). However, accurate identification of Sedum species can be hindered by high morphological similarity and plasticity. Therefore, there is a lack of clarity in the taxonomic identity of S. formosanum (Ito et al. 2017a). In fact, Sedum plants distributed on the Danjo Islands, Japan, which had historically been treated as S. formosanum, were recently described as a distinct taxon, S. danjoense Takuro Ito, H. Nakanishi & G. Kokub. (Ito et al. 2017a).

Based on previous field surveys, we noted that plants treated as S. formosanum on Miyako-jima of the Ryukyus differed morphologically from other populations. In this study, we conducted morphological comparisons and molecular phylogenetic analyses to elucidate the taxonomic status of plants treated as S. formosanum on Miyako-jima Island.

Figure 1. 

Map showing the location of Miyakojima Island and the adjacent area. The red circle indicates location of Miyako-jima Island. The gray circle indicates the others sample localities of S. formosanum (see Table 2 for abbreviations for collection localities).

Materials and methods

DNA Sample collection

The plants treated as S. formosanum are only known from one locality on Miyako-jima Island. We collected two individuals of the plants from the island for DNA samples. To clarify the phylogenetic position of S. formosanum growing on Miyako-jima Island, we utilized ITS (Internal Transcribed Spacer region of nuclear ribosomal DNA) sequences of 50 taxa (72 accessions) of Sedum in Asia including S. formosanum from 20 localities in Kyushu, the Ryukyus, Taiwan and the Philippines as ingroup reported by previous study (Mayuzumi and Ohba 2004; Ito et al. 2014, 2017a, 2017b) (Tables 1, 2). Additionally, we sequenced one species of the eastern Asian species, S. emarginatum (Table 1). Following previously reported phylogenetic study of Crassulaceae (Mayuzumi and Ohba 2004), Aeonium castello-paivae Bolle, A. gomerense Praeger, A. lancerottense Praeger, A. viscatum Bolle, and Greenovia aizoon Bolle, which were collected by Mort et al. (2002) and stored in GenBank were selected as outgroups (Table 1). In total, 80 operational taxonomic units (OTUs) were included in our molecular phylogenetic analysis based on ITS (Tables 1, 2). Subsequently, we conducted molecular phylogenetic analysis based on six cpDNA (Chloroplast DNA) regions with S. formosanum and its close relatives to clarify the detailed phylogenetic relationships. Following Ito et al. (2017b), nine Taiwanese taxa were selected as ingroup, S. alfredii Hance, and S. sekiteiense Yamam. and S. tricarpum Makino were selected as outgroups (Table 3). In total, 27 OTUs were included in our molecular phylogenetic analysis based on cpDNA (Tables 2, 3). Taxonomic treatments tentatively followed Ohba (2001) and Ito et al. (2018) for Japanese taxa, Lin (1999) and Lu et al. (2019) for Taiwanese taxa, and Fu and Ohba (2001) for Chinese taxa. Voucher specimens for our collections were primarily deposited in the herbarium of the National Museum of Nature and Science, Japan (TNS).

Table 1.
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Plant materials of 53 accessions of eastern Asian Sedum taxa and five outgroup taxa with their collection locality, voucher information, and accession numbers of ITS sequences.

Taxon Locality Voucher (Herbarium) Accession No. Taxon Locality Voucher (Herbarium) Accession No.
S. actinocarpum Taiwan TI 1749 (TNS) 1LC229265 S. polytrichoides ssp. polytrichoides Japan TI 2247 (TNS) 1LC229252
S. alfredii China GK 17190 (IBSC) 2AB930259 S. polytrichoides ssp. yabeanum var. yabeanum Japan TI 396 (TNS) 2AB906490
S. arisanense Taiwan TI 1836 (TNS) 1LC229272 S. polytrichoides ssp. yabeanum var. setouchiense Japan TI 2298 (TNS) 1LC229253
S. boninense Japan TI 2371 (TNS) 1LC229242 S. rupifragum Japan TI 2070 (TNS) 1LC229254
S. bulbiferum Japan TI 416 (TNS) 1LC229234 S. sarmentosum China TI 978 (TNS) 1LC229255
S. brachyrinchum Taiwan TI 3118 (TNS) 1LC229277 S. satumense Japan TI 2295 (TNS) 1LC229256
S. danjoense Japan TI 3658 (TNS) 3LC260127 S. sekiteiense Taiwan TI 1456 (TNS) 1LC229295
S. emarginatum China TI 1062 (TNS) LC530833 S. subtile Japan TI 2259 (TNS) 1LC229257
S. erici-magnusii China TI 2077 (TNS) 1LC229235 S. taiwanalpinum Taiwan TI 1823 (TNS) 1LC229278
S. hakonense Japan TI 623 (TNS) 2AB930278 S. taiwanianum Taiwan TI 2523 (TNS) 1LC229296
S. hangzhouense China TI 2604 (TNS) 3LC260130 S. tarokoense Taiwan. TI 2025 (TNS) 1LC229298
S. japonicum ssp. japonicum var. japonicum Japan TI 723 (TNS) 1LC229237 S. tetractinum China TI 3623 (TNS) 3LC260135
S. japonicum ssp. japonicum var. senanense Japan TI 2200 (TNS) 1LC229238 S. tianmushanense China LP 67 (TNS) 1LC229261
S. japonicum ssp. oryzifolium var. oryzifolium Japan TI 2285 (TNS) 1LC229239 S. tosaense Japan TI 655 (TNS) 1LC229258
S. japonicum ssp. oryzifolium var. pumilum Japan. TI 2287 (TNS) 1LC229240 S. triactina Nepal TI 9596091 (TI) 4AB088629
S. jiulungshanense China CMQ 76 (TNS) 1LC229243 S. triangulosepalum Taiwan TI 2508 (TNS) 1LC229299
S. kiangnanense China TI 1030 (TNS) 1LC229244 S. tricarpum Japan TI 2269 (TNS) 1LC229259
S. kwanwuense Taiwan TI 2440 (TNS) 1LC229293 China TI 3597 (TNS) 3LC260134
S. lineare Japan HU 667 (TNS) 1LC229245 S. trullipetalum Nepal TI 9420132 (TI) 4AB088630
S. lungtsuanense China TI 3563 (TNS) 3LC260131 S. truncastigmum Taiwan TI 2766 (TNS) 1LC229305
S. makinoi Japan TI 2325 (TNS) 1LC229246 S. uniflorum Japan TI 447 (TNS) 1LC229241
S. mexicanum Japan TI 647 (TNS) 1LC229247 S. zentaro-tashiroi Japan TI 355 (TNS) 2AB906491
S. microsepalum Taiwan TI 2771 (TNS) 1LC229282 Sedum sp. China JP 404 (TNS) 1LC229262
S. morrisonense Taiwan TI 2348 (TNS) 1LC229289
S. multicaule China TI 625 (TNS) 1LC229248 Outgroup
S. nokoense Taiwan TI 3196 (TNS) 1LC229294 Aeonium castello-paivae Canary MEM 1519 (WS) 5AY082236
S. nagasakianum Japan TI 2064 (TNS) 1LC229249 Aeonium gomerense Canary MEM 1454 (WS) 5AY082242
S. oligospermum China CMQ 74 (TNS) 1LC229250 Aeonium lancerottense Canary MEM 1518 (WS) 5AY082143
S. oreades Nepal TI 9420140 (TI) 4AB088632 Aeonium viscatum Canary MEM 1432 (WS) 5AY082154
S. polytrichoides ssp. polytrichoides China TI 1057 (TNS) 1LC229251 Greenovia aizoon Canary MEM 1425 (WS) 5AY082112

Reported by 1Ito et al. (2017b), 2Ito et al. (2014), 3Ito et al. (2017a), 4Mayuzumi and Ohba (2004) and 5Mort et al. (2002).
Table 2.
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Plant materials of Sedum formosanum with their collection locality, voucher information, and accession numbers of ITS and cpDNA sequences.

Abbreviation Locality Voucher (Herbarium) nrDNA cpDNA
ITS matK-trnK ndhA psbM-ycf6 rpS16 trnD-psbM trnL-F
P-BTN Philippines: Batanes, Batan Isl. GK 15715 (TNS) 1AB930273 3LC258201 3LC229400 3LC258337 3LC229468 3LC258269 3LC229536
K-MNS Japan: Kyushu, Minami-satsuma. GK 16768 (TNS) 1AB930262 3LC258200 3LC229399 3LC258336 3LC229467 3LC258268 3LC229535
K-MNO Japan: Kyushu, Kagoshima, Minami-Osumi. TI 3238 (TNS) 2LC260123 – – – – – –
K-ISO Japan: Kyushu, Kagoshima, Mt. Isoma. TI 2296 (TNS) 2LC260124 – – – – – –
K-SKK Japan: Kyushu, Kagoshima, Shimo-Koshiki Isl. TI 3200 (TNS) 2LC260125 – – – – – –
K-KUM Japan: Kyushu, Kumamoto, Reihoku. TI 637 (TNS) 2LC260126 – – – – – –
R-IHY Japan: Ryukyus, Iheya Isl. GK 10726 (TNS) 1AB930267 3LC258193 3LC229392 3LC258329 3LC229460 3LC258261 3LC229528
R-ISG Japan: Ryukyus, Ishigaki Isl. GK 11775 (TNS) 1AB906474 3LC258194 3LC229393 3LC258330 3LC229461 3LC258262 3LC229529
R-IZN Japan: Ryukyus, Izena Isl. GK 12224 (TNS) 1AB930266 3LC258195 3LC229394 3LC258331 3LC229462 3LC258263 3LC229530
R-KUM Japan: Ryukyus, Kume Isl. GK 12755 (TNS) 1AB930269 3LC258196 3LC229395 3LC258332 3LC229463 3LC258264 3LC229531
R-TNK Japan: Ryukyus, Tonaki Isl. GK 13049 (TNS) 1AB930268 3LC258197 3LC229396 3LC258333 3LC229464 3LC258265 3LC229532
R-TNG Japan: Ryukyus, Tanegashima Isl. GK 15602 (TNS) 1AB930265 3LC258198 3LC229397 3LC258334 3LC229465 3LC258266 3LC229533
R-AMM Japan: Ryukyus, Amami Isl. GK 16712 (TNS) 1AB930264 3LC258199 3LC229398 3LC258335 3LC229466 3LC258267 3LC229534
R-IRO Japan: Ryukyus, Iriomote Isl. TI 598 (TNS) 1AB930270 – – – – – –
R-MYK1 Japan: Ryukyus, Miyako-jima Isl. TI 1115 (TNS) LC530813 LC530834 LC530836 LC530838 LC530840 LC530842 LC530844
R-MYK2 Japan: Ryukyus, Miyako-jima Isl. TI 1120 (TNS) LC530814 LC530835 LC530837 LC530839 LC530841 LC530843 LC530845
R-OKE Japan: Ryukyu, Kagoshima, Okinoerabu Isl. TI 2611 (TNS) 2LC260128 – – – – – –
R-YAK Japan: Ryukyu, kagoshima, Yakushima Isl. TI 2648 (TNS) 2LC260129 – – – – – –
T-LNY Taiwan: Lanyu, Lanyu Isl. GK 6132 (TNS) 1AB930271 3LC258202 3LC229401 3LC258338 3LC229469 3LC258270 3LC229537
T-NTP Taiwan: New Taipei. GK 16446 (TNS) 1AB930272 3LC258203 3LC229402 3LC258339 3LC229470 3LC258271 3LC229538
T-GUS Taiwan: Yilan, Gueishan Isl. TI 1260 (TNS) 3LC229279 3LC258204 3LC229403 3LC258340 3LC229471 3LC258272 3LC229539
T-PNT Taiwan: Pingtung, Sheding. TI 1921 (TNS) 3LC229280 3LC258205 3LC229404 3LC258341 3LC229472 3LC258273 3LC229540

Reported by 1Ito et al. (2014), 2Ito et al. (2017a), 3Ito et al. (2017b).
Table 3.
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Plant materials of Nine Taiwanese Sedum species and three outgroups which are closely relatives of S. formosanum with their collection locality, voucher information, and accession numbers of cpDNA sequences reported by Ito et al. (2017b).

Taxon Locality Voucher (Herbarium) cpDNA
matK-trnK ndhA psbM-ycf6 rpS16 trnD-psbM trnL-F
S. actinocarpum Taiwan TI 1749 (TNS) LC258179 LC229378 LC258315 LC229446 LC258247 LC229514
S. arisanense Taiwan TI 1836 (TNS) LC258186 LC229385 LC258322 LC229453 LC258254 LC229521
S. brachyrinchum Taiwan TI 3118 (TNS) LC258191 LC229390 LC258327 LC229458 LC258259 LC229526
S. kwanwuense Taiwan TI 2440 (TNS) LC258218 LC229417 LC258354 LC229485 LC258286 LC229553
S. microsepalum Taiwan TI 2771 (TNS) LC258207 LC229406 LC258343 LC229474 LC258275 LC229542
S. nokoense Taiwan TI 3196 (TNS) LC258219 LC229418 LC258355 LC229486 LC258287 LC229554
S. taiwanalpinum Taiwan TI1823 (TNS) LC258192 LC229391 LC258328 LC229459 LC258260 LC229527
S. tarokoense Taiwan TI2025 (TNS) LC258223 LC229422 LC258359 LC229490 LC258291 LC229558
S. triangulosepalum Taiwan TI2508 (TNS) LC258224 LC229423 LC258360 LC229491 LC258292 LC229559
Outgroup
S. alfredii China GK 17190 (TNS) LC258164 LC229363 LC258300 LC229431 LC258232 LC229499
S. sekiteiense Taiwan TI1456 (TNS) LC258220 LC229419 LC258356 LC229487 LC258288 LC229555
S. tricarpum Japan TI2269 (TNS) LC258175 LC229374 LC258311 LC229442 LC258243 LC229510

DNA extraction, PCR amplification, and sequencing

DNA was extracted from dried leaves using a DNeasy Plant Mini Kit (Qiagen, Valencia, CA), in accordance with the manufacturer’s protocols. The ITS region containing the ITS1, 5.8S rDNA, and ITS2 and six regions of cpDNA (matK-trnK, ndhA, psbM-ycf6, rpS16, trnD-psbM and trnL-F) sequences were amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with an iCycler (Bio-Rad, Hercules, CA, USA). The ITS and six regions of cpDNA sequences were amplified using EmeraldAmp PCR Master Mix dye (Takara, Otsu, Japan) and the following forward and reverse primers, respectively: ITS, primers ITS1 and ITS4 (White et al. 1990); matK-trnK intron primers matKAF and trnK2R; ndhA intron, primers ndh×1 and ndh×2 (Shaw et al. 2007); psbM-ycf6 intron, primers psbMR and ycf6F; rpS16 intron, primers rpS16F and rpS16R; trnD-psbM intron, primers psbMF and trnD (Shaw et al., 2005); and trnL-F, primers trnLc and trnFf (Taberlet et al. 1991) by an iCycler (Bio-Rad, Hercules, CA). The PCR profile consisted of an initial 3 min at 94°C followed by 35 cycles of 30 s at 94°C, 30 s at 50°C for the ITS sequence or 55°C for the cpDNA sequence, and 90 s at 72°C. The PCR product were purified by ExoStar clean-up kit (USB, Cleveland, OH). Cycle sequencing was performed using a BigDye Terminator Cycle Sequencing Kit ver. 3.1 (Applied Biosystems, Foster City, CA) and the PCR primers mentioned above for the ITS and cpDNA sequences. The Sanger sequencing products were then purified by ethanol precipitation. Automated sequencing was carried out with an Applied Biosystems 3130xl Genetic Analyzer. The electropherograms were assembled using ATGC ver. 6 (GENETYX, Tokyo, Japan). The sequence data obtained in this study were deposited in the DDBJ/EMBL/GenBank database (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/gquery/).

Phylogenetic analysis using ITS and cpDNA sequences

The ITS and cpDNA sequences were aligned using ClustalW 1.8 (Thompson et al. 1994) and then adjusted manually. Phylogenetic analyses were conducted with a Bayesian approach using MrBayes 3.1.2 (Ronquist and Huelsenbeck 2003) and maximum-likelihood (ML) phylogenetic analysis using RAxML (Stamatakis 2014). In the Bayesian phylogenetic analysis, we used Akaike’s Information Criterion (AIC) implemented in MrModeltest 2.2 (Nylander 2004) to obtain an appropriate evolutionary model of nucleotide substitutions. And then we performed two separate runs of Metropolis-coupled Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMCMC) analysis, each with a random starting tree and four chains (one cold and three hot) based on the selected model. The MCMCMC length was one million generations, and the chain was sampled every one hundredth generation from the cold chain. The first 2,500 sample trees (25% of the total 10,000 sample trees) were discarded as burn-in after checking that the average standard deviation of split frequencies (ASDSF) reached a stationary state at < 0.01 thereafter. A 50% majority consensus tree of the output tree file from MrBayes was generated using FigTree ver. 1.3.1 (Rambaut 2009). The ML phylogenetic analyses were implemented in RAxML 8 (Stamatakis 2014) with a GTRGAMMA substitution model. The ML bootstrap proportions (BPs) and trees were obtained by simultaneously running rapid bootstrapping with 1,000 iterations followed by a search for the most likely tree.

Intraspecific morphological comparison

The plants known as S. formosanum from Miyako-jima Island (T. Ito 1115, 1120, 2402 and 2408, TNS) were used for morphological comparisons. Herbarium specimens of S. formosanum deposited in the Kagoshima University Museum (KAG), the University of the Ryukyus (RYU), the National Museum of Nature and Science (TNS), the National Taiwan University (TAI) and the Taiwan Forestry Research Institute (TAIF) were examined. By field survey, the phenotypic plasticity of leaf shape in response to environmental changes was observed. Therefore, we also have cultivated the plants from Miyako-jima Island and from Taiwan, where the type locality of the species is, in Tsukuba Botanical Garden to compare their leaf shape and life cycle during 2015–2017.

Results and discussion

Phylogenetic analyses using ITS and cpDNA

We used 80 operational taxonomic units (OTUs), including 75 as ingroup accessions and 5 as outgroup accessions in the Bayesian and ML analyses based on ITS sequences (Tables 1, 2). Following alignment, we obtained a matrix of 629 base pairs (bp) and selected GTR+I+G for the Bayesian analysis. The 50% majority rule consensus tree of all post burn-in trees is shown with Bayesian posterior probabilities (PPs) in Fig. 2A. The topology of the ML tree was highly compatible with that of the Bayesian tree (Fig. 2A). In both the Bayesian and ML analyses based on ITS sequences, S. formosanum and nine taxa endemic to Taiwan formed a well-supported clade (PP/BS = 1.00/93). Within this clade, four subclades that formed a polytomy were recognized: nine taxa endemic to Taiwan (0.87/67, Clade Al), S. formosanum from Miyako-jima Island (1.00/100, Clade Bl), S. formosanum from Izena Island and Iheya Island (1.00/100, Clade Cl-l), and S. formosanum from 18 accessions from Japan (excluding Miyako-jima Island, Iheya Island, and Izena Island), Taiwan, and the Philippines (0.98/78, Clade Cl-ll).

Figure 2. 

Bayesian phylogenetic tree based on ITS sequences for Eastern Asian Sedum (A), and Bayesian phylogenetic tree based on cpDNA for sequences S. formosanum and its closely relatives (B). The topology of the maximum likelihood (ML) tree was highly compatible with the Bayesian tree. Bayesian posterior probabilities (PPs: left) and bootstrap percentages from ML analysis (BP: right) are shown (See Tables 1, 2 and 3 for the abbreviations of localities).

We used 29 OTUs, including 26 accessions as ingroups and 3 as outgroups in the Bayesian and ML analyses based on combined six regions of cpDNA sequence (Tables 2, 3). Following alignment, we obtained a matrix of 5,115 bp. In the resulting Bayesian and ML phylogenetic trees, we observed a topology similar to the trees formed using ITS data. We again observed strong evidence that S. formosanum and nine taxa endemic to Taiwan formed a well-supported clade with four subclades (1.00/100; Fig. 2B). However, these four subclades formed a polytomy that differed from that suggested by the ITS tree. Although S. formosanum from Miyako-jima Island was again supported as forming a subclade (1.00/100, Clade Bll), we found that the nine Taiwanese endemics were divided into two subclades (1.00/93, Clade All-l; 0.95/61, Clade All-ll), and S. formosanum on Izena Island and Iheya Island formed a subclade with the 18 accessions from Japan (excluding Miyako-jima Island), Taiwan and the Philippines (1.00/99, Clade Cll).

Morphological comparison

We observed a similar flower morphology among the herbarium specimens from Miyako-jima Island (TNS; T. Ito 1115, 1120, 2402, and 2408) and those from other regions in Japan, Taiwan, and the Philippines. Generally, S. formosanum displays trichotomous branching at the shoot tip and does not produce lateral branches. The Miyako-jima plants also displayed trichotomous branching at the shoot tips, but they often developed lateral branches in the leaf axils of long shoots. Additionally, we found similar plants of S. formosanum that also produce axillary lateral branches on Ishigaki Island, part of the Yaeyama Islands, on Gaja-jima Island and Akuseki-jima Island in the Tokara Islands, and on Yoron Island in the Amami Islands by specimen survey.

In terms of leaf morphology, we observed high variation and no clear difference between the Miyako-jima plants and those from other locations. To remove the potentially confounding influence of environmental factors on leaf morphology, we cultivated plants from both Miyako-jima Island and Taiwan (obtained from the type locality) and compared them. Using this approach, we detected slight differences in leaf shape. Plants from Miyako-jima Island had spatulate to oblanceolate leaves, whereas plants from Taiwan had leaves that were spatulate to widely obovate. Most notably, plants from Miyako-jima Island were perennial and polycarpic, whereas plants from Taiwan were biennial and monocarpic.

Intraspecific taxonomy of S. formosanum

The molecular phylogenetic analyses based on both ITS and cpDNA indicated that the Sedum species from Miyako-jima Island, which are currently considered as S. formosanum, formed a well-supported clade. This clade was distinct from that of S. formosanum collected from other regions of Japan, Taiwan (including the type locality), and the Philippines (Fig. 2). Morphologically, plants from Miyako-jima Island were distinguishable from plants from other areas due to the presence of axillary lateral branches and by life cycle, i.e., perennial and polycarpic versus biennial and monocarpic (Figs 3, 4). Leaf shape differed slightly between the Miyako-jima plants and those from other locations, i.e., spatulate to oblanceolate versus spatulate to widely obovate (Figs 3, 4). Therefore, we concluded that S. formosanum from Miyako-jima Island should be considered a distinct taxonomic entity and have thus described a new subspecies in this study.

Figure 3. 

Sedum formosanum subsp. miyakojimense (A–D T. Ito 2402, 2408, Miyako-jima Island of the Ryukyus, Japan) and S. formosanum subsp. formosanum (E Kume-jima Island of the Ryukyus, Japan. F, G NewTaipei City, Taiwan). A, B, E habit C, F flower D, G leaf. Scale bars: 1 mm (D–F).

Figure 4. 

Sedum formosanum subsp. miyakojimense. A flower B sepal C leaf, adaxial D leaf, abaxial E habit. Scale bars: 1 mm (A–D); 1 cm (E). Line drawings by Naomi Kizaki.

Additionally, molecular phylogenetic trees based on both ITS and cpDNA suggested that S. formosanum on Iheya Island and Izena Island part of the Okinawa Islands formed a distinct clade (Fig. 2). Samples from Ishigaki Island in the Yaeyama Islands were also genetically distinct from the individuals from other islands (Fig. 2). However, no clear morphological differences could be observed between plants from Iheya Island and Izena Island and plants from Taiwan (including type locality). Plants from both Ishigaki Island and Miyako-jima Island had axillary lateral branches, however the life cycle and leaf morphology of the samples collected from Ishigaki Island were not in the focus of this study. Furthermore, plants from Akuseki Island, Gaja Island, and Yoron Island also have axillary lateral branches. However, we observed plants from all three islands developing flowering stems between August and October by specimen survey. Thus, they are likely autumn-flowering. Among Japanese Sedum, autumn-flowering is only reported in S. danjoense, which had been treated as S. formosanum and was described as an independent species recently (Ito et al. 2017a). Although the phylogenetic position of the populations on Akuseki Island, Gaja Island, and Yoron Island is uncertain, the plant may be closely related to S. danjoense. Therefore, further reconsideration of S. formosanum at the species and infraspecific level is needed to establish the circumscription of the species.

Taxonomic treatment

Sedum formosanum N.E. Brown., subsp. formosanum

Fig. 3E–G

≡ Sedum mariae Raym.-Hamet, Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. 8: 143. 1910. Type: Japan. Insula Oshima (Liukiu): Jul 1900, Faurie, U. J. 3923 (holotype: G [G00356298]).

Type

Taiwan. Keelung City, date unknown, C. Ford s.n. (lectotype, designated by Byalt, V. V.: K [K000838648]; isotype, designated by N. E. Br. 1885, pg. 134: GH [GH00042587]).

Description

Usually biennial herb, fleshy, glabrous. First year stem stout, erect, partly woody, 1 or 2 trifurcate, 3–10 cm tall, with lax rosettes; rosettes 3–18 cm wide with 15–45 leaves. Flowering stems fleshy, 10–30 cm tall, base ca. 5 mm broad, usually reddish or yellowish green, erect or sprawling and creeping at base, 1- or 2-trifurcate at base. Roots fibrous, sometimes adventitious at the leaf scar. Leaves alternate, evenly arranged, sessile, green or yellowish, flattish, ± thick, spatulate to widely obovate, 1.2–3.2 cm long, 0.5–1.6 cm wide, apex rounded, base long, attenuate, margins entire. Inflorescences terminal, cymes, 1 or 2 trifurcate with 3 (rarely 4) primary axes; primary axis 2–7 cm long, ascending, 1 to several times irregularly and often unequally forking, with a flower at each fork, ultimate branches 1–2 cm long, 3–6 flowered; bracts leaf-like, smaller than cauline leaves. Flowers 5 (rarely 6)-merous, 8–12 mm wide, sessile. Sepals 5, free, yellowish green, fleshy, flattish, unequal in size, obovate to oblanceolate, 2–4 mm long, 1.5–3 mm wide, apex round or obtuse, base spurred. Petals 5, bright yellow, lanceolate, 5–6 mm long, 1.3–1.6 mm wide, apex acuminate, base slightly connate. Stamens 10, shorter than petals, 4.8–5 mm long, erect at flowering, two-whorled arrangement; anthers oblong-lanceolate, ca. 0.5 mm long, deep yellow before dehiscence. Pistils 5, 5.5–6.5 mm long; carpels 5, free, connate at the base, gibbous ventrally. Fruits star-shaped, follicle, erect, 5.5–7 mm long. Flowering in April to June.

Distribution and habitat

Japan: Kyushu, Kagoshima, Kumamoto; The Ryukyus, the Osumi Islands, Kami-Koshiki, Kuro-shima, Yaku-shima and Tanega-shima islands, the Tokara Islands, Akuseki, Gaja, Nakano-shima, Kodakara, Kuchino-shima, and Takara islands, the Amami Islands, Amami-oshima, Kakeroma, Kikai, Okierabu, Tokuno-shima, Uke, Yoro and Yoron islands, the Okinawa Islands, Aka, Geruma, Ie, Iheya, Izena, Kume, Okinawa, Sesoko, Tokashiki and Tonaki islands, the Yaeyama Islands, Ishigaki, Iriomote, Kuro-shima and Yonaguni islands. Taiwan: New Taipei, Keelung, Ilan, Hualien, Lienchiang, Taitung (Lanyu and Green Islands) and Pingtung. The Philippines: Batanes, Batan Island.

Coastal and rarely inland rocky slopes, xeric, saline, and exposed to direct sunlight.

Additional specimens examined

Japan. Kyushu, Kagoshima: Ichikikushikino City, 30 June 1957, S. Hatusima 20967 (KAG), Minamisatsuma City, 23 May 1962, M. Furuse 325 (KAG), Minamisatsuma City, 9 Nov. 1984, S. Sako 8865 (KAG), Minamisatsuma City, 14 Nov. 1987, S. Hatusima 43027 (KAG), Ichikikushikino City, 26 June 2003, K. Maruno s.n. (KAG), Minamisatsuma City, 23 June 2013, G. Kokubugata, Y. Saito, T. Ito 16768 (TNS), Kimotsuki Country, Minamiosumi Town, 30 July 1949, S. Hatusima 13352 (KAG), Kimotsuki Country, Minamiosumi Town, 13 June 1957, S. Hatusima 20891 (KAG), Kimotsuki Country, Minamiosumi Town, 22 June 2013, G. Kokubugata & T. Ito 16764 (TNS), Kimotsuki Country, Sata Village, 26 Aug. 1910, Y. Nakano s.n. (TNS), Kimotsuki Country, Sata Village, 9 Aug. 1929, H. Asuyama s.n. (TNS), Kimotsuki Country, Sata Town, 28 Mar. 1958, S. Okuyama & H. Utsumi 17098 (TNS), Kumamoto: Amakusa Country, Reihoku Town, 13 Jan. 1956, R. Moran 5395 (TNS), The Ryukyus, the Osumi Islands, Kagoshima: Kami-Koshiki Island, Satsuma Country, Kamikoshiki Village, 26 Mar. 1930, K. Naohara s.n. (TNS), Kuro-shima Island, Kagoshima Country, Mishima Village, 12 June 1981, K. Maruno s.n. (KAG), Kagoshima Country, Mishima Village, 26 May 1994, T. Shiuchi 4900 (KAG), Tanega-shima Island, Nishinoomote City, 25 Feb. 2013, G. Kokubugata, M. Yokota, K. Kaburagi 15604 (TNS), The Ryukyus, the Tokara Islands, Kagoshima: Akuseki Island, Kagoshima Country, Toshima Village, 18 Oct. 1980, R. Yanagida s.n. (KAG), Kagoshima Country, Toshima Village, 9 Sep. 1983, Y. Hukushima s.n. (KAG), Kagoshima Country, Toshima Village, 15 Oct. 1993, T. Shiuchi 2800 (KAG), Gaja Island, Kagoshima Country, Toshima Village, 21 Aug. 1958, S. Sako & K. Kawanabe 2244 (KAG), Nakano-shima Island, Kagoshima Country, Toshima Village, 18 Aug. 1958, S. Sako & K. Kawanabe 1938 (KAG), Takara Island, Kagoshima Country, Toshima Village, 25 Aug. 1910, S. Kawagoe s.n. (TNS), Kagoshima Country, Toshima Village, 11 Feb. 1952, S. Hatusima s.n. (KAG), Kagoshima Country, Toshima Village, 14 May 1993, T. Shiuchi 1314 (KAG), The Ryukyus, the Amami Islands, Kagoshima: Amami-oshima Island, Amami City, 28 Apr. 2012, G. Kokubugata 16712 (TNS), Amami City, 26 Aug. 2014, G. Kokubugata & H. Umemoto 18178 (TNS), Amami City, 12 Jan. 2016, G. Kokubugata & M.Tabata 19011 (TNS), Naze City, 23 May 1975, J. Haginiwa JH006639 (TNS), Naze City, 23 May 1975, J. Haginiwa JH032447 (TNS), Naze City, 23 Nov. 1977, A. Yamamoto, T. Nakaike & M. Ishizuka 490 (TNS), Oshima Country, Setouchi Town, 18 July 1919, S. Kawagoe s.n. (KAG), Oshima Country, Setouchi Town, 6 Aug. 1956, S. Ouchiyama 49 (KAG), Oshima Country, Setouchi Town, 24–28 July 1975, Y. Miyagi & S. Hatusima 40407 (RYU), Oshima Country, Tatsugo Town, 27 Apr. 2012, G. Kokubugata 16722 (TNS), Kakeroma Island, Oshima Country, Setouchi Town, 11 Jan. 2016, G. Kokubugata, M. Tabata 18978 (TNS), Kikai Island, Oshima Country, Kikai Town, 17 May 1975, K. Yoshinaga 178 (KAG), Okierabu Island, Oshima Country, China Town, 4 June 1967, M. Furuse s.n. (KAG), Oshima Country, China Town, date unknown 1969, K. Kasuga s.n. (KAG), Oshima Country, China Town, 7 Nov. 1971, J. Haginiwa JH006572 (TNS), Tokuno-shima Island, Oshima Country, Amagi Town, 4 May 2014, G. Kokubugata & H. Umemoto 17613 (TNS), Oshima Country, Tokunoshima Town, 3 May 2014, G. Kokubugata & H. Umemoto 17556 (TNS), Uke Island, Oshima Country, Setouchi Town, 23 Mar. 2019, E. Suzuki s.n. (KAG), Yoro Island, Oshima Country, Setouchi Town, 22 May 2018, E. Suzuki s.n. (KAG), Oshima Country, Setouchi Town, 22 May 2018, E. Suzuki s.n. (KAG), Yoron Island, Oshima Country, Yoron Town, 21 Aug. 1921, K. Uyehara s.n. (KAG), Oshima Country, Yoron Town, 16 Aug. 1961, G. Ikeda s.n. (KAG), Oshima Country, Yoron Town, 16 Aug. 1961, G. Ikeda s.n. (KAG), Oshima Country, Yoron Town, 24 Dec. 1971, J. Haginiwa JH006509 (TNS), Oshima Country, Yoron Town, 24 Dec. 1971, J. Haginiwa JH006571 (TNS), The Ryukyus, the Okinawa Islands, Okinawa: Aka Island, Shimajiri Country, Zamami Village, 23–26 May 1974, Y. Miyagi & T. Kabashima 4865 (RYU), Geruma Island, Shimajiri Country, Zamami Village, 9–12 Aug. 1977, Y. Miyagi 7906 (RYU), Ie Island, Kunigami Country, Ie Village, 4–5 May. 1974, S. Hatusima & Y. Miyagi 37591 (RYU), Kunigami Country, Ie Village, 16 Sep. 2014, G. Kokubugata, M. Yokota et al. 18248 (TNS), Iheya Island, Shimajiri Country, Iheya Village, 25 Dec. 1958, Y. Niiro s. n. (RYU), Shimajiri Country, Iheya Village, 26 May 2008, G. Kokubugata 10726 (TNS), Izena Island, Shimajiri Country, Izena Village, 22 July 1973, S. Hatusima 34901 (RYU), Shimajiri Country, Izena Village, 1 June 2015, T. Yamada TYD263-1 (TNS), Kume Island, Shimajiri Country, Kumejima Town, 1 June 2010, G. Kokubugata, M. Yokota & K. Nakamura 12755 (TNS), Okinawa Island, Itoman City, Aug. 1966, Y. Miyagi 3636 (RYU), Itoman City, Aug. 1967, Y. Miyagi 5654 (RYU), Itoman City, 7 May 2001, G. Kokubugata & C.I. Peng 289 (TNS), Onna Village, 18 May 1980, Y. Miyagi 9080 (RYU), Kunigami Country, Kunigami Village, May 1974, S. Itoman 63 (RYU), Kunigami Country, Motobu Town, 3 May 1974, S. Hatusima & Y. Miyagi 37633 (RYU), Nakagami Country, Kitanakagusuku Village, 30 Apr. 1955, S. Hatusima 17462 (KAG), Nakagami Country, Kitanakagusuku Village, 30 Apr. 1955, S. Hatusima 17498 (KAG), Shimajiri Country, Miwa Village, 23 May 1954, S. Nakamine 68 (RYU), Shimajiri Country, Miwa Village, 23 May 1954, S. Nakamine 68 (TNS), Sesoko Island, Kunigami Country, Motobu Town, 19 Aug. 1974, Y. Miyagi 4202 (RYU), Tokashiki Island, Shimajiri Country, Tokashiki Village, 5 Mar. 1973, Y. Miyagi & S. Oyadomari 1152 (RYU), Tonaki Island, Shimajiri Country, Tonaki Village, 10 Mar. 1973, S. Hatusima 34404A (RYU), Shimajiri Country, Tonaki Village, 17 Dec. 2010, G. Kokubugata & M. Yokota 13049 (TNS), The Ryukyus, the Yaeyama Islands, Okinawa: Ishigaki Island, Ishigaki City, 27 Mar. 2009, G. Kokubugata, M. Yokota & K. Nakamura 11775 (TNS), Kuroshima Island, Yaeyama Country, Taketomi Town, 4 Nov. 1974, Y. Niiro & Y. Miyagi 6103 (RYU), Yonaguni Island, Yaeyama Country, Yonaguni Town, 26–30 Oct. 1959, S. Hatusima 24587 (KAG), Yaeyama Country, Yonaguni Town, 29 Sep. -3 Oct. 1973, S. Hatusima, Y. Miyagi & E. Tanaka s.n. (TNS), Yaeyama Country, Yonaguni Town, 1 Nov. 1988, R. Minagawa s.n. (TNS), Yaeyama Country, Yonaguni Town, 8 Dec. 2014, G. Kokubugata, M. Yokota et al. 18586 (TNS), Yaeyama Country, Yonaguni Town, 7 Dec. 2014, G. Kokubugata, M. Yokota et al. 18548 (TNS), Yaeyama Country, Yonaguni Town, 24 Nov. 2015, T. Yamada TYD371 (TNS), TAIWAN. Hualien: Hualien City, 13 Dec. 1993, T. C. Huang 15022 (TAI), Xiulin Township24 May 1993, S. F. Huang, K. C. Yang & J. M. Hu 5097 (TAI), Ilan: Su’ao Township, 18 Apr. 1987, S. F. Huang, C. F. Hsieh, Y. F. Lin et al. 3722 (TAI), Su’ao Township, 18 Apr. 1987, W. S. Tang 1795 (TAI), Su’ao Township, 21 May 1987, W. S. Tang 1803 (TAI), Su’ao Township, 18 Apr. 1987, W. S. Tang 1785 (TAI), Su’ao Township, 21 May 1987, W. S. Tang 1802 (TAI), Su’ao Township, 7 May 1993, S. F. Huang 5075 (TAI), Su’ao Township, 21 May 1987, W. S. Tang 1802 (TAI), Su’ao Township, 6 May 1993, S. F. Huang 5049 (TAI), Kueishan Island, Toucheng Township, 31 May 1970, C. C. Hsu 7237 (TAI), Toucheng Township, 3 July 1932, G. Masamune & S. Suzuki s. n. (TAI), Keelung: Keelung City, 11 Oct. 2004, S. W. Chung 7657 (TAIF), Keelung City, 7 June 2005, S. W. Chung 7774 (TAIF), Keelung City, 6 June 2005, P. F. Lu 9825 (TAIF), Keelung City, 23 May 2010, P. F. Lu 20381 (TAIF), Keelung City, 12 July 2011, P. F. Lu 22356 (TAIF), Keelung City, 22 July 1918, M. Eizi 907 (TAI), Keelung City, 4 June 1932, K. Mori s. n. (TAI), Keelung City, 31 May 1930, S. Sasaki 4687 (TAI), Keelung City, 26 May 1939, G. Masamune 1907 (TAI), Keelung City, 1 May 1937, H. Simada 1218 (TAI), Keelung City, 3 June 1978, C. M. Kou 9805 (TAI), Keelung City, 27 Apr. 1983, C. L. Chang 91 (TAI), Keelung City, 1 May 1937, H. Simada 1218 (TAI), Keelung City, date unknown, M. L. Weng 66 (TAI), Pengchia Island, Keelung City, 4 Aug. 1992, T. C. Huang 15753 (TAI), Lienchiang: Nangan Township, 29 June 1999, S. H. Su s. n. (TAI), New Taipei: New Taipei City, 30 Apr. 2005, P. F. Lu 9571 (TAIF), New Taipei City, 14 Aug. 2008, Y. F. Chang s. n. (TAIF), New Taipei City, 6 June 1987, W. S. Tang 1808 (TAI), New Taipei City, 6 June 1987, W.S. Tang 1808 (TAI), New Taipei City, 23 Apr. 1929, Y. Kudo, S. Suzuki & K. Mori 398 (TAI), New Taipei City, 23 Sep. 1931, T. Tanaka s. n. (TAI), New Taipei City, 3 May 1986, W. S. Tang 1757 (TAI), New Taipei City, 20 Apr. 1932, T. Tanaka & Y.Simada 10963 (TAI), New Taipei City, 20 Apr. 1932, T. Tanaka & Y.Simada s. n. (TAI), New Taipei City, 12 Apr. 1979, S. H. Lin 692 (TAI), New Taipei City, 12 Apr. 1979, C. M. Kuo 10939 (TAI), New Taipei City, 26 May 1985, J. C. Wang 3349 (TAI), New Taipei City, 12 Apr. 1979, H. N. Yang 2551 (TAI), New Taipei City, 27 May 1987, W. S. Tang 1806 (TAI), New Taipei City, 27 May 1987, W. S. Tang 1806 (TAI), New Taipei City, 20 Apr. 2002, S. F. Cheng, S. K. Yu s. n. (TAI), New Taipei City, 31 May 2001, Y. J. Lai, W. H. Wu et al. 745 (TAI), New Taipei City, 13 May 1988, S. F. Huang 4297 (TAI), New Taipei City, 7 June 1930, S. Sasaki 4744 (TAI), New Taipei City, 16 Apr. 1961, T. C. Huang 2280 (TAI), New Taipei City, 7 June 1989, W. S. Tang & C. F. Hsieh 1864 (TAI), New Taipei City, 30 May 1985, T. Y. Yang 2020 (TAI), Pingtung: Hengchun Township, June 1912, T. Kawakami & S. Sasaki s. n. (TAI), Taitung: Lanyu Island, Lanyu Township, 13 Jan. 1995, T.P. Pan, C-H. Horng et al. s. n. (TAIF), Lanyu Township, 19 Mar. 1943, T. Hosokawa 9896 (TAI), Lanyu Township, 17 Apr. 1992, S. F. Huang & Y.C. Hsu 4735 (TAI), Lanyu Township, 29 Apr. 1983, T.C. Huang, Yang, Kao et al. 9440 (TAI), Lanyu Township, 19 Feb. 1986, T.C. Huang, S. F. Huang, K.C. Yang et al. 10535 (TAI), Lanyu Township, 17 Aug. 1958, T. I. Chuang & C. C. Hsu 2384 (TAI), Lanyu Township, 18 Apr. 1932, T. Sata 1286 (TAI), Lanyu Township, 0 May 1924, S. Sasaki s. n. (TAI), Lanyu Township, 18 Apr. 1932, T. Sata s. n. (TAI), Lanyu Township, 2 Apr. 1985, S. F. Huang 2742 (TAI), Lanyu Township, 6 Apr. 1983, T. C. Huang et al. 9205 (TAI), Lanyu Township, 6 Apr. 1983, T. C. Huang et al. 9179 (TAI), Green Island, Lyudao Township, 4 Mar. 1931, T.Tanaka 10373 (TAI), THE PHILIPPINES. The Batan Islands, Batanes: Batan Island, 9 Nov. 1964, S. Hatusima & M. Sato 28624 (KAG).

Sedum formosanum N.E. Brown., subsp. miyakojimense Takuro Ito, Yokota & Kokub., subsp. nov.

urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:77209704-1
Figs 3A–D, 4

Type

Japan. The Ryukyus: Miyako Islands, Miyako-jima Island, Gusukube, 5 April 2015, Takuro Ito 2402 (holotype: TNS)

Diagnosis

Sedum formosanum subsp. miyakojimense differs from its close relative S. formosanum subsp. formosanum in being perennial, polycarpic, and having lateral branches arising from the leaf axils.

Description

Perennial herb, fleshy, glabrous. First year stem stout, erect, partly woody, 1–5 lateral branches in the leaf axils, 3–10 cm tall, with lax rosettes; rosettes 2.5–6 cm wide with 7–15 leaves. Flowering stems fleshy, 10–20 cm tall, base ca. 5 mm broad, yellowish green, erect or sprawling and creeping at base. Roots fibrous, sometimes adventitious at the leaf scar. Leaves alternate, occasionally verticillate, sessile, green or yellowish, flattish, ± thick, spatulate to oblanceolate, 1.1–3.1 cm long, 0.3–1.0 cm wide, apex rounded, base long, attenuate, margins entire. Inflorescences terminal, cymes, basically trifurcate with 3 primary axes, sometimes with 2, 4, or 5 primary axes; primary axis 2–8 cm long, ascending, 1 to several times irregularly and often unequally forking, with a flower at each fork, ultimate branches 1–2 cm long, 3–7 flowered; bracts leaf-like, smaller than cauline leaves. Flowers 5 (rarely 6)-merous, 7–11 mm wide, sessile. Sepals 5, free, yellowish green, fleshy, flattish, unequal in size, obovate to oblanceolate, 1.8–4.5 mm long, 1.2–3.3 mm wide, apex round or obtuse, base spurred. Petals 5, bright yellow, lanceolate, 4.6–6 mm long, 1.3–1.6 mm wide, apex acuminate, base slightly connate. Stamens 10, shorter than petals, 4.2–5 mm long, erect at flowering, two-whorled arrangement; anthers oblong-lanceolate, ca. 0.5 mm long, deep yellow before dehiscence. Pistils 5, 5.2–6.3 mm long; carpels 5, free, connate at the base, gibbous ventrally. Fruits star-shaped, follicle, erect, 5.3–6.8 mm long. Flowering in April to June.

Taxonomic note

This new subspecies is classified in the sect. Sedum because of its adaxially gibbous carpels (Fu and Ohba 2001) (Fig. 3).

Etymology

The epithet refers to the Japanese name of the type locality.

Distribution and habitat

Endemic to the southeastern portion of Miyako-jima Island (The Ryukyus), on sunny, coastal limestone.

Additional specimens examined

Japan. The Ryukyus: the Miyakojima Islands, Miyako-jima Island, Gusukube, 5 April 2015, Takuro Ito 2403, 2408 (isotype: TNS).

Conservation

IUCN Red list category: Critically Endangered (CR). The distribution of Sedum formosanum subsp. miyakojimense is restricted to only one location ca. 0.15 km2 in Miyako-jima Island, the Ryukyu Islands. The population of the species contains fewer than 200 mature individuals. The plant occurs on limestone rocks scattered in a private golf course, therefore, it is not formally protected. In the future, the population could become threatened, given ongoing land development for tourism in the Ryukyus. Because of the small population size (≤ 250 mature individuals) and small area of occupancy (≤ 10 km2), S. formosanum subsp. miyakojimense is classified as CR (IUCN 2019).

Japanese common name

Miyako-hama-mannen-gusa (nov.).

Possible biogeographical history of S. formosanum subsp. miyakojimense

The Ryukyu Islands, including Miyako-jima Island, experienced extensive land configuration changes throughout the Neogene and the Quaternary as a result of tectonic movements and sea level fluctuations induced by climatic oscillations (Kimura 2002; Osozawa et al. 2011; Furukawa and Fujitani 2014). Miyako-jima Island was likely originally located at the eastern margin of the continent, based on evidence of deposits derived from the continent during the late Miocene to Pliocene (Osozawa et al. 2011). The highest point on Miyako-jima Island is only 100 m above sea level; therefore, the entire island was likely submerged in the past under higher sea levels. Furthermore, the mud-dominant Shimajiri Group is mostly overlaid by the Ryukyu Group, which is composed of Pleistocene reef-complex deposits (Shokita et al. 2006). Although some endemic freshwater and terrestrial organisms, such as the Miyako toad (Bufo gargarizans miyakonis Okada) and the potamid crab (Geothelphusa miyakoensis Shokita, Naruse & Fujii) are reported from Miyako-jima Island (Shokita et al. 2006). Oshiro and Nohara (2000) suggested that the island likely reconnected to the Yaeyama Islands, located in the southern Ryukyus, during the last glacial period. However, these endemic species and their close relatives are not distributed in the Yaeyama Islands, and it is highly unlikely that they experienced long-range dispersal. Therefore, if these islands were connected during the last glacial period, it is unlikely that migration occurred from the Yaeyama Islands via a land bridge. Interestingly, the Shimajiri Group is partly exposed to the surface on the eastern portion of Miyako-jima Island (Shokita et al. 2006). This suggests that some areas of the island may have remained above water during sea level fluctuations, and freshwater species such as G. miyakoensis, freshwater red alga (Thorea gaudichaudii C. Agardh), and oriental weatherfish (Misgurnus anguillicaudatus Cantor) are only distributed in this area (Shokita et al. 2002, 2006). Collectively, this suggests that some organisms may have survived in isolation as relict populations, and further implies that the island may not have been entirely submerged in the past or, potentially, the existence of an ancient landmass adjacent to the island after its division from the continent (Shokita et al. 2006; Furukawa and Fujitani 2014). Previous molecular dating of East Asian Sedum species reported that S. formosanum diverged from the endemic Taiwanese species during the Pleistocene 1.41 Ma (0.79–2.25 Ma) (Ito et al. 2017b). Thus, it is reasonable to assume that S. formosanum subsp. miyakojimense may have diverged during the Pleistocene and has long since been genetically isolated from other species. Furthermore, S. formosanum subsp. miyakojimense is distributed in a restricted area on the eastern part of the island, in a similar location as the aforementioned endemic freshwater organisms. The discovery of a new endemic plant taxon, S. formosanum subsp. miyakojimense, on Miyako-jima Island is biogeographically important because it may imply that portions of the island remained above water over long time periods.

Acknowledgments

We thank Mr. Atsushi Abe, Ms. Hana Umemoto, Dr. Yukiko Saito, and members of the Plant Taxonomy, Evolution, Population Genetics, Biogeography Laboratory of the Taiwan University for assisting with field work; Dr. Akitoshi Iwamoto for his constructive advice; Ms. Naomi Kizaki for the fine drawing; herbaria of Kagoshima University Museum, University of the Ryukyus, National Museum of Nature and Science, The National Taiwan University and Taiwan Forestry Research Institute for herbarium survey; Tsukuba Botanical Garden for cultivating plants in the present study. This study was funded partly by JSPS KAKENHI Grant Numbers JP20510220; JP25290085; 16J08504; 18J01069.

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