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Research Article
Primulina jiuyishanica (Gesneriaceae), a new species from Hunan, China
expand article infoKun Liu‡, De-Chang Meng§|, Zhang-Jie Huang|§, Stephen Maciejewski|, Zi-Bing Xin§#
‡ Jindong Forest Farm, Yongzhou, China
§ Guangxi Zhuangzu Autonomous Region and Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guilin, China
| Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guilin, China
¶ The Gesneriad Society, Philadelphia, United States of America
# Chinese Academy of Science, Guilin, China

Corresponding author: Zi-Bing Xin ( xinzibing@163.com )

Academic editor: Alan Paton
© 2020 Kun Liu, De-Chang Meng, Zhang-Jie Huang, Stephen Maciejewski, Zi-Bing Xin.
This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY 4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
Citation: Liu K, Meng D-C, Huang Z-J, Maciejewski S, Xin Z-B (2020) Primulina jiuyishanica (Gesneriaceae), a new species from Hunan, China. PhytoKeys 162: 37-44. https://doi.org/10.3897/phytokeys.162.53763
Open Access

Abstract

Primulina jiuyishanica K. Liu, D.C. Meng & Z.B. Xin, a new species of Gesneriaceae from Hunan, China, is described and illustrated. The new species is morphologically similar to Primulina fimbrisepala (Hand.-Mazz.) Yin Z. Wang, but differs in its elliptic to broadly elliptic leaf blade with broadly cuneate base, peduncle densely pubescent with sparse glandular hairs, corolla throat with no purple spots inside, the yellow patch in the throat densely glandular-pubescent and pistil densely glandular-pubescent. Photographs and descriptions of the new species are provided below.

Keywords

Didymocarpoideae, flora of Hunan, Primulina fimbrisepala, taxonomy

Introduction

Since the original monotypic genus Primulina was redefined in 2011 (Wang et al. 2011; Weber et al. 2011), many taxa new to science have been published by taxonomists and researchers, making it the largest genus of the Chinese Gesneriaceae (Wen et al. 2019, 2020; Möller 2019). For instance, a total of 9 new species and one variety of Primulina were published in 2019, including P. purpureokylin F. Wen, Yi Huang & W.C. Chou, P. persica F. Wen, Yi Huang & W.C. Chou, P. cerina F. Wen, Yi Huang & W.C. Chou, P. niveolanosa F. Wen, S. Li & W.C. Chou, P. leiyyi F. Wen, Z.B. Xin & W.C. Chou (Li et al. 2019), P. serrulata R.B. Zhang & F. Wen (Jiang et al. 2019), P. anisocymosa F. Wen, Xin Hong & Z.J. Qiu (Hong et al. 2019), P. chingipengii W.B. Xu & K.F. Chung (Xu et al. 2019), P. lianchengensis B.J. Ye & S.P. Chen (Ye et al. 2019) and P. sichuanensis (W.T. Wang) Mich. Möller & A. Weber var. pinnatipartita H.H. Kong & L.H. Yang (Konget al. 2019). As this trend persists, more new species will likely be discovered in the near future (Möller 2019). Primulina, which mainly grows in limestone areas, are found only in southern and southwestern China and northern Vietnam (Möller et al. 2016). In all, 197 species and 27 varieties of Primulina exist at present, including 183 species and 27 varieties recorded from China and 21 species recorded from Vietnam (Hộ 2000; Burtt 2002; Weber et al. 2011; Möller et al. 2016; IPNI 2020; Wen et al. 2020).

In 2016, one of the authors (LK) discovered some plants in the Jiuyishan National Nature Reserve, Hunan Province, China, which possibly represented an undescribed species. Some living plants were mailed to the Gesneriad Conservation Center of China (GCCC) for observation and conservation. Those living individuals were introduced and cultivated in the gardens of the GCCC, and the lead author continuously monitored the population in the wild for several years. A detailed comparison of these specimens and living plant materials with the type specimens and protologues of known Primulina species revealed that these specimens neither fit the existing protologues nor conform to the type specimens of these species. Nevertheless, the inflorescence, shape and color of the corolla, stamens and staminodes are most similar to those of P. fimbrisepala (Hand.-Mazz.) Yin Z. Wang. It can be distinguished from the latter by a combination of several morphological characters of the leaf blade, peduncle, corolla throat and pistil. Thus, we confirmed that it represents a new species of Primulina, and described and illustrated it here. The description, illustration, information on ecology, phenology, and provisional conservation assessment by using IUCN categories and criteria (2019) of the proposed new species are also provided.

Methods

The plant material for description was collected in the field at its type locality in 2017. Morphological observations and dissections of plant material of this new species were made under a stereoscopic microscope and measured and described using the terminology used by Wang et al. (1998). The literature examined included related monographs and papers (e.g., Wood 1974; Wang et al. 1998; Li and Wang 2004; Weber 2004; Haston and De Craene 2007; Chen et al. 2008; Wei et al. 2010). Specimens stored in herbaria in China, Vietnam, the United States and the United Kingdom (E, GH, HN, IBK, K, KUN, MO, PE, PH, US and VNMN) were examined.

Taxonomic treatment

Primulina jiuyishanica K. Liu, D.C. Meng & Z.B. Xin, sp. nov.

urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:77211929-1
Figure 1

Diagnosis

Primulina jiuyishanica resembles P. fimbrisepala (Fig. 2) in having similar inflorescence and corolla color, but can be distinguished by its leaf blade being elliptic to broadly elliptic, base broadly cuneate (vs. blade ovate, broadly ovate to suborbicular, base cordate), peduncle densely pubescent with sparse glandular hairs (vs. eglandular-pubescent to appressed pilose), corolla throat with no purple spots inside (vs. corolla throat with few to many purple spots inside), the yellow patch in the throat densely glandular-pubescent (vs. densely eglandular-pubescent) and pistil densely glandular-pubescent (vs. eglandular-pubescent).

Figure 1. 

Primulina jiuyishanica A habitat B–C habit with flowers D cultivated plant E opened corolla F (1) adaxial surfaces of calyx lobes (2) abaxial surfaces of calyx lobes G inflorescence H bracts I inflorescence after the corolla shedding J dissected ovary, disc and pedicel K stamens L abaxial and adaxial surfaces of leaf blades (Photographed by Fang Wen).

Type

China. Hunan Province, Yongzhou City, Ningyuan County, Jiuyishan National Nature Reserve, growing on a granite rock in the forest in a damp and moist valley, alt. 900–1300 m, 14 April 2017, Kun Liu 20170414-01 (holotype: IBK!; isotypes: IBK!, KUN!).

Description

Herbs perennial, rhizomatous. Stem subterete, ca. 6 cm long, ca. 2 cm in diameter. Leaves 4–6, basal, opposite; leaf blade thickly chartaceous, elliptic to broadly elliptic, 6–9 × 6–7 cm, margin conspicuously serrate, lateral veins 4–5 on each side, abaxially conspicuous, apex obtuse, base broadly cuneate, oblique or slightly asymmetric, adaxially densely pubescent with sparse glandular hairs, abaxially densely pubescent. Petiole flattened, 4–5 cm long, ca. 0.5 cm wide, densely villous. Cymes 1–5 or more, axillary, 1–2-branched, 2–14-flowers per cyme; peduncles 6–8 cm long, 2.5–3 mm in diameter, densely pubescent with sparse glandular hairs; pedicel 1–2.3 cm long, ca. 2 mm in diameter, densely pubescent with sparse glandular hairs; bracts 2, opposite, narrowly lanceolate, 1.1–1.2 cm long, 2–3.5 mm wide, sparse hydathodes, both surfaces sparsely pubescent; bracteole 1, lanceolate, 3–5 mm long, 1–2 mm wide, sparse hydathodes, both surfaces sparsely pubescent. Calyx 5-parted to near base, lobes narrowly lanceolate, 5–7 × 2–3 mm, sparse hydathodes on each side; apex acute, outside densely pubescent, inside subglabrous. Corolla pink to bluish violet, 4–4.5 cm long, 2.6–3 cm wide; corolla tube funnelform, 2.5–3 cm long, 1.2–1.5 cm in diameter, outside glandular-pubescent, inside glabrous; with two distinct longitudinal ridges on the corolla tube floor; a yellow patch at corolla throat extends to the middle of the corolla tube, densely glandular-pubescent; limb distinctly 2-lipped, adaxial lip 2-lobed, lobes broadly ovate, abaxial lip 3-lobed, middle lobe narrowly orbiculate or broadly ovate, lateral lobes oval or oblong. Stamens 2, adnate to ca. 1.4 cm above the base of the corolla tube; 9–10 mm long, terete, geniculate near middle, knee greenish yellow, the rest white, sparsely glandular-pubescent; anthers fused by the entire adaxial surfaces, abaxially densely whitish pubescent; staminodes 3, lateral ones ca. 4 mm long, adnate to ca. 9 mm above the base of the corolla tube, terete, apically capitate, the middle one ca. 0.9 mm long, adnate to ca. 1.5 mm above the base of the corolla tube. Disc annular, ca. 1 mm high, margin repand. Pistil 3.1–3.6 cm long; ovary cylindrical, 1.2–1.6 cm long, ca. 4.5 mm in diameter, densely glandular-pubescent to glandular-puberulent; style 1.5–1.6 cm long, 1–1.5 mm in diameter, densely glandular-pubescent to glandular-puberulent; stigma chiritoid, lower lobe ca. 1 mm wide, divided, lobes ca. 4 mm long. Capsule linear, 5–5.5 cm long, densely glandular-pubescent to glandular-puberulent.

Figure 2. 

Primulina fimbrisepala (A–G) A habitat B habit in wild with flowers C inflorescence D two distinct long longitudinal ridges on the corolla tube floor E opened corolla F stamens G bracts. (A–B: Photographed by Xiao-Ning You; C–G: Photographed by De-Chang Meng).

Distribution and habitat

We found eight populations in different places of Jiuyishan National Nature Reserve for the new species through several field investigations. It grows on granite rocks, in association with Pileostegia viburnoides Hook. f. & Thoms., Hedera sinensis (Tobl.) Hand.-Mazz, Euonymus actinocarpus Loes., Viola kosanensis Hayata, Lysimachia congestiflora Hemsl., Goodyera biflora (Lindl.) Hook. f., Phyllagathis cavaleriei Guillaum. and Dryopteris Adans. spp. in the forest in a damp and moist valley.

Phenology

Flowering from April to May; fruiting from June to August.

Etymology

The specific epithet is derived from the type locality, Jiuyishan National Nature Reserve, Hunan Province, China.

Vernacular name

九嶷山报春苣苔(Chinese name); jiǔ yí shān bào chūn jù tái (Chinese pronunciation).

Conservation status

The EOO and AOO of Primulina jiuyishanica are 54.28 km2 and 5.2 km2 respectively. So far, only eight populations of this species were found located in a nature reserve. However, we believe that more populations will be found in the future, and the EOO and AOO might increase. The eight populations have in total more than 3000 mature plants in the type locality, and additionally many seedlings were found. The plants are well protected in the nature reserve. According to the guidelines for using the IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria (IUCN 2019), the new species should be assessed as of Least Concern (LC).

Note

In figure 2, A and B were published in Wei et al. 2010, page 374, 375, under the name of Chirita juliae Hance, now Primulina juliae (Hance) Mich. Möller & A. Weber. In fact, A and B are P. fimbrisepala (Hand.-Mazz.) Yin Z. Wang.

Acknowledgments

We thank Fang Wen and Xiao-Ning You for their photographs and Fang Wen for his guidance on this paper. This study was financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (31860047), the Natural Science Foundation of Guangxi (2017GXNSFAA198006), the Fund of Guangxi Key Laboratory of Plant Conservation and Restoration Ecology in Karst Terrain (19-050-6), the Key Sci. & Tech. Research and Development Project of Guangxi (Guike AB16380053; Guike AD20159091), Guilin Science and Technology Foundation (20180107-6), the Basal Research Fund of GXIB (Guizhiye20009), the 21st Talent project of “Ten-Hundred-Thousand” in Guangxi, Special Funds for Forestry and Technology Innovation in Hunan ([2019] no. 28) and Hunan Wildlife Resources Protection Project ([2019] no. 22). Special thanks to Michael LoFurno, Adjunct Professor, Temple University, Philadelphia, USA, for his editorial assistance.

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