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Research Article
Ranunculus luanchuanensis (Ranunculaceae), a new species from Henan, China
expand article infoWen-Qun Fei‡§, Qiong Yuan‡|, Qin-Er Yang‡|
‡ Key Laboratory of Plant Resources Conservation and Sustainable Utilization, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
§ University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| Center of Conservation Biology, Core Botanical Gardens, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China

Corresponding author: Qiong Yuan ( yuanqiong@scbg.ac.cn )

Academic editor: Marco Pellegrini
© 2023 Wen-Qun Fei, Qiong Yuan, Qin-Er Yang.
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: Fei W-Q, Yuan Q, Yang Q-E (2023) Ranunculus luanchuanensis (Ranunculaceae), a new species from Henan, China. PhytoKeys 220: 17-29. https://doi.org/10.3897/phytokeys.220.96799
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Abstract

Ranunculus luanchuanensis (Ranunculaceae), a new species from Laojun Shan in Luanchuan county, Henan province, central China, is here illustrated and described. It is morphologically similar to R. limprichtii in having 3-lobed and subreniform basal leaves, 3-lobed cauline leaves, and small flowers with reflexed and caducous sepals, but differs by having slender and basally slightly thickened roots (vs. fusiform), prostrate stems (vs. erect), obliquely ovoid and glabrous carpels and achenes (vs. widely ovoid and puberulous), longer styles in the carpels (ca. 1.2 mm vs. 0.6–0.8 mm) and achenes (ca. 1.8 mm vs. 0.6–0.8 mm), and glabrous receptacles (vs. sparsely puberulous). Ranunculus luanchuanensis, currently known only from its type locality, is geographically isolated from R. limprichtii, a species widely distributed in Gansu, Qinghai, Sichuan, Xizang (Tibet) and Yunnan, China. The distribution map of this new species and its putative closest ally, R. limprichtii, is also provided.

Keywords

Asia, buttercups, Ranunculales, Ranunculus limprichtii

Introduction

Ranunculus L., with ca. 600 species, is the largest genus in the Ranunculaceae and is widely distributed in all continents (Tamura 1995; Hörandl et al. 2005; Paun et al. 2005; Hörandl and Emadzade 2012). More than 150 species and 30 varieties of Ranunculus are currently recognized in China, one of the centers of species diversity for the genus (Wang 1995a, b, 1996, 2007, 2008, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019a, b, 2022; Yang 2000; Wang and Gilbert 2001; Wang and Liao 2009; Luo and Zhao 2013; Wang and Chen 2015; Wang et al. 2016; Yuan and Yang 2017a, b, c; Zhang et al. 2020; Fei et al. 2022, 2023a, b). New species of Ranunculus have been frequently found and described due to intensive field investigations of once not easily accessible areas (Wang 2022; Fei et al. 2023a, b).

During our botanical expedition in June 2022 to Laojun Shan in Luanchuan county, Henan province, central China, we encountered an unusual population of Ranunculus (Figs 1–4). The plants grow in a shady area among boulders and have prostrate stems, 3-lobed and subreniform basal leaves, 3-lobed cauline leaves, small flowers with reflexed and caducous sepals, and glabrous carpels and achenes with long styles. They look like R. limprichtii Ulbr. (Figs 5–8) in having 3-lobed and subreniform basal leaves, 3-lobed cauline leaves (Figs 2C, 7C), small flowers (Figs 2D–F, 7D–F) with reflexed (Figs 2D, 7D) and caducous (Figs 2E, 7E) sepals, but differ by having slender and basally slightly thickened roots (vs. fusiform) (Figs 2A, 7A), prostrate stems (vs. erect) (Figs 1A, B, 6A, B), obliquely ovoid and glabrous carpels and achenes (vs. widely ovoid and puberulous) (Figs 2J, L, 7J, L), longer styles in the carpels (ca. 1.2 mm vs. 0.6–0.8 mm) (Figs 2J, 7J) and achenes (ca. 1.8 mm vs. 0.6–0.8 mm) (Figs 2L, 7L), and glabrous receptacles (vs. sparsely puberulous) (Figs 2M, 7M). A detailed morphological comparison between the two species is given in Table 1. Ranunculus limprichtii is widely distributed in Gansu, Qinghai, Sichuan, Xizang (Tibet) and Yunnan, China (Fig. 9). Therefore, we determined that the population in question represents a hitherto undescribed species, which we name R. luanchuanensis and describe below.

Table 1.
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Morphological comparison between Ranunculus limprichtii and R. luanchuanensis sp. nov.

R. limprichtii R. luanchuanensis
Roots 1‒3, fusiform 1‒3, slender, slightly thickened at base
Stems single, 7‒10 cm tall, erect, glabrous or sparsely puberulous single, 12‒20 cm long, prostrate, glabrous
Basal leaves 1(‒3) 2‒6
Flowers terminal, 1, 8‒11 mm in diameter terminal, 1(‒2), 6‒7 mm in diameter
Receptacles ca. 1 mm long, clavate, sparsely puberulous ca. 1 mm long, clavate, glabrous
Sepals elliptic to obovate, abaxially sparsely puberulous elliptic to obovate, abaxially sparsely puberulous
Petals narrowly elliptic narrowly obovate
Carpels 10‒15; ovaries widely ovoid, puberulous; styles 0.6‒0.8 mm long, apex recurved 14‒18; ovaries obliquely ovoid, glabrous; styles ca. 1.2 mm long, apex recurved
Aggregate fruit subglobose subglobose
Achenes widely ovoid, puberulous, styles 0.6‒0.8 mm long obliquely ovoid, glabrous, styles ca. 1.8 mm long
Figure 1. 

Ranunculus luanchuanensis sp. nov. in the wild (China, Henan, Luanchuan, Laojun Shan) A, B habitat C habit. Photographed by Wen-Qun Fei.

Figure 2. 

Ranunculus luanchuanensis sp. nov. in the wild (China, Henan, Luanchuan, Laojun Shan) A roots B portion of stem C leaves D flower with the sepals reflexed (lateral view) E flower with the sepals having fallen off (lateral view) F flower (top view) G sepal (left: abaxial side; right: adaxial side) H petal (left: adaxial side; right: abaxial side) I stamens J carpels K aggregate fruit L achenes M receptacle. Photographed by Wen-Qun Fei.

Figure 3. 

Holotype sheet of Ranunculus luanchuanensis sp. nov.

Figure 4. 

Isotype (A–D) sheets of Ranunculus luanchuanensis sp. nov.

Figure 5. 

Isotype sheet of Ranunculus limprichtii. Note that the holotype was most probably destroyed during World War II.

Materials and methods

For morphological comparison, we examined physical specimens or high-resolution specimen images of Ranunculus limprichtii at CDBI, HNWP, KUN, PE and WU (acronyms according to Thiers 2022). We also observed living plants in one population of R. limprichtii (Dawu in Sichuan province, the type locality) and one population of R. luanchuanensis (Luanchuan in Henan province). The morphological description of R. luanchuanensis was based on the observation of herbarium specimens and living plants in the wild.

Figure 6. 

Ranunculus limprichtii in the wild (China, Sichuan, Dawu, the type locality) A, B habitat C habit. Photographed by Wen-Qun Fei.

Figure 8. 

Selected specimens (A, B) of Ranunculus limprichtii from Dawu in Sichuan province, China (the type locality).

Figure 7. 

Ranunculus limprichtii in the wild (China, Sichuan, Dawu, the type locality) A roots B portion of stem C leaves D flower with the sepals reflexed (lateral view) E flower with the sepals having fallen off (lateral view) F flower (top view) G sepal (left: abaxial side; right: adaxial side) H petal (left: adaxial side; right: abaxial side) I stamens J carpels K aggregate fruit L achenes M receptacle. Photographed by Wen-Qun Fei.

Taxonomy

Ranunculus luanchuanensis W.Q.Fei, Q.Yuan & Q.E.Yang, sp. nov.

urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:77314566-1
Figs 1, 2, 3, 4

Diagnosis

The new species is morphologically similar to R. limprichtii in having 3-lobed and subreniform basal leaves, 3-lobed cauline leaves, and small flowers with reflexed and caducous sepals, but differs by having slender and basally slightly thickened roots (vs. fusiform), prostrate stems (vs. erect), obliquely ovoid and glabrous carpels and achenes (vs. widely ovoid and puberulous), longer styles in the carpels (ca. 1.2 mm vs. 0.6–0.8 mm) and achenes (ca. 1.8 mm vs. 0.6–0.8 mm), and glabrous receptacles (vs. sparsely puberulous).

Type

China. Henan province: Luanchuan county, Laojun Shan, 33°43'3.62"N, 111°38'59.89"E, in shady place among boulders on mountaintop, alt. 2077 m, 17 June 2022, W.Q. Fei 588 (holotype: IBSC; isotypes: IBSC, PE).

Description

Herbs perennial, terrestrial or rupicolous. Roots 1–3, fibrous, slender, slightly thickened at base. Stems 12–20 cm long, prostrate, unbranched, glabrous. Basal leaves 2–6, 3-lobed, long petiolate; petioles 2–6 cm long, glabrous; blades 0.7–1.6 × 1–2.3 cm, subreniform in outline, thinly papery, adaxially green, glabrous or sparsely puberulous, abaxially light green, glabrous, base cordate, central segment 0.5–0.6 × 0.6–0.7 cm, widely obovate to rhombic-obovate, entire or 2–3-dentate, apex rounded or acuminate, lateral segments 0.5–0.7 × 0.7–1 cm, obliquely flabellate, inconspicuously 2-lobed, apex rounded or acuminate. Lower cauline leaves 2–3, similar to basal ones but smaller. Upper cauline leaves 1–2, 0.6–1.2 × 0.3–0.8 cm, 3-lobed, rarely entire, shortly petiolate or subsessile, oblate-ovate, flabellate or lanceolate, glabrous. Inflorescences terminal, 1(–2)-flowered. Flowers 6–7 mm in diameter; pedicels 0.5–2 cm long, glabrous or sparsely puberulous; receptacles ca. 1 mm long, clavate, glabrous; sepals 5, 2–2.5 × 1.5–1.8 mm, elliptic to obovate, reflexed, caducous, green tinged with yellowish, concave, adaxially glabrous, abaxially sparsely puberulous; petals 5(–6), 3–3.5 × 1.5–1.8 mm, narrowly obovate, yellow, glabrous, apex obtuse or acuminate, nectary pit without a scale, claws ca. 0.4 mm long; stamens 12–16, filaments ca. 1.5 mm long, narrowly linear, anthers ca. 0.5 mm long, oblong; gynoecium subglobose; carpels 14–18, ovaries ca. 0.8 mm long, obliquely ovoid, laterally flattened, biconvex, glabrous, styles ca. 1.2 mm long, glabrous, apex recurved. Aggregate fruit ca. 3.5 × 3.5 mm, subglobose; achenes ca. 1.8 × 1.2 mm, obliquely ovoid, laterally flattened, biconvex, glabrous, styles ca. 1.8 mm long, persistent, apex recurved.

Etymology

The specific epithet refers to the type locality of the new species, i.e., Luanchuan county in Henan province, central China.

Phenology

Flowering in early June; fruiting at the end of June.

Distribution and habitat

Ranunculus luanchuanensis is currently known only from its type locality, i.e., Laojun Shan in Luanchuan county, Henan province, central China (Fig. 9). It grows in a shady area among boulders on a mountaintop at an altitude of 2077 m above sea level.

Figure 9. 

Distribution of Ranunculus limprichtii (black circle) and R. luanchuanensis sp. nov. (black square). Black arrow indicates the type locality of R. limprichtii, i.e., Dawu in Sichuan province, China.

Conservation status

Ranunculus luanchuanensis is currently known only from one small population at its type locality, i.e., Laojun Shan in Luanchuan county, Henan province, central China. This population consists of ca. 100 individuals within an area of less than 3 m2. However, the threat risk seems low because this species is not economically valuable and grows in a secluded place. The conservation status of R. luanchuanensis is here categorized as “Data Deficient (DD)” before adequate information on this species is acquired (IUCN Standards and Petitions Committee 2022).

Notes

Since its description, Ranunculus limprichtii var. flavus Hand.-Mazz. has been known only from its type material from Songpan county in Sichuan province, China (Wang 1995b). Based on our observations of herbarium specimens and living plants in the wild, we agree with Liou (1980) that this variety should be reduced to the synonymy of R. limprichtii. We will deal with the identity of R. limprichtii var. flavus in detail elsewhere.

According to Tamura’s (1995) infrageneric classification of Ranunculus, R. luanchuanensis should be assigned to R. sect. Ranunculus, which is characterized by having swollen achenes with a distinct beak and receptacles hardly enlarged after anthesis. Ranunculus limprichtii, the putative closest ally of R. luanchuanensis, was placed by Wang (1995b) in R. sect. Ranunculus, with the section being incorrectly treated by him as R. sect. Auricomus (Spach) Schur. We accept the sectional placement of R. limprichtii since it is in accordance with the current placement of our new species in the same section.

Acknowledgements

We are grateful to one anonymous reviewer, Dr. Andriy Novikov, and Dr. Marco Pellegrini, for their valuable comments on the manuscript. We thank the curators of CDBI, HNWP, KUN, PE and WU for allowing us to use their scanned images of specimens and for research facilities. This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (grant nos. 31870184, 31770218, 31970210).

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