Epimedium xichangense Y. J. Zhang, 2016

Zhang, Yanjun, Zhang, Shoujun, Dang, Haishan, Zheng, Bin, Li, Jianqiang & Wang, Ying, 2016, Epimedium xichangense (Berberidaceae), a new species from Sichuan, China, Phytotaxa 263 (3), pp. 286-290 : 286-289

Epimedium xichangense Y. J. Zhang , sp. nov. ( Figures 1 , 2 )

Diagnosis: —The new species is similar to E. elongatum , but can be distinguished by its compact rhizome, ovate inner sepals (5.5–6.5 × ca. 3 mm), and spurs of petals with obvious basal lamina 6–7 mm high.

Type: — CHINA. Sichuan: Xichang City, Kaiyuan Town, Gujiumo Village, alt. 1890 m, 12 May 2014, Yanjun Zhang 439 (holotype, HIB!, isotypes, CSH!, HIB!, IBSC!).

Herbs 50–60 cm high. Rhizome short, nodose, 3–5 mm in diam. Leaves basal and cauline, biternate, or 7-, 5-, 3- foliolate. Leaflets ovate, 3.2–7.4 × 3–4 cm; apices acuminate or long acuminate; bases deeply cordate, terminal leaflet with equal, rounded or acute lobes, lateral leaflets conspicuously oblique with inner lobes small, rounded or acute, outer lobes larger, rounded, acute, or acuminate; margins spiny-serrate; subleathery, adaxially glabrous, abaxially with sparse erect pubescent hairs. Flowering stem with 3, or occasionally 2 or 4 alternate leaves. Inflorescence compound with lower peduncles 2–5 flowers, 20–30 cm long, 20–60-flowered, glandular; pedicels 1.5–2.5 cm. Flowers yellow, 3.3–4 cm in diam. Outer sepals purple, soon falling; outer pair ovate, ca. 3 × 2 mm, apices obtuse; inner pair broadly ovate, ca. 4 × 3 mm, apices obtuse. Inner sepals purple red, ovate, 5.5–6.5 × ca. 3 mm, apices acute. Petals much longer than inner sepals, pale yellow; spurs slender, subulate, horizontally spreading, 1.7–1.9 cm; basal lamina distinct, forming a cup 6–7 mm deep. Stamens included, ca. 4 mm; anthers ca. 3 mm, anthers and pollens pale yellow. Capsules ca. 2 cm.

Etymology: —Named after its type locality, Xichang, Sichuan, China.

Distribution and habitat: —At present, E. xichangense is only known from Xichang, Sichuan, China. The species is found in thickets at elevations about 1890 m with associated plants Quercus spinosa David ex Franchet , Hypericum patulum Thunberg , Vaccinium bracteatum Thunberg , Clematis montana Buchanan-Hamilton ex de Candolle , and Pieris formosa (Wallich) D. Don.

Phenology: — E. xichangense flowers from April to May, and fruits from May to June.

IUCN Red List category: —Around the holotype locality of E. xichangense , the vegetation was destroyed to a great extent because of reclaiming wasteland and mining.Although we conducted two investigations on E. xichangense in Xichang, only one population was found with more than 5,000 mature individuals on a mountain slope, which occupies an area of less than 50 km 2. E. xichangense should be designated as Critically Endangered (CR) according to IUCN Red List criteria ( IUCN 2001), at least until other populations are found. The species has been transplanted into Wuhan Botanical Garden of the Chinese Academy of Sciences in 2014 for ex situ conservation, and about 30 transplanted individuals are in good condition at present. Because the distribution locality of E. xichangense is near to mining area, we also suggest that the species should be conducted in situ conservation as soon as possible.

Figures

FIGURE 1. E. xichangense. A. Flowering stem with cauline leaves. B. Flower. C. Outer sepal (outer pair). D. Outer sepal (inner pair). E. Inner sepal. F. Petal. G. Stamen and gynoecium. (from Y. J. Zhang 439, HIB). Drawn by Nan Jia.

FIGURE 2. Photos of E. xichangense. A. plant. B. leaf. C–E. Inflorescence. F–H. Flower. I. Capsule. J. Rhizome. K. Scanning electron microscopy micrograph for pubescence on the abaxial leaflet surface. L. Habitat. Photographed by Yanjun Zhang, except for K photographed by Yuan Zhou.