Thyrocarpus fujianensis Liang Ma, Xin Y.Chen & S.P.Chen, 2023

Ma, Liang, Chen, Xin-Yan, Chen, Yong-Bin, Zhou, Cheng-Yuan, Liu, Ming-Zhu & Chen, Shi-Pin, 2023, Thyrocarpus fujianensis (Boraginaceae; Cynoglosseae), a new species from China: evidence from morphological and molecular analyses, Phytotaxa 600 (2), pp. 105-112 : 108-111

Thyrocarpus fujianensis Liang Ma, Xin Y.Chen & S.P.Chen , sp. nov. (AEAEmfflķ; Figs. 3 , 4)

Type:— China, Fujian (AEAE), Shaowu (DZẍ), under shaded cliffs of Danxia mountains , 27.038935 N, 117.253404 E, alt. 356 m, 1 August 2022, L. Ma 20220607 (holotype: FJFC, isotype: CSH) .

This new species is similar to T. sampsonii and T. glochidiatus , from which it differs by its stem leaves short petiolate; longer pedicels; calyx 1–2 mm, shorter than corolla; corolla tube ca. 1/2 as long as limb, throat appendages ca. 0.6 mm; fruit teeth as long as the bowl, teeth not inflated, incurved, covering the inside layer, margin of inside layer distinctly inwardly constricted and incurved.

Herbs annual. Stems single to several, slender, ascending or decumbent, frequently branched below, 10–25 cm tall, spreading hirsute and minutely hispid. Basal leaves clustered, petiolate, spatulate, 3.5–8.1 × 1.4–2.6 cm, entire, apex mucronate or short acuminate, leaf base attenuate, hispid, hairs discoid at base; stem leaves short petiolate, ovate to narrowly elliptic, smaller, 1.5–4.3 × 0.5–1.5 cm. Cymes axillary or extra–axillary, to 15 cm; bracts ovate to lanceolate, 0.5–4.0 cm. Pedicel 5–10 mm. Calyx 1–2 mm long in flowering, 4 mm in fruit; lobes narrowly elliptic to ovate–lanceolate, pubescent, apex obtuse. Corolla light blue or white, ca. 3 mm, longer than calyx; tube ca. 1/2 as long as limb; throat appendages linear, ca. 0.6 mm, fleshy, papillose, emarginate at apex; limb 2 mm wide; lobes spreading, suborbicular. Ovary 4-parted, style included; stigma terete; stamens inserted at middle of corolla tube, included; filaments short; anthers ovate–oblong, ca. 0.5 mm. Nutlets 4, black-brown, ca. 2.0 mm, margin of outside layer of disc pale, teeth as long as the bowl, teeth not inflated, incurved, covering the inside layer; margin of inside layer distinctly inwardly constricted and incurved.

Phenology:— Flowering and fruiting June–August.

Etymology: The species epithet refers to Fujian Province, where this new species was first found.

Distribution and habitat: Thyrocarpus fujianensis is so far only found within Shaowu, Fujian, China. It grows under shaded cliffs of Danxia mountains of 300–500 m at the edge of evergreen broad–leaved forests.

Conservation status: Thyrocarpus fujianensis is endemic, and only found under shaded cliffs of Danxia mountains. The population size is large and located in more than ten places in Shaowu Jiangshi Provincial Nature Reserve. The overall population size of 1 km 2 is estimated to be around>2000 mature individuals. Because in the reserve, where it is well protected and free from man–made disturbance. Its endangered status should be evaluated as LC (least concern), according to the IUCN (2022).

Specimens examined: T. glochidiatus :— CHINA. Anhui Province, Xiuning Co., Qiyun Mountain , slope, alt. 500 m, 17 August 1987, X.L. Liu 469 (PE02110780) ; Beijing, Xiangshan , grassland, alt. 180 m, 18 April 1995, W.C. Wang s.n. (PE01355159) ; Gansu Province, Wen Co., slope, alt. 750 m, 4 May 2007, Baishui-Team 4221 (PE01659905) ; Guangxi Province, Leye Co., Huaping Town, Duimian Mountain , slope, alt. 1070 m, 17 May 2013, L. Wu 3731 (BNU0043181) ; Henan Province, Xiuwu Co., Yuntai Mountain , slope, 13 June 2009, Yutai-Team 0780 (PE02033907) ; Hunan Province, Rucheng Co., Haotou Town, Qijiang Mountain , cliff, alt. 470 m, 4 April 2017, J.L. Luo & G.X. Feng 174 (CSFI075308) ; Jiangsu Province, Nanjing City, Xuanwu Co., Zijin Mountain , shady place, 3 May 1951, F.X. Liu 959 (PE01355166) ; Jiangxi Province, Yushan Co., Sanqing Mountain , roadside, alt. 404 m, 18 May 2018, Y.N Xiong 258 (NAS00613874) ; Liaoning Province, Dalian City, Lvshun Town, Laotie Mountain , under-forest, alt. 193 m, B. Liu 470 (PE01882953) ; Shandong Province, Changqing Co., Wande Town, Jiguan Mountain , hillside wasteland, alt. 300 m, 6 May 2005, C.Y. Guo 055097-1 (PE02110778) ; Shanxi Province, Shanyang Co., alt. 820 m, 4 May 1963, Z.Y. Zhang 15707 (WUK0214534) ; Sichuan Province, Nanjiang Co., Guangwu Mountain , slope, alt. 1100 m, 25 April 2015, Y. He & H. Tian GWS201504167 (BNU0043174) ; Yunnan Province, Yongde Co., alt. 830 m, 27 February 2018, Y.L. Li 1852 (KUN1459509) ; Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou City, Fenghuang Mountain , hillside roadside, alt. 180 m, 1 May 2008, P. Li 0805028 (CSH0073207) .

T. sampsonii :— CHINA. Anhui Province, Shucheng Co., slopes, alt. 500 m, 19 April 1995, M.B. Deng 90126 (PE01576654) ; Beijing, Xiangshan ,grassland, alt.ca. 100m, 16April 1997, Y.M.Shui & D.H.Zhu 0012 (SZG00048308) ; Chongqing, Nanchuan Co., Sanyi Town , slope, alt. 1250 m, 12 May 1964, X.Q. Chen & K.L. Lang 02204 (PE01355260) ; Fujian Province, Guangze Co., Zhima Town, Shenshan Temple , border, alt. 276 m, 20 March 2018, X.L. Hou & R.P. Zhang 91449 (AU062676) ; Fujian Province, Shunchang Co., Yangkou Town , roadsides, alt. ca. 100 m, 25 April 1986, M.S. Li & Z.Y. Li 4059 (PE01355279) ; Guangdong Province, Lechang Co., Meihuashan Town , slope, alt. 400 m, 6 March 1987, S.Q. Chen 3778 (PE0557345) ; Guangxi Province, Tian’e Co., Dashan Forest Farm, slope, alt. 500 m, 27 April 1989, Beijing-team 890465 (PE02009584) ; Guizhou Province, Dejiang Co., Tongjing Town , roadside, alt. 550 m, 9 March 2003, M.X. An 3016 (PE01648936) ; Henan Province, Liangxia Co., Taiping Town , roadside, alt. 1100 m, 25 April 1974, H.J. Wang & Z.X. Hu 198 (WUK0301136) ; Hubei Province, Luotian Co., roadside, alt. 645 m, 20 May 2015, B. Chen 09170 (CSH0074163) ; Hunan Province, Shaodong Co., Fanjiashan Town , slope, alt. 310 m, 15 April 2005, J.H Liu 70857087 (PE01576662) ; Jiangsu Province, Nanjing City, Zijin Mountain , roadside, alt. 240 m, 13 April 2013, Z.Y. Guo 0027 (PE01648930) ; Jiangxi Province, Jiu jiang Co., Ming Mountain , under the bamboo forest on the slope, alt. 170 m, 3 June 1993, C.M. Tan 93173 (PE01648932) ; Sichuan Province, Pingwu Co., Laohegou Nature Reserve , alt. 1120 m, 25 April 2014, S.R. Chen 1684 (PE02021618) ; Taiwan Province, Taoyuan Co., Fuhsiang Town, Hsuanyuan-Szuling , alt. 1140 m, 15 April 2002, C.M. Wang 05440 (PE01883969) ; Yunnan Province, Xishuangbanna Co., roadside, alt. 540 m, 5 May 1955, G.M. Feng 20713 (PE01355296) ; Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou City, Xihu Town, Qinglong Mountain , slopes, alt. 383 m, 11 April 2003, Zhu & Liu 383 (PE01576657) .

Figures

FIGUERE 3. Thyrocarpus fujianensis (A) Pedicel; (B) Calyx in flowering; (C) Flower; (D) Fruit longitudinal section; (E) Side view of fruit; (F) Floral anatomy; (G) Fruit; (H) Plant; (I–J) Stem leaves; (K–L) Basal leaves.