Fordiophyton zhuangiae S. Jin Zeng & G. D. Tang, 2016

Zeng, Si-Jin, Huang, Ge-Han, Liu, Qiang, Yan, Xiao-Kai, Zhang, Guo-Qiang & Tang, Guang-Da, 2016, Fordiophyton zhuangiae (Melastomataceae), a new species from China based on morphological and molecular evidence, Phytotaxa 282 (4), pp. 259-266 : 263

Fordiophyton zhuangiae S. Jin Zeng & G. D. Tang , sp. nov. (ĖkñäË), ( Figs. 3 , 4 )

Type:— CHINA. Guangdong (Ḟḟ): Yangchun (D̊), Ehuangzhang Provincial Nature Reserve , on damp slopes of ravines in broad-leaved forests, 489 m, 29 March 2016, S. Jin Zeng YC 005 (holotype: IBSC!; isotypes: CANT!, HK!, K!, MO!) .

Diagnosis: The new species, Fordiophyton zhuangiae , resembles F. brevicaule but differs from the latter in having stems with inconspicuous nodes, glabrous leaves, winged petioles, oblong petals without an apical trichome, and purplish anthers in the longer set of stamens.

A perennial herb, succulent, with raphides both in vegetative and floral parts. Stems stoloniferous, 1–5 cm, internodes indistinct. Leaves in a basal or sub-basal rosette, decussate; petiole 2–4 cm long, winged adaxially, glabrous; leaf blade elliptic, 4–9 × 2–4 cm, base cuneate, apex acuminate, margin crenate to nearly entire, slightly fleshy, glabrous on both surfaces; secondary veins 2–3 on each side of the midvein, conspicuous; tertiary veins numerous, parallel, and connecting secondary veins; abaxial veins typically purplish. Inflorescences terminal, panicles cymose, each branch 1–3-flowered, glabrous; peduncle 11–18 cm. Pedicel 5–8 mm, bracts ovate, glabrous, caducous. Hypanthia funnel-shaped, 10–12 mm long, glabrous; calyx lobes lanceolate, ca. 8 × 3 mm, glabrous. Petals pink or purplish, oblong, ca. 18 × 9 mm, apex mucronate and lacking a solitary glandular trichome at the tip. Stamens 8, 4 long and 4 short arranged in 2 whorls. Longer stamens ca. 24 mm; anthers purplish, oblong-linear, ca. 12 mm, bases with an obtuse fork, connective bases inflated and shorter than that of anthers. Shorter stamens ca. 11 mm; anthers yellow, oblong, ca. 3 mm, base obtuse forked, connective base slightly inflated. Ovary half-inferior, ovate, apex truncate and with a membranous crown; placentas shortly stalked. Capsule funnel-shaped, ca. 8–12 mm long, 5–7 mm in diameter, apex truncate. Flowering in March–April, fruiting in April–May.

Distribution and habitat: — Fordiophyton zhuangiae grows in damp locations in ravines with broad-leaved forests between 180 m and 790 m in Yangchun, Guangdong Province, China ( Fig. 2 ).

Etymology: —The specific epithet honors Professor Xue-Ying Zhuang, a Chinese botanist who devoted all her life to studying the plant resources of South China and teaching undergraduate and graduate students. She was our supervisor who unfortunately passed away on 8 March, 2016. We would like to dedicate this new species to her.

Additional specimens examined: — CHINA. Guangdong: Yangchun, Ehuangzhang Nature Reserve, Hewei Mountain , Bibo Pool , 400m, 24 April 1991, Nian Liu etc. 1540 ( IBSC 0224022 !) ; Guangdong: Yangchun, Ehuangzhang Nature Reserve, Honghua Pool to Taiping , 650m, 11 May 2001, Hua-Gu Ye etc. 5624 ( IBSC 0224021 !) .

Figures

FIGURE 2. The distribution map of five Fordiophyton species with stoloniferous stems and rosetted leaves.

FIGURE 3. Drawing of Fordiophyton zhuangiae S. Jin Zeng & G. D. Tang. A: flowering plant; B: flower bud, side view. C: flower, front view; D: pistil and stamens, side view; E: petal; F: longer stamen, front view and side view; G: shorter stamen, front view and back view. Drawn by Li-Jun Chen & Pei-Wen Zhang.

FIGURE 4. Comparison of Fordiophyton zhuangiae and F. brevicaule. A–E: F. zhuangiae; F–I: F. brevicaule; A, F: the plants in situ; B, G: stem; C: winged and glabrous petiole; D: flower bud; E, I: opening flowers; H: wingless and sparsely hispid petiole. I: kindly provided by Hong Kong Herbarium.