Oreocharis qianyuensis Lei Cai, J.W.Yang & Q.Zhang, 2022

Yang, Jia-Wen, Qin, Xin-Mei, Xu, Jian, Li, Cong-Rui, Ren, Qi-Fei, Yuan, Mao-Qin, Zhang, Qiang, Yi, Si-Rong & Cai, Lei, 2022, Oreocharis qianyuensis, a new species of Gesneriaceae from Southwest, China based on morphological and molecular evidence, PhytoKeys 213, pp. 119-130 : 119

Oreocharis qianyuensis Lei Cai, J.W.Yang & Q.Zhang sp. nov.

Figs 2 , 3 , 4 , 5

Diagnosis.

The new species is morphologically most similar to Oreocharis fargesii (Franch.) Mich. Möller & A. Weber and O. nanchuanica (K.Y. Pan & Z.Y. Liu) Mich. Möller & A. Weber in the color, shape and structure of flowers, but differs from the latter two in its inconspicuously petiolate, obovate to flabellate leaf blade with adaxially surface sparsely rust-brown pubescent to glabrescent, abaxially densely rust-brown villous, apex rounded, base extending downward into a wing shape, margin crenate, and the peduncle and pedicel densely glandular pubescent. A comparison of morphological differences between the related species is provided in Table 1 .

Type.

China, Guizhou Province: Kaili City, Dafengdong Town, Shuangjiangkou Village , Taiyanghe , 26°42'30"N, 107°49'32"E, elev. ca. 845 m, on the surfaces of rocks under the thicket, in flowering, 15 July 2020, Jia-Wen Yang et al. CL2020247 (Holotype: KUN!; Isotypes: KUN!, P!) .

Description.

Perennial herb, rhizome short. Leaves 4-7, basal; without petiole or extremely inconspicuous petiole, leaf blade obovate to flabellate, 3.0-12 × 2.0-8.5 cm, adaxially sparsely rust-brown pubescent to glabrescent, abaxially rust-brown villous, densely along veins, lateral veins 3-6 on each side of midrib, apex rounded, obtuse to nearly truncate, base extends downward into wing shape, basally enclosed with dense and long rust-brown villous tuft, margin crenate. Cymes axillary 2-5, 2-12-flowered per inflorescence; peduncle 4.5-14 cm long, cover with rust-brown villous and densely glandular pubescent, basally enclosed with dense and long rust-brown villous tuft; bracts 2, linear triangle to lanceolate, margin entire, 3.0-4.5 × 1.6-2.0 mm, outside rust-brown villous; pedicel 2.0-5.0 cm long, densely glandular pubescent. Calyx 5-parted to base, lobes equal, lanceolate triangle, 3.0-5.0 × 1.0-1.4 mm, margin denticulate, outside rust-brown villous, inside glabrous. Corolla brownish red to dark purple, 7-12 mm long, outside and inside glabrous, tube campanulate, 5-8 mm long, 4.5-5.5 mm in diameter at the widest position; limb 2-lipped; adaxial lip 2-lobed from the middle, lobes semiorbicular, 3.5-4.5 × 2.5-3 mm, abaxial lip 3-lobed to base, lobes semiorbicular, 4-4.5 × 3-3.5 mm. Stamens 4, 4.5-6 mm long, adnate to corolla 2-2.5 mm from base; filaments linear, glabrous; anthers broadly ovate, 2-loculed, coherent in pairs, connective glabrous; staminode 1,ca. 0.5 mm long, inserted ca. 1 mm from base. Disc 1-1.5 mm high, yellow, margin undulate. Pistil 5-8 mm long; ovary long cylindrical, glabrous, 3.0-4.5 mm long; style ca. 2.0-3.5 mm long, glabrous; stigma orbicular, emarginate in the middle, slight bilobed when dry. Capsule linear, glabrous, 2.0-2.8 cm long, 2-3 mm in diameter, dehiscing predominantly on one side.

Phenology.

Flowering from July to August in Guizhou and from September to October in Chongqing; time of fruiting unknown.

Etymology.

The specific epithet ' Oreocharis qianyuensis ' refers to the known distribution at the time of publication in Guizhou and Chongqing in China. Qian is an alternative name for Guizhou and Yu is an alternative name for Chongqing.

Vernacular name.

The Chinese name of the new species is "Qian Yu Ma Ling Ju Tai" (黔渝马铃苣苔). The first two characters mean this species is distributed in Guizhou and Chongqing, and the last four characters represent the Chinese name of the genus Oreocharis .

Distribution and conservation status.

Oreocharis qianyuensis was observed to grow on the surfaces of rocks under forest in karst region in Kaili City, Guizhou, and on limestone rock surface or crevices under deciduous forests in Pengshui County, Chongqing. The species is currently known from one population of ca. 2000 individuals within 5500 m2 (AOO) in Guizhou and one population of ca. 300 individuals within 1000 m2 (AOO) in Chongqing. Since no special surveys were carried out for its distribution, and the threat is that the population is close to roadside in Guizhou and possible continuous drought in Chongqing, so it is very likely to be damaged or excavated, so this species was provisionally considered to be Endangered [EN B2ab(iii)] in terms of IUCN Red List categories and criteria ( IUCN 2022).

Specimens examined.

China. Chongqing: Pengshui County, Hanjia Town , on rock walls, 29°1'90.94"N, 108°13'23.16"E, elev. 290 m, 4 October 2021, Si-Rong Yi YSR9297 (Paratypes: IBK!) .

Figures

Figure 2. Oreocharis qianyuensis sp. nov. A habit B front view of a flower C side view of a flower D opened corolla showing stamens and staminode E pistil with disc and calyx F old fruit. Drawn by Xuan-Lin Zhu.

Figure 3. Oreocharis qianyuensis sp. nov. (Population in Guizhou) A, C habitat B, D plants with flowers.

Figure 4. Oreocharis qianyuensis sp. nov. (Population in Guizhou) A, B inflorescence C top view of flower D side view of flower E, F front view of flowers G young fruit, pistil with disc and calyx, opened corolla showing stamens and staminode H pistil with disc and calyx I opened corolla showing stamens and staminode J old fruit.

Figure 5. Oreocharis qianyuensis sp. nov. (Population in Chongqing) A habit B plant with flowers C leaves D pilose tuft E opened corolla with stamens and staminode F pistil and disc G calyx with pistil H infructescence.