Phyllostachys danxiashanensis N.H. Xia & X.R. Zheng, 2019

Zheng, Xi-Rong, Tong, Yi-Hua, Ni, Jing-Bo, Chen, Zai-Xiong & Xia, Nian-He, 2019, Phyllostachys danxiashanensis (Poaceae: Bambusoideae), a new species from south China, Phytotaxa 388 (2), pp. 201-206 : 203-204

Phyllostachys danxiashanensis N.H. Xia & X.R. Zheng , sp. nov. (ñḆƜNJfi, Figs. 1–2 )

Type:— CHINA. Guangdong Province: Renhua, Danxia Mountain, the lowland montane, 117 m a.s.l., 25°0 ′ 45.07 ″ N, 113°46 ′ 8.25 ″ E, 22 May 2018, ZXR196 (Holotype: IBSC!).

Diagnosis: —The new species is similar to P. rivalis in having papery culm sheaths, erect culm sheath blades and the absence of culm sheath auricles, but it differs from P. rivalis by its much longer cilia on culm sheath ligule, hispid culm sheaths, and fewer leaves on ultimate branches.

Description: —Culms 1.5–4 m long, 0.5–2 cm in diameter; internodes 15–25 cm long, green, glabrous, initially glaucous, lower, branchless internodes cylindrical, semicircular in cross section and sulcate above branches at higher internodes; supranode elevated and more prominent than sheath scar; intranode ca. 5 mm long, glaucous. Branching from 5th to 10th node apically. Culm sheaths thin, papery, brown hispid abaxially, margins ciliate; auricle absent; oral setae absent; ligules truncate, 2–3 mm tall, apex with long cilia (up to 13 mm); blades erect, linear, nearly 1/4 as wide as sheath apex. Leaves 1–2 per ultimate branch; leaf sheaths distally pubescent; auricle absent; oral setae several, purple, erect, 4–6 mm long; ligules truncate, ca. 1 mm, glabrous; blades linear, 6–10× 1–1.5 cm, green adaxially and slightly glaucous abaxially, serrulate on one side, secondary veins 4–5 pairs. Inflorescence iterauctant, flowering branchlets lateral on branch nodes, spicate, ca. 5–8 cm long, scale-like bracts 3–5, gradually larger, 1–10 mm long; spathes 6–8, straightly setulose, the largest 25–30 mm long, apex with a 10–60× 3–10 mm lanceolate or ovate-lanceolate reduced blade; prophyll 1 with pseudospikelets 1 or 2(or 3) per spathe, absent from basal several deciduous spathes; spikelet lanceolate, 20–25 mmlong; glume 1 or absent, densely setulose, ca. 10–15 mm long; floret usually 1, sometimes 2; rachilla setulose, ca. 5 mm long; lemma 20–25 mmlong, densely setulose, apex aristulate-acuminate; palea slightly shorter than lemma, sparsely setulose, 2-keeled, apex bifid; lodicule unknown; stamens 3. Caryopsis ellipsoid, ca. 7 mm long, with a persistent style.

Notes:— We did not find intact flowers of this new species because the flowering was coming to an end, and the flowers had suffered serious damage from pests. Unfortunately the lodicules and stigmas are still unknown.

Distribution: —The new species occurs in a lowland montane area, Danxia Mountain, Renhua County, Guangdong Province, China.

Conservation status: —Data deficient (DD). This species has only been found in the type locality and the distribution range has not been ascertained. More information of its distribution and number of individuals needs to be obtained for accurate assessment. This species is therefore assigned a preliminary status of “Data Deficient” [DD] following IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria ( IUCN, 2012).

Etymology: —The epithet refers to the type locality.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Phyllostachys danxiashanensis N.H. Xia & X.R. Zheng, sp. nov. (a) & (b) The plants in situ; (c) culm node; (d) culm leaves; (e) leafy branchlet; (f) leaves; (g) showing oral setae and ligule.

FIGURE 2. Synflorescence of Phyllostachys danxiashanensis N.H. Xia & X.R. Zheng, sp. nov. (a) Habit in flowering; (b) lepidoid bracts; (c) spathes; (d) prophyll; (e) glume; (f) floret; (g) lemma; (h) palea; (i) anthers; (j) caryopsis with lemma and palea.