Ligustrum fengjieense Xian Y.Li & Si Y.Zeng, 2021

Li, Xian-Yuan, Zeng, Si-Yuan & Yu, Jie, 2021, Ligustrum fengjieense (Oleaceae), a new species from eastern Chongqing, China, Phytotaxa 494 (3), pp. 297-300 : 298-300

Ligustrum fengjieense Xian Y.Li & Si Y.Zeng , sp. nov. ( Figs. 1–2 ).

Type:— CHINA. Chongqing: Fengjie County, Dashu Town, Pingdeng Village , in the woodlands, 31.20831728 N; 109.34546471 E, elev. ca. 850 m, 25 May 2019, Xianyuan Li 2019001 (flower, holotype HWA!); ibidem, 26 September 2019, Xianyuan Li 2019002 (fruit, paratype HWA!) .

Diagnosis:— It can be distinguished from Ligustrum pricei and L. expansum by several morphological features ( Table 1). The pedicel of L. fengjieense reaches to 10 mm long (vs. 1–3 mm in L. pricei and sessile or nearly 1 mm in L. expansum ), and the color of anther is distinct purple in L. fengjieense (yellow in both L. pricei and L. expansum ). Besides, L. fengjieense has caudate to acuminate (vs. acute to acuminate in L. pricei and L. expansum ) leaf apices.

Shrubs or small trees, 2–6 m, evergreen. Branchlets terete, glabrous throughout, the base of branchlet bears persistent scales. Petiole 7–10 mm, glabrous; leaf blade elliptic to rhombus-ovate, 5.5–9.5 cm × 2–3.5 cm, leathery, glabrous, base cuneate, apex long acuminate, sometimes acute; primary veins 5 or 6 on each side of midrib, obscure to slightly sunken adaxially, slightly raised abaxially. Panicles terminal, spreading, 4–7 cm × 3–3.5 cm; rachis and pedicel slender, sparse hirsute. Pedicel 7–10 mm. Calyx 1.5–2 mm, glabrous, usually purple at the base. Corolla salverform, 7–8 mm; tube 5–6 mm, 2–3 times longer than lobes. Stamens not exceeding corolla lobes; anthers 1.8–2.4 mm, purple. Fruit black, ellipsoid, 5–8 mm × 3–4 mm, endocarp membranous with fibrous thickening.

Phenology:— Flower were observed in May, and fruit in September.

Distribution and habitat:— The new species currently found only from the type locality, Pingdeng Village, Fengjie County, Chongqing, in evergreen broad-leaved woodlands, at elevation range of 700– 900 m.

Etymology:— The specific epithet refers to Fengjie County, where the type specimen was collected. Owing to its long pedicels, the Chinese name “长梗女ή(Cháng Gěng Nǚ Zhēn)” is suggested.

Conservation assessment:— There were only few known sub-populations of Ligustrum fengjieense in Pingdeng Village, Fengjie County, Chongqing. We surveyed along the woodlands and no additional population were found. However, the survey was not thorough enough for us to fully assess its natural distribution. According to IUCN Red List criteria (2019), this new species is temporarily assessed as Data Deficient (DD; criteria B1ab(i–v) + 2ab(i–v)).

Figures

FIGURE 1. Ligustrum fengjieense. A) Inflorescence branch; B) Part of inflorescence; C) Flower; D) Corolla; E) Fruit branch; F) Fruit; and G) Seed. Drawn by Jie Yu from the holotype and paratype. Bars: A, E = 1 cm; B = 5 mm; C, D, F = 2 mm; G = 1 mm.

FIGURE 2. Ligustrum fengjieense. A) Inflorescence branch; B) Persistent scales at the base of branchlet; C) Rachis: D) Flower; E) Vertical section of corolla; F) Stamen; G) Pistil; H) Fruit branch; I) Fruit; J) Seed with endocarp; and K) Seed. Bars: C = 2 mm; D–G, I–K = 1 mm.