Orychophragmus yangii L. L. Xun & M. Yue, 2025

Xun, Lu-Lu, Qin, Yong-Xing, Liu, Pei-Liang, Yue, Ming, Li, Bin & Chai, Yong-Fu, 2025, Orychophragmus yangii sp. nov. (Brassicaceae), a new species from Shaanxi, China, PhytoKeys 262, pp. 161-170 : 161-170

Orychophragmus yangii L. L. Xun & M. Yue sp. nov.

Figs 3 , 4

Type.

China • Shaanxi Province, Suide County, on arid areas of sunny slope, 830 m a. s. l., 37°29'50.10"N, 110°15'42.06"E, 18 Apr. 2023, L. L. Xun 3061 ( holotype XBGH!; isotypes XBGH!, WUK!) .

Diagnosis.

The new species is different from all other Orychophragmus species by the following traits: whole plant glabrous; leaves vary from simple to pinnatifid but never lyrate; the pinnatifid leaves have lobes divided or not; the simple leaves are widest at base; sepals green; petals white; fruit narrowly linear, terete, glabrous; rostra of fruit 2–4 mm long.

Description.

Herbs annual or biennial. Stems erect or ascending, 12–50 cm tall, simple or branched, glabrous. Basal and lower cauline leaves pinnatifid, lateral lobes 1–10 on each side, lobes divided or not, margin entire; petiole 1–7 cm long; blade oblong-ovate, 2.5–13 × 1–5 cm, glabrous; often withered when fruiting. Middle and upper cauline leaves pinnatifid or simple, amplexicaul, sessile, margin entire, apex acute or acuminate, oblong-ovate, 2–20 × 0.5–6 cm; lateral lobes (if present) 1–7 on each side. Raceme ebracteate, erect. Sepals 4, green, linear, erect, 8–14 × 1–2 mm, glabrous, base of lateral pair strongly saccate. Petals 4, white, obovate, 8–15 × 5–8 mm, apex rounded; claw as long as sepals. Filaments 6, 0.6–1.1 cm; anthers linear, 3–4 mm, apiculate, erect or recurved. Ovary linear, ovules many, style 1–2 mm. Pedicels glabrous, 0.8–1.5 cm long. Fruit narrowly linear, terete, (2 -) 4–10 cm × 1.5–2.0 mm, rostra short, 2–4 mm long; valves glabrous. Seeds dark brown, oblong, 1.7–2.5 × 0.6–1.0 mm, surface with reticulation.

Phenology.

Flowering from April to May, fruiting from May to June.

Distribution, habitat, and ecology.

The distribution of Orychophragmus yangii is limited to Suide and Wubu County of Shaanxi Province. It can be considered endemic to the Loess Plateau and Shaanxi Province. This species usually grows on the dry and sunny slope, roof, and roadside from 800 M to 900 m a. s. l.

Etymology.

The specific epithet “ yangii ” is derived from Mr. Hong-Hua Yang. The Chinese vernacular name of this new species can be “ 宏华诸葛菜 (hóng huá zhū gě cài) ”.

Other specimens checked ( Paratypes).

China • Shaanxi Province, Suide County, on the hillside, ca. 900 M, 14 May 1956, Huanghedui 6839 ( WUK!) ; • Suide County, on the sunny place near Long Bay , 7 Jun 1953, K. T. Fu 6678 ( HIB!) ; • Suide County, 19 May 2021, L. L. Xun 1564 ( XBGH!) ; • Suide County, on dry roof, ca. 810 M, 37°29'56.2"N, 110°15'32.97"E, 13 June 2021, L. L. Xun 1650 ( XBGH!) ; • Suide County, on the sunny place of roadside, ca. 800 M, 37°29'57.7"N, 110°15'29.2"E, 18 April 2023, L. L. Xun 3059 ( XBGH!) ; • Wubu County, on the sunny place of loess hill, ca. 800 M, 23 May 1953, Shanbeidui 10070 ( PE!) .

Figures

Figure 3. Illustration of Orychophragmus yangii. A. Plant; B – F. Leaves; G. Flower; H. Fruit; I. Transverse section of fruit. Drawn by Jia-Chen Liang.

Figure 4. The habitat and morphological characters of Orychophragmus yangii. A. Habitat; B. Plants in bloom; C. Fruiting plants; D – G. Leaves; H. Inflorescences; I. Sepals; J. Petals; K. Stamens; L. Pistil; M. Fruits; N. Transverse section of fruit; O. Seeds.