Salvia luteistriata G.X.Hu, E.D.Liu & C.L.Xiang, 2017

Hu, Guo-Xiong, Liu, En-De, Zhang, Ting, Cai, Jie & Xiang, Chun-Lei, 2017, Salvia luteistriata (Lamiaceae), a new species from northeastern Sichuan, China, Phytotaxa 314 (1), pp. 123-128 : 123-127

Salvia luteistriata G.X.Hu, E.D.Liu & C.L.Xiang , sp. nov. ( Figs. 1–2 )

Similar to S. maximowicziana Hemsley (1890: 285) , but differs from this in having bigger leaves, bracts and corolla lips, longer pedicel, bigger maroon corolla, and showy creamy-yellow vertical stripes in the internal ventral surface of corolla tube.

Type:— CHINA. Sichuan: Bazhong, Nanjiang County, Guangwushan Town , nearby Shibayuetan of Guangwushan scenic spot, at the forest edge, nearby streamside, elevation 1778 m, 106°49′26.12″E, 32°37′37.50″N, 20 August 2015, G. X. Hu, E. D. Liu & C. L. Xiang 0294 (holotype KUN! isotypes KUN!, PE!) (The holotype and isotypes were prepared based on a cultivated plant in Kunming Institute of Botany , CAS; the specimens in KUN herbarium are clearly identified with a label as holotype and isotype)

Perennial herb, 30–70 cm tall. Taproot succulent. Stem 3–6-branched from base, lower part with long hirsute hairs (1–2 mm long), upper part with densely villous and glandular hairs, aerial parts dying in winter. Leaves simple; petiole 6–16 cm long, hairs similar to those in the stem lower part; leaf blade ovate-circular to ovate-oblong, 7–12.5 × 6.5–10.5 cm, adaxially minutely hirsute, abaxially pubescent along veins, base deeply cordate to hastate, margin coarsely crenate-dentate, apex acute, 4.5–5.2 mm long. Verticillasters 2-flowered, in terminal panicles. Lower floral leaves similar to cauline leaves but smaller and sessile, upper ones gradually changing into bracts, ovate-lanceolate, 7–11 × 3–4 mm, margin with long glandular hairs. Pedicel 4.5–5.5 mm long, covered with glandular hairs, with two linear bracteoles at its base, 1.5–2.5 × 0.7–0.8 mm. Calyx campanulate, 6.5–7.5 mm, bilabiate to one-third its length, green, sometimes with purple portions, 9-veined, densely covered on the nerves with long glandular hairs, sparsely and inconspicuously hairy between the nerves, glabrous inside, upper lip broadly triangular, 1.8–2.2 × 3.5–4.2 mm, 3- veined, apex mucronate, lower lip approximately as long as the upper, with 2 long ovate-lanceolate teeth, fruiting calyx dilated, up to 8–10 × 7–8 mm. Corolla 3–4 cm long, pubescent outside, corolla tube 3.3–3.6 cm long, basal portion cylindrical, creamy-yellow, 5.5–6.2 mm long, 3.2–3.7 mm in diameter, with a showy ring of densely squamiform hairs at the top of the basal portion, then gradually dilated, to 8.5 mm wide at throat, the dilated part maroon with four showy creamy-yellow vertical stripes in the internal ventral surface; upper lip slightly galeate, oblong, ca. 9 × 4 mm, covered by glandular hairs outside and short eglandular hairs inside, some or all of the upper corolla lips creamy-yellow inside, apex emarginated; lower lip 3-lobed, middle lobe emarginated, ca. 6.5 × 8 mm, maroon, usually with creamy-yellow edge, reflexed downwards; lateral lobes elliptical-oblong, 10 × 2 mm, reflexed. Fertile stamens 2, filament 6.5–7.5 mm; connective 5.5–6.5 mm long, arcuate, hairy at the joint, upper arm 3.3–3.8 mm long, the lower 2.2–2.7 mm long, anterior thecae straight, 1.8–2.2 mm long, fertile, separate; posterior thecae slightly smaller, vertical to the lower arm, 1.2–1.5 mm long, bearing few pollen grains, fused, the posterior and lower arm form a fan-shaped structure. Staminodes 2, 0.8–1.2 mm long. Style exerted slightly, stigmatic lobes unequal, posterior lobe obscure. Mericarp obovate, yellow-brown, ca. 2.5 × 2.5 mm, apex rounded, base slightly acute.

Distribution, habitat and phenology: — Salvia luteistriata is currently only known from Guangwushan scenic spot, Nanjiang County, northeastern Sichuan, China ( Fig. 3 ). The type locality is situated in Micang Mountain, generally regarded as part of Daba Mountain, and it is only about 10 km away from the border of Sichuan and Shaanxi. Since, Daba Mountain is also shared by Shaanxi, Chongqing and Hubei, other populations might be eventually find there. The species grows at forest edges, streamside and roadside at elevations between 1600 m and 1800 m. More field work is needed to elucidate its habitat and distribution area. Flowering August to September, and fruiting from September to October.

Etymology: —The specific epithet “luteistriata ” indicates that the new species has showy creamy-yellow vertical stripes in the internal ventral surface.

Additional specimens examined (paratypes): — CHINA. Sichuan: Bazhong, Nanjiang County, Guangwushan Town , Chenjiashan Pass to Shibayuetan of Guangwushan scenic spot, roadside, elevation 1680 m, 106°48′15″E, 32°37′37.31″N, 13 September 2010, Zhang et al. 10 CS2461 ( KUN!) ; Sichuan: Bazhong, Nanjiang County, Guangwushan Town , nearby Shibayuetan of Guangwushan scenic spot, streamside, elevation 1778 m, 106°49′26.12″E, 32°37′37.50″N, 9 September 2013, Xiang et al. 1153 ( KUN!)

Notes: —Morphologically, S. luteistriata is similar to S. maximowicziana by having ovate-circular leaves, coarsely crenate-dentate leaf margin ( Fig. 2D ), 2 flowers per verticillaster, campanulate calyx ( Fig. 2F ) and similar staminal structure ( Fig. 2I ). However, it can be readily distinguished from the latter by having bigger leaves (7–12.5 × 6.5–10.5 cm vs. 3–8 × 6–8 cm), longer bract (7–11 mm vs. 3–7 mm), longer pedicel (4.5–5.5 mm vs. 1–2 mm), different corolla color (maroon corolla with showy creamy-yellow vertical stripes in the internal ventral surface of corolla tube vs. yellow without additional marks or dots inside corolla tube), longer corolla (3–4 cm vs. 2 cm), longer upper (ca. 9 × 4 mm vs. ca. 5 × 4 mm) and lower corolla lips (ca. 6.5 × 8 mm vs. ca. 3 × 4 mm), and bigger mericarp (2.5 × 2.5 mm vs. 2.5 × 1.5 mm) (see Table 1). Salvia maximowicziana was placed into Salvia ser. Maximowiczianae Wu (1977: 580) , which includes a total of six species. As the new species is similar to S. maximowiczianae , it should be included into ser. Maximowicziana . Here, we provide an identification key for the species embraced in this series.

Key to species of Salvia ser. Maximowiczianae

1. Leaves only cauline............................................................................................................................................................................2

1. Leaves basal and cauline ....................................................................................................................................................................4

2. Leaf blade cordate-ovate, corolla purple .................................................................................................................... S. himmelbaurii

2. Leaf blade ovate to broadly hastate-ovate, corolla yellow.................................................................................................................3

3. Leaf blade abaxially purple, verticillasters 2-flowered, calyx narrow campanulate.......................................................... S. omeiana

3. Leaf blade abaxially green, verticillasters 2–6-flowered, calyx tubular ............................................................................... S. cynica

4. Calyx 1–1.5 cm, verticillasters 2–6-flowered, flowering from April to May................................................................. S. cyclostegia

4. Calyx ca. 0.7 cm, verticillasters 2-flowered, flowering from July to September...............................................................................5

5. Leaf blade triangular-ovate, 2.5–5 × 1–3 cm ............................................................................................................. S. paohsingensis

5. Leaf blade circular-cordate to ovate-cordate, bigger (3–12.5 × 6–10.5 cm)......................................................................................6

6. Leaf blade 7–12.5 × 6.5–10.5 cm, corolla maroon, 3–4 cm long, with four pronounced creamy-yellow stripes in the internal ventral surface of corolla tube .................................................................................................................................................... S. luteistriata

6. Leaf blade 3–8 × 6–8 cm, corolla yellow, ca. 2.2 cm long, without marks or dots inside corolla tube ................ S. maximowicziana

Figures

FIGURE 1. Salvia luteistriata. A. Upper portion of a flowering branch; B. Lower stem portion; C. Leaf, abaxial view; D. Dissected calyx showing the pistil; E. Dissected corolla showing a ring of hairs and the position of stamens and staminodes; F. Floral bract and bracteoles at the base of the calyx; G. Mericarp. Drawn by G.S. Yin from the holotype.

FIGURE 2. Salvia luteistriata. A. Habitat; B. Plant; C. Succulent root; D. Adaxial view; E. Inflorescence; F. Floral bract and bracteoles at the base of the calyx; G & H. Corolla; I. Dissected corolla showing creamy-yellow stripes inside tube; J. Stamen; K. Mericarp. A–C photographed by C.L. Xiang, D–K by G.X. Hu.

FIGURE 3. Distribution map of Salvia luteistriata.