Paraphlomis qingyuanensis W. Y. Zhao, R. M. Wu & Q. Fan, 2024

Zhao, Wan-Yi, Xiong, Qin-Dai, Wu, Rang-Min, Zeng, You-Hong, Xie, Zhi-Bin, Chen, Ya-Ping & Fan, Qiang, 2024, Two new species of Paraphlomis (Lamiales, Lamiaceae) from limestone karsts in Guangdong Province, China, PhytoKeys 243, pp. 231-248 : 231-248

Paraphlomis qingyuanensis W. Y. Zhao, R. M. Wu & Q. Fan sp. nov.

Figs 2 , 3 , 4 A 清远假糙苏

Type.

China. Guangdong Province: Yingde City, Huanghua Town , near Hegushi , on the limestone valley, 24 ° 13 ' N, 112 ° 56 ' E, alt. 135 m, 7 September 2023, Xiong Qin-Dai ZWY- 3793 (holotype: SYS 00236954 ! isotypes: KUN, SYS 00236955 !, SYS 00236968 !, SYS 00236969 !) .

Diagnosis.

Paraphlomis qingyuanensis is morphologically similar to P. brevifolia and P. subcoriacea , but differs from the latter two species by its slender and much branched stem, papery leaves, inconspicuous reticulate veining, and fewer leaf veins.

Description.

Herbs perennial, 50–90 cm tall; stoloniferous, with sparsely villous. Stems erect or decumbent, slender and much branched, 4 - angled, diameter 1.4–3.1 mm, densely retrorse pilose. Leaves opposite; lamina ovate to oblong, papery, 2.7–9.5 cm long, 1.2–2.5 cm wide, apex obtuse, base cuneate, margin crenate-serrate; adaxially green, abaxially light green, sparsely pilose on both sides, more densely on viens; lateral veins 2–4 (- 5) - paired; petiole 0.4–1.6 cm long, densely pilose. Verticillasters born in upper leaf axils, cymes 1–4 - flowered; bracteoles inconspicuous, ca. 0.5 mm long, early deciduous; pedicels ca. 1 mm long, sparsely pilose. Calyx light green, obconical, 4.5–5 mm long, outside with sparsely pilose and white glandular, glabrous inside, conspicuously 10 - veined; teeth 5, inconspicuous so that calyx mouth appears subtruncate, extended into wings from veins as 1.5–2.0 mm long. Corolla 1.0– 1.2 cm long; tube ca. 0.3 cm long, ca. 1 mm in diam., straight, inside of throat dark purple, with pubescent annulate; 2 - lipped, villous outside, upper lip oblong, erect and galeate, apex undulate or bilobate, ca. 8 mm long, ca. 4 mm wide; lower lip reflexed, ca. 4.5 mm long, 3 - lobed, medium lobe largest, suborbicular, ca. 5 mm long, ca. 4.5 mm wide, apex emarginate, white, dotted with purplish-red spots, lateral lobes ovate, ca. 3.5 mm long, ca. 3 mm wide, apex obtuse, yellow. Stamens 4, inserted above middle and upper of corolla tube, straight, included, filaments flat, sparsely puberulent-villous, anther cells 2, ovoid, glabrous. Style filiform, included, glabrous, apex subequally 2 - lobed, ca. 1 cm long. Ovary 4 - loculed, truncate at apex. Nutlets triquetrous-oblong, ca. 2.5 mm long, apex sparsely hispid and glandular.

Distribution, habitat and conservation status.

Currently, only three populations of Paraphlomis qingyuanensis were found in Huanghua Town of Yingde City, Qingyuan City in Guangdong Province (Fig. 7 A ). These populations were located in the subtropical monsoon climate region, in a large area of karst landform. The distribution area of P. qingyuanensis is extremely fragmented, and it is not within a protected area. Human activity, such as forestry production and tourism, have a negative effect on population regeneration. Thus, P. qingyuanensis is here suggested to be endangered (EN) according to IUCN categories guidelines B 2 (a, b (iii )) (AOO <500 km 2, number of locations <5, and habitat affected by human activities) ( IUCN Standards and Petitions Subcommittee 2022).

Phenology.

Flowering was observed from August to December, and fruiting from September to December.

Etymology.

The specific epithet “ qingyuanensis ” is derived from the type locality of the new species, i. e. Qingyaun City in Guangdong Province, China.

Additional specimens examined.

Paraphlomis qingyuanensis (paratypes): China. Guangdong Province: Qingyuan City, Yingde City , Huanghua Town , near Hegushi , on the limestone valley, 24 ° 13 ' N, 112 ° 56 ' E, alt. 132 m, 6 September 2023, Qin-Dai Xiong QYK-HH- 156 ( SYS) ; Yingde city, Huanghua town , Hegushi , 24 ° 13 ' 35.7 " N, 112 ° 56 ' 08.97 " E, alt. 114 m, 16 December 2023, Qiang Fan 20255 ( SYS) ; Yingde city, Huanghua town , near Hegushi , 24 ° 13 ' 22.71 " N, 112 ° 56 ' 05.71 " E, alt. 159 m, 26 December 2023, Qiang Fan & Qin-Dai Xiong QYK-HH- 1904 ( SYS) ; Yingde city, Huanghua town , Huanghua park , 24 ° 12 ' 03.46 " N, 112 ° 54 ' 10.05 " E, alt. 205 m, 25 December 2023, Qiang Fan & Qin-Dai Xiong QYK-HH- 1882 ( SYS) .

Figures

Figure 2. Paraphlomis qingyuanensis A habitat B plants C individual D inflorescences with unopened flowers E opening flowers F leaves G stolons and roots H lateral view of flower I upper lip of flower J dissected corolla and stamens K infructescence L frontal and lateral view of calyx M dissected calyx and seeds. (Photographs: A, B by Qin-Dai Xiong; C – G by Wan-Yi Zhao).

Figure 3. Line drawing of Paraphlomis qingyuanensis A plant B lateral view of flower C upper lip of flower D lateral view of calyx E inner view of calyx F style G dissected corolla and stamens H front view of calyx (Drawn by Zhong-Jin Wang).

Figure 4. Morphological comparison of Paraphlomis qingyuanensis, P. brevifolia, P. baiwanensis, and P. subcoriacea. Paraphlomis qingyuanensis A plant of P. qingyuanensis B plant of P. brevifolia C plant of P. baiwanensis D plant of P. subcoriacea (Photographs by Wan-Yi Zhao; photographs of P. brevifolia from isotype W. Chen 84411, IBSC 0005124).

Figure 7. Geographic distribution and population genetic structure of Paraphlomis baiwanensis (P 1), P. subcoriacea (P 2–4), and P. qingyuanensis (P 5–7) based on Admixture analysis A geographic distribution of the seven populations used for analysis B two-dimensional clustering of genetic variation from seven populations obtained via principal component analysis C Populations genetic structure result based on Admixture analysis.