Carex bamaensis X. F. Jin & W. J. Chen, 2015

Jin, Xiao-Feng, Chen, Wei-Jie & Cen, Jia-Meng, 2015, Notes on Carex (Cyperaceae) from China (III): the description of four new species, Phytotaxa 231 (2), pp. 165-174 : 167-169

2. Carex bamaensis X. F. Jin & W. J. Chen , sp. nov. ( Figure 2 )

Haec species C. lancifoliae C. B. Clarke affinis est, sed culmis, foliis et bracteis pilosis, spicis pistillatis paullo densi-floris recedit.

Type: ― CHINA. Guangxi Zhuangzu Autonomous Region: Bama County, Jiazhuan Township, Baimodong, on stones by roadside, elevation 335 m, 24º18’7.23’’N, 107º5’56.46’’E, 21 May 2013, X. F. Jin & al. 3040 (holotype HTC!, isotype ZM!).

Perennial herbs. Rhizomes short, stiff. Culms loosely caespitose, central or lateral, 9–18 cm tall, trigonous, slender, white pilose, with grayish brown, persistent sheaths at base. Leaves shorter than to rarely longer than culms; blades 2.5–6 mm wide, flat, scabrous on distal margins, white pilose on both surfaces. Involucral bracts spathaceous, shorter than inflorescence, pale reddish brown, sheathing; sheaths 6–13 mm long, with the proximal one longer than the others. Spikes 3 or 4; terminal spike staminate, narrowly clavate, 9–13 mm long, ca. 1 mm wide, with a short peduncle at base; lateral spikes pistillate, remote, shortly cylindrical, 6–11 mm long, 2–3 mm wide, 5–8-flowered. Staminate scales narrowly ovate, 2.8–3 mm long, pale reddish brown, acuminate at apex, with costa green, 1-veined. Pistillate scales ovate, ca. 2 mm long, pale reddish brown, acuminate at apex, with costa green, 3-veined. Perigynia longer than pistillate scales (including beak), ellipsoid, trigonous (excluding beak), 3–3.5 mm long (including beak), pale yellow, densely white pilose, thinly veined, attenuate at base, gradually contracted into a ca. 0.5 mm long beak at apex; orifice 2-lobed with minute teeth. Achenes tightly enveloped, ovoid, trigonous, castaneous, ca. 2.5 mm long, shortly stipitate at base; styles glabrous, not thickened at base; stigmas 3.

Distribution and Habitat: —Endemic to China. The species is known from Baimodong, Bama County of Guangxi Zhuangzu Autonomous Region, as well as Jixingyan, Debao County of Guangxi Zhuangzu Autonomous Region. It grows on stones by roadside at 240–600 m elevation.

Phenology: —Flowers and fruits of Carex bamaensis were collected in late May.

Etymology: —The specific epithet refers to “Bama”, one of the localities of the collection.

Additional collections (paratypes): ― CHINA. Guangxi Zhuangzu Autonomous Region: Bama County, Jiazhuan Township , Baimodong , on stones by roadside, elevation 335 m, 24º18’7.23’’N, 107º5’56.46’’E, 21 May 2013, X. F. Jin & al. 3041 ( HTC!) ; the same locality, elevation 240 m, 24 May 2002, C. I. Peng & al. 18735 ( HAST!). Debao County, Jixingyan, elevation 600 m, 25 May 2004, C. I. Peng & al. 19713 ( HAST!) .

Similar species: — Carex bamaensis belongs to C. sect. Clandestinae G. Don (1830: 376) , characterized by having involucral bracts spathaceous, pale reddish brown, perigynia gradually contracted into a short beak at apex, orifice 2- lobed with minute teeth. It is similar to C. lancifolia C. B. Clarke (1903: 293) in having culms lateral and leaf blades 2.5–6 wide, but differs in having culms, leaves and bracts all pilose, pistillate spikes 5–8-flowered. In Carex lancifolia , the culms, leaves and bracts are all glabrous, pistillate spikes 4–6-flowered.

Figures

FIGURE 2. Carex bamaensis X. F. Jin & W. J. Chen, sp. nov. (A) habit; (B) part of leaf, showing pubescence; (C) inflorescence; (D) staminate scale; (E) pistillate scale; (F) perigynium; (G) achene (drawn by Xiao-Feng Jin from holotype in HTC).