Smithia yehii C.M.Wang, Chih Y.Chang & Y.H.Tseng, 2022

Wang, Chiu-Mei, Chang, Chih-Yi & Tseng, Yen-Hsueh, 2022, Smithia yehii (Leguminosae, Papilionoideae), a new species from Taiwan, PhytoKeys 210, pp. 53-65 : 53

Smithia yehii C.M.Wang, Chih Y.Chang & Y.H.Tseng sp. nov.

Figs 1A , 2A-D , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6

Smithia sensitiva S. sensitiva sensu acut. Forbes and Hemsley, J. Linn. Soc., Bot. 23: 170, 1887; Henry, List 32, 1896; Matsumura, Bot. Mag. (Tokyo) 16: 73, 1902; Hayata, Icon. Pl. Formosan. 1: 180, 1911; Hosokawa in Masamune, Short. Fl. Formosa 106, 1936; Chuang and Huang, Leg. Taiwan Past. 93, 1965; Huang and Ohashi in Li, Fl. Taiwan 3: 381, 1977; Huang and Huang, Taiwania 32(1): 88, 1987; Huang and Huang, Flora of Taiwan, 2nd edition 3: 364, 1993, non Aiton.

Diagnosis.

The new species is similar to S. sensitiva , but can be distinguished by its pale yellow corolla (vs. vivid yellow), often smaller flower and shorter style, and color variation on adaxial surface of leaflets when young and mature, viz. dark green at apex and light green at base.

Type.

Taiwan. Miaoli County: Tunghsiao Township, Tunghsiao Township 14th Cemetery , 81 m alt., 24.44718°N, 120.69563°E, 17 Dec 2021, C.M.Wang 19231 (holotype: TNM) (Fig. 6 ) .

Description.

Diffuse annual herb, 25-50 cm long; stem slender, sparsely bristly. Stipules 2.7-5.5 × 1.0-1.6 mm, ovate, striate, scarious, persistent; appendage to the stipules 1.9-3.6 mm long, bilobed. Leaf rachis bristly; petioles 0.9-1.6 mm long; leaflets (2)4-9 pairs, 3.5-7.0 × 1.2-2.3 mm, linear-oblong, obtuse at apex, mucronate, oblique and truncate at base, bristly beneath along the midvein and margins; adaxial surface dark green at apex, light green at base; older leaflets consistently dark green. Racemes axillary, 1.1-3.4 cm long, 1-7-flowered; peduncles filiform, sparsely bristly. Flowers 0.7-1.0 cm long; pedicels 1.0-3.1 mm long; bracteoles 2.3-4.0 × 0.9-2.4 mm, ovate, striate, persistent. Calyx parallel-veined, lips 4.5-8.2 mm long, equal, ovate, acute at apex, with a few scattered bristles. Corolla pale yellow, standard (5.2)6.2-9.0 × 5.7-8.0 mm, obovate, pale yellow with red circle pattern in centre; wings 4.0-6.9 × 1.8-2.6 mm, oblong, auricled; keels 4.8-7.5 × 1.9-2.5 mm, oblanceolate. Stamens diadelphous; filaments 5.1-6.4 mm long; anthers 0.2-0.3 mm long, ovoid. Ovary stipitate, 2.2-2.9 mm long, linear, (4)6-7-ovuled; style 3.4-4.1 mm long; stigma pointed. Pods more or less straight, 4.5-8.0 mm long, included, (4)6-7-jointed; joints 1.4-1.6 × 1.2-1.4 mm, papillose. Seeds 1.1-1.3 × 0.9-1.2 mm, reniform.

Phenology.

Flowering was observed from November to February and fruiting from December to March.

Distribution and habitat.

Endemic species of Taiwan. Smithia yehii grows in wetlands and open places, at elevations of <300 m (Fig. 5 ). Common companion species are Cirsium lineare (Thunb.) Sch. Bip. ( Compositae ), Apluda mutica L. ( Poaceae ), Eriochloa villosa (Thunb.) Kunth ( Poaceae ), Hydrocotyle batrachium Hance ( Araliaceae ), and Ampelopteris prolifera (Retz.) Copel. ( Thelypteridaceae ).

Chinese name.

yè-shìh-po-yóu-gan (葉氏坡油甘).

Etymology.

The species epithet " Smithia yehii " was chosen to honor Prof. Mau-Shing Yeh (葉茂生), Department of Agronomy, National Chung-Hsing University, for his contributions to research into the legumes of Taiwan.

Palynology.

Pollen grains are small, tricolporate, and spheroidal, perforate in surface sculpture, and 19.6-22.7 × 16.5-21.9 μm, P/E ratio 0.9-1.3, perforations 0.2-0.6 μm in diam., and murus width 0.3-1.1 μm (Fig. 2A-D ).

Conservation status.

Smithia yehii was evaluated as least concern (LC) by the Editorial Committee of the Red List of Taiwan Plants (2017) as S. sensitiva , because there were many records in the herbarium. However, many populations are probably extinct now. Smithia yehii is known after 1950 from only four sites (Fig. 5 ), each of which had only a few individuals (c. <30) because of human disturbances and habitat fragmentation. Therefore, following the criteria of IUCN (2019), we regard this species as endangered (EN B2ab(ii, iii); C2a(i); D), and recommend that it urgently needs to be protected against extinction.

Specimens examined.

Smithia yehii C.M.Wang, Chih Y.Chang & Y.H.Tseng TAIWAN. New Taipei City: Sanxia District, “Ryoenpo” [Lungpuli], 24 Nov. 1910, 36 m alt., T.Kawakami s. n. (TAI!); Taoyuan City: “Toen” [Toyen], 25 May 1930, 134 m alt., S.Suzuki 2627 (PH, TAI!); same loc., 17 Dec. 1933, 125 m alt., S.Suzuki 4041 (TAI!); Daxi District , “Taikei” [Tahsi], 31 Mar. 1940, 119 m alt., T.Nakamura 4311 (TAI!); Luzhu District , “Toen-Nankan” [Taoyuan-Nankan], 23 Nov. 1931, 147 m alt., T.Suzuki 7876 (TAI!); Hsinchu County: Chupei City , Lienhua Temple , 19 June 1986, 63 m alt., T.C.Huang 12692 (TAI!); same loc., 24 Oct. 1996, 57 m alt., C.C.Huang 1619 (TAIE!); same loc., 30 Aug. 1996, 56 m alt., K.C.Yang 4969 (HAST!); same loc., 16 Oct. 1997, 56 m alt., Y.C.Kao 93 (HAST!); same loc., 29 Nov. 1997, 56 m alt., W.C.Leong 667 (HAST!); same loc., 15 Sept. 1998, 68 m alt., S.C.Liu 84 (TAIF!); same loc., 23 Aug. 1999, 56 m alt., C.IPeng 17683 (HAST!); same loc., 30 Aug. 1996, 57 m alt., K.C.Yang 4969 (TNM!); same loc., 15 Sept. 1998, 57 m alt., S.C.Liu 84 (TNM!); Miaoli County: Houlong Township , “Koryu” [Houlung], 1 Nov. 1924, 6 m alt., Y.Simada 1337 (HAST!, TAI!); Tunghsiao Township , Tunghsiao Township 14th Cemetery , 27 Oct. 2016, 93 m alt., T.C.Hsu 8660 (TAIF!); same loc., 21 Oct. 2017, 103 m alt., L.H.Yang 908 (TAIE!); same loc., 2 Dec. 2017, 103 m alt., R.P.Hsieh 49 (TAIE!); same loc., 26 Sept. 2019, 93 m alt., T.C.Hsu 12070 (TAIF!); same loc., 20 Oct. 2021, 103 m alt., Z.X.Chang 2666 (TAIF!); same loc., 11 Dec. 2017, 81 m alt., C.M.Wang 17247 (TNM); same loc., 21 Oct. 2017, 81 m alt., L.H.Yang 910 (TAIE!); same loc., 1 Mar. 2018, 81 m alt., M.Y.Shen 5542 (TAIE!); same loc., 13 Oct. 2021, 81 m alt., M.Y.Shen 6841 (TAIE!); same loc., 17 Dec 2021, Chih Y.Chang 3620, 3621, 3622 (TCF); Zhunan Township , “Kityo” [Chiting], 3 Aug. 1940, 16 m alt., Fukuya s. n. (TAI!); Taichung City: “Taityushi” [Taichung], Oct. 1905, 75 m alt., G.Nakahara s. n. ( PH); same loc., 27 Aug. 1931, 75 m alt., S.Suzuki 8217 (TAI!); Dajia District , Mt. Tiehchen , 12 Oct. 1997, 213 m alt., S.Y.Lu s. n. (TAIF!); Kaohsiung City: Cishan District , “Banshoryo” [Chishan], 1 Nov. 1934, 36 m alt., S.Suzuki 5825 (TAI!); Pingtung County: Gaoshu Township , “Takagi” [Kaoshu], 8 Nov. 1931, 86 m alt., T.Hosokawa 3377 (TAI!); same loc., 8 Nov. 1931, 86 m alt., T.Hosokawa s. n. (TAI!); Hengchun Township , “Koshun” [Hengchun], Aug. 1915, 15 m alt., E.Matuda 1083 (TAI!); Pingtung City , “Rokkwaiseki” [Liukueitsu], 31 Oct. 1934, 21 m alt., S.Suzuki 5713 (TAI!); Hualien County: Yuli Township , "Tamazatosyo Nodyo" [Yuli], 28 Aug. 1933, 147 m alt., Y.Yamamoto 3099 (TAI!); Hualien County, Yuli Township , “Tamazato” [Yuli], 29 Aug. 1933, 123 m alt., Y.Yamamoto 3082 (TAI!); same loc., 29 Aug. 1933, 133 m alt., Y.Yamamoto 3087 (TAI!); Yuli, 11 Feb. 1975, 116 m alt., S.Y.Lu 3440 (TAIF!) .

Additional specimens examined.

Smithia sensitiva Aiton Type: India. "India Orientalis" [Bengal], 1875, Koenig s.n., (holotype: BM, photo!) China. Fujian Province: Wuping Country, Mt. Cuiye , 16 Oct. 2017, T.W.Hsu 21882 (TAIE!); Guangdong Province: Huidong County, Gutianshan Nature Reserve , 220 m alt., 23.19310°N, 114.78134°E, 8 Sept. 1984, Huidong collector team 730 (TNM!); Lianshan County , Shangshuai Town , Lungshuangshan , 150 m alt., 21 Oct. 1999, F.Y.Zeng 2252 (TNM!); Lianshan County , Shangshuai Town , Lianguan Village , 500 m alt., 13 Oct. 2000, H.G.Ye 5117 (TNM!); THAILAND. Chiang Mai Province: Samoeng district , Samoeng Forest , 1100 m alt., 18.87321°N, 98.78213°E, 24 Nov. 2018, Chih Y.Chang 2139 (TNM); same loc., 24 Nov. 2018, C.M.Wang 17941 (TNM); VIETNAM. Lâm Đông Province: Lac Duong District , Cong Troi Waterfall, Lat commune., 28 Oct. 2019, T.C.Hsu 12222 (TAIF) .

Figures

Figure 1. Comparison of Smithia yehii C. M. Wang, Chih Y. Chang & Y. H. Tseng and its similar species. Scale bars: 3 cm A S. yehii (photo by C. M. Wang, from Miaoli, Taiwan) B S. sensitiva Aiton (photo by Chih Y. Chang, from Chiang Mai, Thailand) C S. ciliata Royle (photo by C. M. Wang, from Chiayi, Taiwan).

Figure 2. Comparison of the pollen morphology of Smithia Aiton A-D Smithia yehii C. M. Wang, Chih Y. Chang & Y. H. Tseng E-H S. sensitiva Aiton A, E polar view B, F exine ornamentation of polar view C, G equatorial view D, H exine ornamentation of equatorial view.

Figure 3. Smithia yehii C. M. Wang, Chih Y. Chang & Y. H. Tseng A habitat B, C habit D, E raceme F (leaf adaxial) G (leaf abaxial) H flowers I bracteoles J calyx K standard and part of diadelphous stamen L wing M keel N gynoecium O diadelphous stamen P pod Q joint of pod R seed. Voucher A, D-H Chih Y. Chang 3620 (TCF) B, L-R C. M. Wang 17247 (TNM).

Figure 4. Line drawings of Smithia yehii C. M. Wang, Chih Y. Chang & Y. H. Tseng A habit B leaf (abaxial) C stipule D flower E bracteoles F calyx G standard H wing I keel J gynoecium K diadelphous stamen L pod M joint of pod N seeds.

Figure 5. Distribution map of Smithia yehii C. M. Wang, Chih Y. Chang & Y. H. Tseng.

Figure 6. Holotype of Smithia yehii C. M. Wang, Chih Y. Chang & Y. H. Tseng.