Disporum xilingense, X. X. Zhu & L. Zhang, 2016

Zhu, Xin-Xin, Zhang, Chan, Shen, Bin, Liu, De-Tuan & Zhang, Lin, 2016, Disporum xilingense (Colchicaceae), a new species from Sichuan, China, and the exclusion of D. leucanthum from the Chinese flora, Phytotaxa 252 (1), pp. 63-68 : 67

Key to Disporum xilingense and other closely related species

According to morphological data from Hara (1988), the newly described species is related to D. leucanthum , D. bodinieri , D. leschenaultianum D. Don (1839: 45) and D. tonkinense Koyama (1958: 303) . Based on our understanding, it is also related to D. acuminatissimum . The following key is provided to facilitate identification of these closely related species together with D. xilingense .

1. Flowers widely open. Tepals only minutely papillose on margin or midrib or lower part, with obtuse to acute apex..................... 2

- Flowers semi-opening. Tepals minutely puberulent on both surfaces, and minutely papillose on lower part, with long acuminate apex. S China (Guangxi) ................................................................................................................................... D. acuminatissimum

2. Filaments 5–15 mm long. Flowers white. Tepals abruptly narrowed in the lower part .................................................................... 3

- Filaments 3–6 mm long. Flowers white, redness, or dark purple. Tepals not abruptly narrowed in the lower part ......................... 4

3. Tepals 12–26 mm long. Stamens as long as or shorter than tepals. Style 7–26 mm long. SW China, NE India, Sikkim, and possibly east Nepal......................................................................................................................................................................................... 5

- Tepals 6–7 mm long. Stamens slightly longer than tepals. Style 4–6 mm long. N Vietnam ( Tonkin).......................... D. tonkinense

4. Flower white, large. Tepals oblong, 10–15(20) mm long. Stamens much shorter than tepals. S India, Sri Lanka............................. ............................................................................................................................................................................ D. leschenaultianum

- Flower greenish yellow, redness, or dark purple, small. Tepals 6–12 mm long. Stamens as long as or slightly shorter than tepals. SW China......................................................................................................................................................................... D. bodinieri

5. Tepals 12–20 × 3–7 mm, white. Stamens as long as or shorter than tepals, 8–18mm long. Style 7–12 mm long. NE India, Sikkim, possibly east Nepal...................................................................................................................................................... D. leucanthum

- Tepals 23–26 × 3–4 mm, white or greenish yellow. Stamens distinct shorter than tepals, 14–16 mm long. Style 24–26 mm long. SW China (Sichuan) ...................................................................................................................................................... D. xilingense