Oreocharis zhenpingensis J.M.Li, T.Wang & Y.G.Zhang, 2017

Li, Jia-Mei, Wang, Ting & Zhang, Yao-Guang, 2017, Oreocharis zhenpingensis (Gesneriaceae), a new species from Shaanxi, China, Phytotaxa 307 (4), pp. 292-296 : 292-295

Oreocharis zhenpingensis J.M.Li, T.Wang & Y.G.Zhang , sp. nov. ( Figs.1 & 2 )

This new species is most closely related to Oreocharis giraldii which shares corolla lob as long as 1/2 tube, anthers fused face to face and ovary with densely white glandular-pubescence. It is readily distinguished by its crenate leaf margin, unbranched cymes, 1–4- flowered inflorescence, 1–2-dentate calyx lobes margin, yellow corolla color, with a shallowly notched upper lip, slightly curved tube to ca. 1.5 cm long, and pistil and capsule pubescent.

Type: ― CHINA. Shaanxi: Zhenping County, Zhongbao Town, Muji Village , on rather cool rocks and very steep banks of cool clammy soil that grows a fine film of moss, elev. 1440 m, 14 June 2016, Jia-Mei Li and Yao-Guang Zhang 1606141 (holotype HEAC!) ; Zhenping County, Maozi Temple to Muzhu cave , on rock faces, elev. 1500 m, 16 June 1959, Pei-Yuan Li 1798 (paratype WUK!), ibidem, 15 June 2016, Jia-Mei Li and Yao-Guang Zhang 1606151 (paratype HEAC!) .

Rosulate herbs, perennial, stemless. Rhizome with many long fibrous roots. Leaves clustered at the apex of the rhizome; blade elliptic, 2–6.5 × 1.5–4.6 cm, adaxially densely villous, abaxially brown villous especially on the veins, apex crenulate, base rounded or broadly cuneate, margin irregularly crenate; lateral veins 4–6 on each side of midrib, adaxially sunken, abaxially protuberant; petiole 1–5 cm long. Inflorescences axillary with pair-flowered cymes, not branched, 3–6 on each plant, each cyme 1–4-flowered, peduncle 5–12 cm long, with rusty-brown pubescent hairs; bracts 2, margin entire, 1.0– 1.3 cm long, brown villous. Pedicel 1–2 cm long, brown villous; calyx 5-sect from base, segments equal, lanceolate, ca. 1.1 cm long, margin 1–2-dentate, brown hairy; corolla yellowish, 2.3–2.5 cm long, outside white hairy and inside glabrous, corolla limb distinctly 2-lipped, adaxial and abaxial lips equal, oblong, spreading, long up to 0.8–1 cm, upper lip of the corolla shallowly 2-lobed, abaxial lip 3-lobed from base, corolla tube funnelform, slightly curved, ca. 1.5 × 0.3 cm, longer than limb; stamens 4 in 2 pairs, adaxial and abaxial pair 3 mm and 3.8 mm long respectively, adnate to 3.1 mm and 3.8 mm above the corolla tube base respectively, filaments glabrous, straight, curved at apex, anthers coherent in pairs, thecae horseshoe-shaped, divergent at base, confluent at apex, staminode 1, ca. 1.1 mm long, adnate to adaxial side of corolla tube until 3.1 mm above base of corolla; pistil ca. 6.1 mm long, densely pubescent, disc ringlike, 2mm high, many-lobed or entire, ovary ca. 4 mm long, densely pilose, style ca. 1.5 mm long, densely pilose, stigma 2-lobed, oblate. Capsule straight, oblanceolate, ca. 1.8 cm long, pubescent.

Distribution, Ecology, Phenology and Conservation status:— The new species is a rare and localized species. It grows on shady damp moss-covered valley cliffs, at elevation range of 1300–1500 m and is presently only known to occur in two localities in Zhongbao Town, Zhenping County. In Maozi Temple there are ca. 650 mature plants with an area of occupancy of about 800 m 2, while in Muji village only less than 40 mature plants growing in an area of a few square meters. The plants thrive in rock fissures or on thin soil with direct contact with the serpentine rock. This species was collected in flower in June. The two known sites are highly vulnerable to anthropogenic impacts. Informal grazing and land-use changes, including reforestation, could have a detrimental impact in the future. For this reason, we consider a provisional conservation assessment for Oreocharis zhenpingensis to be endangered (EN) according to the newly-revised criteria of International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN 2012).

Etymology: ―The epithet refers to Zhenping County, Shaanxi province of China, where the types were collected.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Oreocharis zhenpingensis. (A) adaxial and abaxial leaves; (B) calyx lobes; (C) habit; (D) side view of flower; (E) opened corolla showing two pairs of stamens and a staminode; (F) Pistil and disc. (G) capsule (drawn by Huixia Dong partially from holotype).

FIGURE 2 Oreocharis zhenpingensis. A. habit; B. cyme; C. corolla; D. calyx lobes; E. Pistil; F. opened corolla showing four stamens and a staminode; G. fruit.