Polygala spatulata Y. Nong & Run Hua Jiang, 2025

Nong, You, Jiang, Run-Hua, Hu, Qi-Min, Qu, Xin-Cheng, Gui, Xu-Chuan, Wei, Gui-Yuan & Lei, Li-Qun, 2025, Polygala spatulata (sect. Pseudosemeiocardium, Polygalaceae), a new species from Guangxi, China, PhytoKeys 251, pp. 13-21 : 13-21

Polygala spatulata Y. Nong & Run Hua Jiang sp. nov.

Figs 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 Chinese name: “ sháo è xiǎo biǎn dòu ” (勺萼小扁豆 )

Diagnosis.

Polygala spatulata is most similar to P. isocarpa Chodat , but it can be easily distinguished by its stems sparsely white pilose (vs. glabrous), leaf blade oval or obovate, membranous, abaxially and adaxially sparsely white pilose, apex round or obtuse (vs. ovate or ovate-triangular, papery, both surfaces glabrous or only abaxially sparsely setose, apex acuminate), its inner sepals spoon-shaped (vs. oblong or ovate) and its outer sepals 3, ovate, ca. 1.5 mm, glandular, all persistent after anthesis (vs. outer sepals 3, broadly ovate, ca. 1 mm, glabrous, one persistent after anthesis).

Type.

China • Guangxi: Bama County, 23°08'46"N, 107°03'22"E, alt. 530 m, in a cave, 26 August 2024, Y Nong NY 2024082601 ( GXMI). (Holotype: 051192 GXMI!; isotypes: IBK!) .

Description.

Herbs annual, erect, 5–15 cm tall. Stems terete, sparsely white pilose, 1–3 branches, apically; branchlets spreading, slender. Petiole 0.5–1.5 cm, sparsely white pilose; leaf blade oval or obovate, 3–7 × 2–3 cm, membranous, abaxially and adaxially sparsely white pilose, mid-vein slightly raised abaxially and adaxially, lateral veins 4–5 pairs, anastomosing near margin, base cuneate, decurrent, apex round or obtuse. Racemes terminal, sparsely white pilose, 3–10 cm. Pedicel ca. 1 mm, slender; bracts 3, caducous, subulate, unequal, glandular. Sepals 5; outer sepals 3, ovate, ca. 1.5 mm, glandular outside, all persistent after anthesis; inner sepals 2, spoon-shaped, 1–1.5 mm, glabrous, base unguiculate, apex rounded. Petals 3, connate in lower 1 / 2, yellow; lateral petals rectangular-oblong, longer than keel; keel with apex broadly retuse, with appendage of 2 lobes. Stamens 8; filaments lower 1 / 3 united, forming an open staminal sheath; anthers ovoid. Ovary subglobose, 0.8–1.0 mm in diam.; style gradually broadening from base towards apex, curved, apex funnel-form; stigma at lower margin. Capsule obcordate, glabrous, 1–1.2 mm in diam., narrowly winged. Seeds black, shiny, elliptic, 0.6 × 0.3 mm, reticulate, glabrous; strophiole white, 2 - lobed.

Etymology.

The specific epithet “ spatulata ” refers to the inner sepals 2, spoon-shape of the new species.

Distribution and habit.

Currently, Polygala spatulata is known only from the northwest of Guangxi, China (Fig. 4 ). It has been mainly found in a karst cave at an elevation of about 530 m.

IUCN red list category.

Due to limited available data, the conservation status of this new species cannot be definitively assessed. Following IUCN Criteria ( IUCN 2022), it is currently classified as Data Deficient (DD) pending further research and information.

Figures

Figure 1. Line drawing of Polygala spatulata Y. Nong & Run Hua Jiang A flowering plant B flower C inner sepal D style E stamen F appendage G longitudinal section of corolla H fruiting branch I capsule J seed (Drawn by Xin-cheng Qu).

Figure 2. Polygala spatulata Y. Nong & Run Hua Jiang A, B habitat C racemes D flower E inner sepal F appendage G fruiting branch H capsule and outer sepal I capsule J seed (Photographed and edited by You Nong).

Figure 3. The type specimen of Polygala spatulata Y. Nong & Run Hua Jiang.

Figure 4. The distribution of Polygala spatulata Y. Nong & Run Hua Jiang (red circle) in Guangxi, China.