Scutellaria jishouensis G. X. Chen, L. Tan & X. M. Xiang

Tan, Lu, Xiang, Xiao-Mei, Liu, Bing, Wang, Zhi-Cheng, Zhang, Dai-Gui & Chen, Gong-Xi, 2022, Scutellaria jishouensis (Lamiaceae), a new species from Hunan, China, Phytotaxa 539 (1), pp. 24-32 : 27-28

Scutellaria jishouensis G. X. Chen, L. Tan & X. M. Xiang , sp. nov. ( Figs. 3–4 )

Type: China, Hunan Province, Jishou City, Dehang Scenic Spot, Panggu Peak , 28°20’45.4″N， 109°343’8.46″E, ca. 632 m, 28 April 2021, G. X. Chen & L. Tan DHK-20210418 (Holotype: JIU) .

Description: Perennial herb, with adventitious roots. Stems 2–4 cm tall, creeping, spreading to erect or ascendingerect, 0.7–1.0 mm in diameter, mostly purple or dark purple, rarely green, and sparsely purple pilose, hairy especially on angles, unbranched or much branched. Petiole 0.2–1.5 cm, densely pilose; leaves membranous or slight fleshy, opposite, glabrous, leaves surface bright dark green or dark green, the back of the leaves purple, 0.5–2.9 × 0.6–3 cm, apex rounded to acute, base truncate to cuneate, margin crenate, sparsely crenate or entire, lateral veins in 2–3 pairs, main and lateral veins concave above and convex below. Racemes terminal, 1–10 cm long; calyx ca. 2.5 mm, scutellum 1.5 mm tall, erect, margin sparsely pilose or glabrous. Corolla blue-purple, 1–1.8 cm, sparsely puberulent outside, abaxially sparsely puberulent or glabrous, glabrous inside, to ca. 4.5 mm wide at throat; upper lip galeate, concave, apex emarginate, middle lobe of lower lip ovoid, with light purple spotted, circular-ovate, slightly constricted at middle, apex emarginate; lateral lobes ovate. Stamens 4, strongly dimorphic; Filaments flattened, ciliate below middle and upper part; Ovary smooth, 4-lobed; stalk short, style slender. Mature nuts chestnut or dark brown, ovoidellipsoid, ca. 1 mm in diameter, tuberculate.

Phenology: Flowering and fruiting in late April to June.

Etymology: The epithet, jishouensis , is derived from the name of the city, Jishou (吉首), which is in Hunan Province, China, and in the only place where the species is only known to occur.

Distribution and habitat: Based on present collections, S. jishouensis is presently known only from Dehang Scenic Spot of Hunan Province, China, on the damp palisades with thin soil layer at an elevations of 300–700 m a.s.l.

Conservation status: Currently S. jishouensis is only known presently on damp palisades of Dehang Scenic Spot, Hunan Province, China. Therefore, S. jishouensis is an endemic species with a very restricted distribution area. Although it is widely distributed on damp palisades of Dehang, Dehang is a scenic spots. Hence Its habitat is vulnerable through human activities.According to IUCN Red List Criteria (2019), the new taxon should be regarded as Vulnerable (VU).

Figures

FIGURE 3. Living images of Scutellaria jishouensis G.X Chen, L. Tan & X. M. Xiang, sp. nov. A-B. habitat C. plant D. adventitious roots E. leaf F. stem G. scutellum H-J. flower.

FIGURE 4. Illustration of Scutellaria jishouensis G.X Chen, L. Tan & X. M. Xiang, sp. nov. A. plant B-C. corolla D. leaf E. scutellum