Aspidistra saccata X. Y. Huang, Y. D. Peng & D. X. Nong, 2022

Huang, Xue-Yan, Peng, Yu-De, Nong, Dong-Xin, Huang, Bao-You & Yu, Li-Ying, 2022, Aspidistra saccata (Asparagaceae), a new species with erect stem from limestone areas in Guangxi, China, Phytotaxa 541 (3), pp. 297-300 : 297-299

Aspidistra saccata X. Y. Huang, Y. D. Peng & D. X. Nong , sp. nov. ( Fig. 1 )

Diagnosis:— Aspidistra saccata is morphologically similar to A. globosa in erect stem, but clearly distinguished by its smaller leaf blade, depressed-globose flower shape, perigone tube with 6 prominent saccular-like keels, cylindric style, slightly enlarged stigma, ca. 2–3 mm across and smooth berry.

TYPE:— CHINA. Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Daxin county, Xialei town , at the foot of a limestone mountain, alt. 390 m, not common, 2 Nov. 2021, Yu-De Peng et al. 451424211102001 LY (holotype GXMG!, isotype GXMG!) .

Description:— Herbs perennial, evergreen. Stem erect, 15–30 cm high, supported by a few prop roots; stem subterete, 5–6 mm thick, internodes short, 2–6 mm long. Vaginal leaves yellow-brown, 2–3.2 cm long and 1.5–1.8 cm wide, becoming fibrous remnants covering the stem. Petiole (1.8–)2.5–3.6(–5.2) cm, adaxially sulcate, somewhat inflated at base. Leaves often 2–4 cluster on the stem; leaf blade green, papyraceous, ovoid-elliptic to oblong-lanceolate, 6–8.5 cm long, 2.2–3.2 cm wide, margin entire, base cuneate, apex gradually acuminate, midvein moderately prominent abaxially. Peduncle 6–10 mm long; bracts 4–5, two adnate to flower base larger, broadly ovate, ca. 6–8 mm long, 5–8 mm wide, pale green. Flower solitary, depressed-globose, 12–16 mm high, 15–18 mm in diameter; tube yellowish-green outside, purplish black inside, with 6 prominent saccular-like keels; lobes 6, yellow with a purplish black base, subequal, triangular, 6–8 mm long and 5–7 mm wide at base, curved outward. Stamens 6, opposite to lobes, inserted under the mouth of perianth tube, filaments horizontal, purplish black, ca. 1 mm long, anthers pale yellow, elliptic, ca. 2 mm long, 1.5 mm wide, obtuse at both ends, slightly curve. Pistil mushroom-shaped, 6–8 mm long, slightly lower than the perianth mouth; ovary inconspicuous, style cylindric, 4–6 mm long, 2 mm across, stigma slightly enlarged, ca. 2–3 mm across, adaxially cream-yellow, surface slightly rough, with 3–4 radial lines from the centre, margin undulate. Berry cylinder-shaped, smooth. Flowering in October–November.

Etymology:— The specific epithet of the new species is derived from the perianth with saccular-like keels externally. Chinese name is proposed here as “ ffaewḝ抱fl ”.

Distribution and ecology:— The new species is only known from the type locality in Daxin county, southwestern Guangxi, China, that borders northern Vietnam. It grows on shaded rocky limestone slopes in broad-leaved evergreen forest at an elevation of 390 m, rare. The wild population of this new species is small, with only about 23 individuals. The environment in which it grows is severely affected by human activities such as roads building, farming and grazing. Since its distribution site is close to highways and villages, which is easy to reach by human beings, it is highly endangered by the quick loss of its habitats. Live plants collected from the type locality are currently cultivated in Guangxi Botanical Garden of Medicinal Plants (Garden number: 20210490).

Taxonomic relationship: —Erect stem is a rare feature in the genus Aspidistra . Up to now, nine species were reported having erect shoots, named A. locii Arnautov & Bogner in Bogner & Arnautov (2004: 203), A. lateralis Tillich (2005: 320) , A. khangii Averyanov & Tillich (2014: 753) , A. lubae Averyanov & Tillich (2014: 755) , A. brachypetala C. R. Lin & B. Pan in Pan et al. (2020: 195), A. nikolai Averyanov & Tillich in Tillich & Averyanov (2008: 40), A. erecta Yan Liu & C.-I. Peng in Liu et al. (2011: 367), A. globosa Vislobokov & Nuraliev in Vislobokov et al. (2016: 46) and A. peltata Aver., Vuong, T.N. Bon & V.S. Dang in Averyanov et al. (2021:2). Among them A. erecta and A. nikolai are really tall herbs with the stem about 1 m high, while stems of A. locii , A. lateralis , A. khangii , A. lubae and A. brachypetala do not exceed 10 cm in height. However, these species significantly differ from A. saccata in structure of flower. The new species most resembles A. globosa and A. peltata in stem, but differs in leaves attachment, smaller leaf blade, depressed-globose flower shape, perigone tube with 6 prominent saccular-like keels, cylindric style and slightly enlarged stigma, ca. 2–3 mm across. It also resembles A. pingtangensis S.Z. He, W.F. Xu & Q.W. Sun in He et al. (2011: 187) in perianth with keels externally but strongly differs in the erect stem.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Aspidistra saccata: A–B. Habit of flowering plant; C. Flowers; D. Top view of flower bud; E. Side view of flower bud; F. Perianth, dissected opened to show pistil and stamens; G. Stems, show leaves attachment; H. Leaves; I. Young fruit. Photos by Xue-Yan Huang, correction and design by Dong-Xin Nong (The plate made from Yu-De Peng et al. 451424211102001LY).