Lycoris wulingensis S.Y. Zhang, 2021

Zhang, Si-Yu, Huang, Ying, Zhang, Pei, Zhu, Ke-Run, Chen, Yong-Bing & Shao, Jian-Wen, 2021, Lycoris wulingensis, a dwarf new species of Amaryllidaceae from Hunan, China, PhytoKeys 177, pp. 1-9 : 1

Lycoris wulingensis S.Y. Zhang sp. nov. Figs 1 , 2

Type.

China. Hunan, Zhangjiajie County, Wangjiaping Town, Matouxi Village , 29°0'54.7"N, 110°48'3.7"E, under broad-leaved forest, beside the water ditch, 276 m a.s.l., 22 August 2020, S.Y. Zhang, ZSY202008001 (holotype: ANUB; isotypes: PE, KUN) .

Diagnosis.

Most similar to L. x haywardii , but differs from it by smaller plant and flower sizes (Figs 3 , 4 , Table 2 ) and it is restricted to north-western Hunan Province (Fig. 5 ).

Description.

Perennial herb. Bulbs nearly spherical, 2-3 cm in diameter, covered brown epidermis, with fine lines on the epidermis. Leaves ligulate, often 4-7, blunt apex, appearing in mid-September, 15-27 cm long, 3-5 mm wide; upper surface dark green, mid-vein distinctly pale; bottom surface light green with a raised mid-rib. Inflorescence scapose, 25-30 cm high, green or reddish-brown; 2 spathe bracts, lanceolate, 2-2.5 cm long, 5-7 mm wide, semi-closed to wrap the bud; 3-7 flowers per umbels, pedicels 1.5-2 cm long, diameter 1.5-2 mm; flowers rose-red; perianth lobes oblanceolate, 2.5-2.8 cm long, about 5 mm wide, apex slightly reversed and undulate; floral tubes light red, about 3 mm long. Filaments 3-3.5 cm long, rose-red, slightly longer than tepals, anther yellow, 2-3 mm long; pistil length 4-4.5 cm, middle and lower part diameter 0.8 mm, rose-red, apex diameter about 0.4 mm, dark-red. Ovary 4 mm in diameter, spherical and green. Capsules three-lobed, green or pale when mature; seeds black, spherical, 5-7 mm in diameter.

Phenology.

Flowering from mid-July to late-August; fruiting in September; and leaves growing in mid-September.

Distribution.

Lycoris wulingensis is distributed in the east of Wuling Mountains and its surrounding areas, such as Cili, Linli, Li, Taoyuan and Yongding Counties (Fig. 5 ).

Habitat.

Lycoris wulingensis is partial to grow on the edge of forest roads, farmland or riverside beaches, usually under deciduous trees (such as Alangium chinense and Pterocarya stenoptera ) and accompanied by Pinellia ternata , Commelina communis , Arthraxon hispidus and Ophiopogon bodinieri etc. The surrounding residents sometimes cultivate it as an ornamental plant.

Vernacular name.

武陵石蒜 [wǔ líng shí suàn].

Etymology.

The specific epithet comes from its distribution area of the Wuling Mountains, which is an important biodiversity hotspot in South Central China.

Karyotype.

2n = 22 (Fig. 1J ).

Reproduction.

This species can reproduce asexually by duplication of bulbs (1.5-2 times per year) and can also sexually reproduce through seeds.

Conservation status.

Compared with other species in the Lycoris , the distribution range of Lycoris wulingensis is relatively narrow. Based on preliminary investigation, we found only four large populations and some sporadic distribution points. However, considering the lack of in-depth investigation and also considering that some populations may occur in other similar habitats, we classified its conservation status as Data Deficient (DD), according to the IUCN Red List Criteria ( IUCN 2019).

Figures

Figure 1. Morphology of Lycoris wulingensis S. Y. Zhang, sp. nov. A inflorescence B, C habitat D flower E flower bud F leaf G fruit H seeds I bulb J karyotype (2 n = 22) K pollen (stained by TTC).

Figure 2. Morphology of Lycoris wulingensis S. Y. Zhang, sp. nov. A plant B inflorescence C flower bud D flower E fruit F seed. The picture was drawn by Ling Wang.

Figure 3. Comparison morphology of Lycoris wulingensis and similar species A plants (I - L. wulingensis, II - L. x haywardii, III - L. radiata) B-G flowers (B, C L. wulingensis D, E L. x haywardii F, G L. radiata).

Figure 4. Comparison and variation of leaf width and length, bulb diameter and tepal length (flower size) of L. wulingensis (A 1 - A 3), L. x haywardii (B 1 - B 3) and L. radiata (C 1 - C 3). In the boxplot, the horizontal line shows the median, the bottom and top of the box show the first and third quartiles. Boxplot marked with different letters differ significantly (post hoc test, P <0.05).

Figure 5. Distribution map of Lycoris wulingensis S. Y. Zhang and its related species.