Silene sunhangii D.G.Zhang, T.Deng & N.Lin, 2019

Lin, Nan, Zhang, Dai-Gui, Huang, Xian-Han, Zhang, Jian-Wen, Yang, Jing-Yuan, Tojibaev, Komiljon, Wang, Heng-Chang & Deng, Tao, 2019, Silene sunhangii (Caryophyllaceae), a new species from China, PhytoKeys 135, pp. 59-69 : 59

publication ID

https://dx.doi.org/10.3897/phytokeys.135.36426

persistent identifier

https://treatment.plazi.org/id/C8593475-D4D5-5648-A09D-ACA031454BB6

treatment provided by

PhytoKeys by Pensoft

scientific name

Silene sunhangii D.G.Zhang, T.Deng & N.Lin
status

sp. nov.

Silene sunhangii D.G.Zhang, T.Deng & N.Lin sp. nov. Figs 1 View Figure 1 , 2 View Figure 2 , 3 View Figure 3

Type.

China. Hubei Province: Shennongjia National Nature Reserve (SNNR) region, Guanmen Mountain, Alt. 1,319 m, 30°08'16.80"N, 110°34'33.59"E, 1 July 2010, Dai-Gui Zhang, et al. 0622 (holotype: KUN!).

Diagnosis.

Silene sunhangii is morphologically similar to S. platyphylla , from which it differs through the root tuberous (not cylindric as S. platyphylla ), stems 30-80 cm tall (100 cm tall in S. platyphylla ), leaves elliptic (not obovate in S. platyphylla ), 3-veined (not 3/5 veined in S. platyphylla ) and glabrous (not margin ciliate as S. platyphylla ), flowers 35-40 mm diam. (not 20 mm in S. platyphylla ), petals purple to red (not white or pale red in S. platyphylla ), catacorolla tasseled (not elliptic or linear in S. platyphylla ), lobe limbs divided to 1/3 (more than 1/3 in S. platyphylla ).

Description.

Herbs perennial. Plant with densely ciliate, tuberous roots and dichasial cymose inflorescences containing many flowers. Stems diffuse, 30-80 cm tall, much-branched, pubescent. Leaves elliptic, 4-10 × 1-5 cm, glabrous, conspicuously 3-veined. Pedicel 20-30 mm long, pubescent. Calyx tubular-clavate, ca. 1.5-2 cm long, densely hairy on veins; teeth triangulate, ciliate. Petals pale purple to red, ca. 2.5 cm long; claws exserted beyond calyx; catacorolla tasseled, limbs obovate, bifid to 1/3; lobes lanceolate, without a linear lobe or narrow tooth on each side. Stamens slightly exserted; filaments pubescent. Capsule ovoid, 10-20 mm long. Seeds dark brown, reniform, ca. 1 mm long, with lateral auricular pits ( Fig. 2 View Figure 2 , 3 View Figure 3 ).

Phenology.

Flowering occurs from February to April, and fruiting from April to June.

Etymology.

The new species is named in honor of Chinese botanist, Prof. Hang Sun, who has made significant contributions to the flora of China.

Distribution, habitat and conservation status.

Silene sunhangii is presently known from only Hubei and Hunan provinces in central China ( Fig. 1 View Figure 1 ). It grows in humid and evergreen or deciduous mixed forest, from 1214-2227 m ( Fig. 1 View Figure 1 ). A total of three natural populations have been located, each comprising less than 100 individuals distributed over an area not exceeding 100 m2. These populations are located within the Shennongjia National Nature Reserve (Hubei province), Houhe Nature Reserve (Hubei Province) and Huping Mountains (Hunan Province), and are therefore well-protected; there are no known threats to these populations. Further field studies are needed to more authoritatively determine the geographic range and frequency of this species. In the meantime, current evidence indicates that Silene sunhangii should be assigned the conservation status of "Data Deficient (DD)", following the IUCN Red List Criteria and Categories ( IUCN 2017).

Taxonomic notes.

Silene sunhangii is a perennial with densely ciliate, tuberous roots and dichasial cymose inflorescences containing many flowers. These characters indicate that the new species should be assigned to Silene sect. Cucubaloideae subsect. Silene Chowdhuri. It can be distinguished from all other species of Silene that possess lilac to red petals through its root, stem, leaf and corolla characters as described above. Morphologically, Silene sunhangii shows greatest similarities with S. platyphylla . The diagnosis above enables the two species to be reliably distinguished. Silene platyphylla is distributed in western Yunnan.