Kopsia vidalii D.J.Middleton, 2005

Middleton, David J., K. & K., 2005, A new species of Kopsia (Apocynaceae, Rauvolfioideae) from Vietnam, Adansonia (3) 27 (2), pp. 287-289 : 288-289

Kopsia vidalii D.J.Middleton , sp. nov.

Frutex, ramulis glabris. Folia elliptica, 5-12 × 2-4 cm, nervis 14-18 paribus. Corollae tubus 12-15 mm, lobis 13 × 2 mm.

TYPUS. — Vidal 681 A, Vietnam, Thua Thien-Huê ,

Mt Bach Ma, 9 Apr. 1944, fl. (holo-, P).

Shrub. Branchlets glabrous, densely lenticellate, terete. Leaves: petiole 7-8 mm long, glabrous; blade 5-12 × 2-4 cm, 2.2-3.7 times as long as wide, subcoriaceous, elliptic, apex acuminate with a blunt tip, base cuneate, glabrous above and beneath, midrib shallowly sunken above, secondary veins 14-18 pairs with 2.5-9 mm spacing, 70° rom f midrib, slightly prominent above and beneath, clearly distinguishable from tertiary venation above and beneath, straight, tertiary venation prominent above, prominent or flat beneath, reticulate, intramarginal vein almost straight, slightly inset from margin. Inflorescence delicate, lax, dichasial, c. 4 cm long with axes c. 2 cm long and branches 0.7 mm wide, glabrous; peduncle 0.3- 0.4 cm long, 1 mm diameter, glabrous; pedicels 9-15 mm long, glabrous, subtending bracts small, persistent, 2 or 3 small bracts on pedicels. Sepals 1.1 × 0.9 mm, 1.2 times as long as wide, ovate, apex obtuse to acute, ciliate, glabrous. Corolla tube 12-15 mm long, 2 mm diameter, 0.9 times as long as lobes, 10.1 times as long as calyx, pubescent around stamens and more sparsely so below stamens inside, glabrous outside, densely pubescent in throat; lobes 13 × 2 mm, 6.5 times as long as wide, narrowly oblong, apex acuminate, glabrous outside and inside. Stamens inserted at 10.5 mm from corolla base which is 0.8 of tube length in the rehydrated flowers measured; anthers 1.2 × 0.4 mm, 3 times as long as wide, apex 0.5 mm from corolla throat; filaments c. 0.6 mm long. Disk 0.8 mm long, as long as ovaries, glabrous, awl-shaped, apex acute. Ovaries 0.8 mm high, glabrous; style 10 mm long; style head 0.9 mm long. Fruit unknown. — Fig. 1 .

Only known from the type collection. Unfortunately no information on this species’ ecology is available. Its conservation status is also difficult to assess because of lack of data but it may be vulnerable due to a very restricted distribution.

ETYMOLOGY. — The species is named in honour of Jules Vidal, the collector of the type specimen.

Figures

FIG. 1. — Kopsia vidalii D.J.Middleton: A, habit; B, leaf, abaxial face; C, flower, longitudinal cross section. Vidal 681A.