Phytolacca exiensis D.G.Zhang, L.Q.Huang & D.Xie, 2017

Xie, Dan, Qian, Dan, Zhang, Meng-Hua, Wang, Ye-Qing, Wu, Yu, Huang, Lu-Qi & Zhang, Dai-Gui, 2017, Phytolacca exiensis, a new species of Phytolaccaceae from west of Hubei province, China, Phytotaxa 331 (2), pp. 224-232 : 227-230

Phytolacca exiensis D.G.Zhang, L.Q.Huang & D.Xie sp.nov.

Type: China, W Hubei, Shennongjia National Nature Reserve, Hongping Town, Hongpinhualang, 31°40 ′ N, 110°25 ′ E, 1856 m a.s.l., 8 July 2014, Zhang et al., zdg10065 [holotype JIU 64443! ( Fig. 2 ), isotypes PE 02108408!, CMMI 025250!)].

Description ( Figs. 3 , and 4):—Perennial herbs with no white raphis expect the rachis and leaves, up to 2 m tall. Roots obconic, erect, flesh, up to 14 cm in diam. Tender bub red, robustly, with no sacle. Initial leaves small, scale-like. Stem erect, flesh, terete, hollow, with many branches and continuously crest line, green, purplish red at base sometimes. Leaves alternate, elliptic-ovate or ovate-lanceolate, apex acuminate, base cuneate, margin entire, 7–40 × 5–16 cm, dispersive covered with white raphis. Petiole subround, with groove above, 1–4 cm long, without stipule. Midvein flat adaxial, lateral veins 7–10 pairs, not reach the margin of leaf, connected with each other to form a network, a short lateral veins between them, raised in abaxial with veinlet. Plant dioecious. Racemes erect, terminal or lateral. Tepals 5, sometimes 6 or 7, symmetry, ovate-oblong or subround, slight recurved, rounded at apex. Male inflorescences: Rachis 25–30 cm long, densly covered white raphis. Peduncle 3–4 cm, pedicels 1–2 cm, often with 1 subulate bracts from below middle nearly to base, 0.4–0.6 cm long. Perianth yellow-greenish, ca. 0.5 cm long. Stamens 12–19, two whorls alignment. Filaments flat, triangle-like lanceolate, filament of the outer whorl 3–4 mm long, the innner whorl ca. 2 mm long. Anther long elliptic, white, dorsifixed, ca. 1 mm long. Degradation ovary subround and degradation style usually 5, sometimes 4, ca. 0.5 mm long, suberect. Female inflorescences: Rahis 15–35 cm, densly covered white raphis. Peduncle 3–4 cm, pedicels 6–8 mm, often with 1 subulate bracts in middle, 0.4–0.6 cm long. Perianth yellow-greenish, ca. 0.3 cm. Superior ovary spherica, green. 4–5 compound carpels with edge. Style 5, rare 4, recurved, ca. 1.5 mm. Staminode persistent, ca. 1.6 mm long, filaments of staminode are shorter than anther. Infructescence erect, berry flat-sphere, ca. 0.7 cm in diameter, purple black in mature, with 5 edges obviously. Only 2 or 3 carpels develop normally sometimes. Persistent perianth purplish red, lies in the base of friut.

Etymology: —This new species distribute in the west of Hubei province, China. We call Hubei “e” for short and west means “xi” in Chinese . Therefore, we name it Phytolacca exiensis .

Distribution and Habitat: — Phytolacca exiensis occurs in three localities. The first one (about 20 individuals) in Hongpinghualang, Hongping Town, Shennongjia National Nature Reserve. The other two localities (10 individuals each one) in Wufeng County, Houhe National Nature Reserve.

Phenology: —Flowering time May − July, fruiting time July − September.

Conservation status: —Only three localities and no more than 50 individuals were found in the west of Hubei. The habitat is vulnerable and is subject to be destroyed under the influence of human activities. Considering the restricted distribution and special habitat, we assessed Phytolacca exiensis as Critically Endangered (CR) according to the criterion D ( IUCN 2017).

Paratypes: — CHINA, W-Hubei, Wufeng county , the edge of mixed forests, alt. 1555 m, 110°54 ′ N, 30°12 ′, 2 May 2017, Zhang, Wang & Zhu, Zdg, Wyq, Zxq, et al 1512 ( JIU51523 !, HHE05012 !) ; under the broad leaves, alt. 1353 m, 110°32 ′ N, 30°05 ′ E, 2 May 2017, Zhang, Wang & Zhu, Zdg, Wyq, Zxq, et al 961 ( JIU51524 !, HHE06766 !). CHINA, WHubei, Shennongjia National Nature Reserve , Muyuping Town, cut over Fagus-Quercus-Betula forest on steep slopes, alt. 1450–1600 m. 110°30 ′ N, 31°30 ′ N, 7 September 1980, 1980 Sino-Amer. Bot. Exped. 723 ( PE, A, HIB, KUN, NAS, NY, SFDH, UC, WH) (No wild individual was found according to our botanical expedition) .

Figures

FIGURE 2. Holotype of Phytolacca exiensis (JIU64443!).

FIGURE 3. Phytolacca exiensis D.G.Zhang, L.Q.Huang & D.Xie, sp. nov. A. Habitat, B. Infructescence, C. Male inflorescence, D. Female inflorescence, E. Root, F. Male flowers, G. Female flowers, H. Carpels.