Primulina mabaensis K.F.Chung & W.B.Xu, 2013

Chung, Kuo-Fang, Huang, Han-Yau, Peng, Ching-I & Xu, Wei-Bin, 2013, Primulina mabaensis (Gesneriaceae), a new species from a limestone cave of northern Guangdong, China, Phytotaxa 92 (2), pp. 40-48 : 41-46

Primulina mabaensis K.F.Chung & W.B.Xu , sp. nov. ( Fig. 2 & 3 )

Primulina mabaensis is similar to P. repanda var. guilinensis ( Fig. 4 ) in its leaf shape, differing from the latter by its larger flowers with corolla 2.5–3.0 cm (vs. 8–10 mm) long and corolla tube 2.0– 2.5 cm (vs. 6–8 mm) long, and ca. 7 mm (vs. ca. 3 mm) in diam at the corolla mouth.

Type:–– CHINA. Guangdong Province: Shaoguan City, Quijiang District, Maba Man Archeology Site , Lion Rock , on moist surface of a limestone cave, 24.675°N, 113.580°, ca. 65 m, 24 April 2010, Chung & Chang 1744 (holotype HAST!; isotype IBK!) .

Perennial herbs. Rhizomes subterete, 1–4 cm long, 5–8 mm wide. Leaves 6–13, basal, long petiolate, herbaceous; petioles flattened, 3–6 cm long, 3–5 mm wide, pubescent; blades ovate to broadly ovate or elliptic, 4–9 × 3–6 cm, pubescent on both surfaces, bases cuneate or broadly cuneate to shallowly cordate, margins repand to serrate, apices obtuse to rounded; lateral veins inconspicuous, 3–5 on each side. Cymes 3–7, axillary, 1–2–branched, 4–10-flowered; peduncle 2.5–4.0 cm long, ca. 2 mm in diam, pubescent; bracts 2, opposite, linear-lanceolate, 8–10 × 1.5–2.5 mm, margins entire, pubescent; pedicel 5–15 mm long, pubescent. Calyx 5-parted to near base, lobes lanceolate-linear, 8–10 × 1.0– 1.5 mm, apex acuminate, outside pubescent, inside sparsely puberulent, margins entire. Corolla white, 2.5–3.0 cm long, outside puberulent, inside sparsely puberulent; corolla tube 2.0– 2.5 cm long, ca. 7 mm in diam at the mouth, ca. 2 mm in diam at the base; limb distinctly 2-lipped, white; adaxial lip 2-parted to over the middle, lobes oblong, 2.5–4.0 × 2.5–3.0 mm; abaxial 3-lobed to over the middle, lobes oblong, 2.5–3.0 × 2–3 mm; stamens 2, adnate to ca. 9 mm above the corolla tude base; filaments linear, 9–10 mm long; anthers 3.5–4.0 mm long, dorsifixed, glabrous; staminodes 3, lateral ones 4–5 mm long, apex capitate, glabrous, adnate to ca. 10 mm above the corolla tube base, middle one ca. 4 mm long, apex capitate, glabrous, adnate to ca. 11 mm above the corolla tube base. Disc annular, ca. 0.6 mm in height, margin repand, glabrous. Pistil 2.0– 2.5 cm long, ovary narrowly ovoid, 2.5–3.0 mm long, ca. 1 mm across, puberulent; style 18–20 mm long, puberulent; stigma obtrapeziform, ca. 2 mm long, 1.0– 1.5 mm wide, apex 2-lobed. Capsule narrowly ellipsoidal, 8–10 mm long, 3–4 mm across, pubescent.

Distribution, habitat and ecology: — Primulina mabaensis is currently only known from the type locality: in caves and crevices on Lion Rock at the Maba Archeological Site, a designated cultural relic site of the Provincial Government of Gungdong. In the type locality, P. mabaensis is the most dominant species in the caves and moist limestone rock surfaces.

Etymology: —The species epithet is derived from the type locality, Maba Man Archeology Site, Qujiang County, Guangdong Province.

Vernacular name: —Chinese mandarin: ma-ba bao-chun-ju-tai, which translates as ‘Maba Primulina .’

Characters: — Primulina mabaensis is similar to Primulina repanda var. guilinensis ( Fig. 4 ) in its leaf shape and can be distinguished from the latter by its corolla 2.5–3.0 cm (vs. 8–10 mm) long, corolla tube 2.0– 2.5 cm long, ca. 7 mm in diam at the mouth (vs. 8–10 cm long, corolla tube 6-8 cm long, ca. 3 mm in diam at the mouth); filaments linear, 9–10 mm long, adnate to ca. 9 mm above the corolla tude base (vs. subulate, ca. 3 mm long, adnate to ca. 2 mm above the corolla tube base); pistil 2.0– 2.5 cm long, ovary 2.5–3.0 mm long, style 18–20 mm long (vs. 7–9 mm long, ovary 1.5–2.0 mm long, style 5–6 mm long).

Additional specimen examined (paratype):— CHINA. Guangdong Province: Shaoguan City, Quijiang District, Maba Man Archeology Site , Lion Rock , 15 April 2011, plant sterile, Peng, Chung & Xu 22906 ( HAST) .

Figures

FIGURE 2. Primulina mabaensis. A. habit. B. leaf surfaces. C. flower. D. opened corolla, showing stamens and staminodes. E. stamens. F.pistil and calyx. G. capsule. H. cross-section of ovary. Drawn by Han-Yau Huang.

FIGURE 3. Primulina mabaensis. A. habitat. B. flowering habit. C. inflorescences. D. flowers. E. opened corolla, showing stamens and staminodes. F. pistil and calyx.

FIGURE 4. Primulina repanda var. guilinensis. A, B. flowering habit. C. flower, face view. D. Cymes. E. flower, side view.