Primulina guigangensis L.Wu & Q.Zhang, 2012

Wu, Lei, Zhang, Qiang, Xu, Wei-Bin & Mo, Shui-Song, 2012, Primulina guigangensis (Gesneriaceae): a new species from limestone area in Guangxi, China, Phytotaxa 38, pp. 19-23 : 19-22

Primulina guigangensis L.Wu & Q.Zhang , sp. nov. ( Fig. 1 & Fig. 2 A–H )

Affinis P. yungfuensi , a qua pedunculo 8–15 cm longo (vs. 4.5–9 cm), calyce apice acuminato (vs. acuto), corolla 2.8–3.5 cm longa (vs. 3.8–4.6 cm), tubo corollae anguste infundibulari, 1.8-2.5 cm longo (vs. cupiformi, 2.5–3 cm), filamentis dense glanduloso-puberulis (vs. glabris), stigmate oblongo (vs. lineari); floret Sept. usque ad Nov. distinguitur.

Type: — CHINA. Guangxi: Guigang city, Zhangmu town . elev. 160 m, 23° 16' N, 109° 16' E, 25 October 2011, 3038 (holotype IBK!, isotypes IBK!) .

Perennial acaulescent herb. Rhizome internodes inconspicuous. Leaves basal, opposite; petiole 1–4 cm × ca. 3.5 mm; leaf blade elliptic to ovate, 3.0–7.5 × 2–6 cm, leathery, adaxially purple puberulent to pilose, ca. 3.5 mm long, follicles predominant, eglandular, abaxially white puberulent, 0.5–2.0 mm long, base broadly oblique, cuneate or rounded, margin crenate to repand, apex acute to rounded; lateral veins ca. 3 on each side of the midrib, inconspicuous. Cyme number variable, 2–6-flowered for each; peduncle 8–15 cm, purple villous; bracts 2, free, narrowly ovate to elliptic, 7–13 × 5–7 mm, purple pubescent, margin entire, apex obtuse. Pedicel 1.0– 1.8 cm, densely glandular puberulent. Calyx 5-parted from base; segments equal, lanceolate-linear, 4.5–7.0 × 1–2 mm, glandular puberulent, margin entire, apex acuminate. Corolla pale pinkpurple, with 2 yellow honey guides inside, 2.8–3.5 cm, outside glandular puberulent, inside basally puberulent with very short hairs; tube narrowly funnelform, inflated above the mouth, 1.8–2.5 × 0.9–1.2 cm; adaxial lip ca. 7 mm; abaxial lip 1.1–1.5 cm. Filaments ca. 1 cm, densely glandular puberulent; anthers fused by entire adaxial surfaces, 2–3 mm; staminodes 2, ca. 6.5 mm. Pistil ca. 2.2 cm, densely puberulent; ovary ca. 1.2 cm; stigma long elliptic, ca. 2 mm, slightly 2-lobed. Capsule straight, ca. 4 cm, pubescent.

Distribution, habitat and ecology: — Primulina guigangensis was found growing on a slope, often at crevices in an open evergreen limestone forest, near Guigang city, eastern Guangxi, China. The region has a seasonal monsoon climate with periodical shift between aridity and rain. The vegetation is dominated by shrubs and herbs, which include Tirpitzia ovoidea Chun & How ex W.L.Sha , Ficus tinctoria G.Forst. subsp. gibbosa (Blume) Corner , Mallotus tenuifolius Pax , Alchornea trewioides (Benth.) Müll.Arg. , Decaspermum gracilentum (Hance) Merr. & L.M.Perry , Cipadessa baccifera (Roth) Miq , Vitex negundo L., Zanthoxylum armatum DC. , Mallotus repandus (Willd.) Müll.Arg , Elaeagnus bockii Diels , Sageretia rugosa Hance , Callerya nitida (Benth.) R.Geesink , Toddalia asiatica (L.) Lam, Wikstroemia indica (Linn.) C.A.Mey. , Cassytha filiformis L, Chrysanthemum indicum L., Phtheirospermum japonicum (Thunb.) Kanitz , Hypodematium crenatum (Forsk.) Kuhn , Adiantum malesianum Ghatak , Selaginella effusa Alston , etcetera.

Phenology: —This new species had been collected in flower from September to November, and fruit from October to December.

Etymology: —The epithet is derived from the type locality Guigang City, Guangxi.

Distinguishing characters: — Primulina guigangensis is most similar to P. yungfuensis . Shared characters mainly include leaf with similar shape and indumentum, cyme 2–6-flowered with two bracts. However, P. guigangensis can be distinguished by its 8–15 cm long peduncle (vs. 4.5–9.0 cm long), calyx apex acuminate (vs. acute), corolla 2.8–3.5 cm long (vs. 3.8–4.6 cm long), tube narrowly funnelform, 1.8–2.5 cm long, inflated above the mouth (vs. tube tubular, 2.5–3.0 cm long, not inflated), filaments densely glandular puberulent (vs. glabrous), stigma long elliptic (vs. linear) and flowering in September–November (instead of March).

Additional specimens examined (paratype):— CHINA. Guangxi: Guigang City, Zhangmu Town , same locality as type, 3 November 2011, L . Wu & Q . Zhang 3041 ( IBK!) .

Figures

FIGURE 1. Primulina guigangensis. A) habit; B) opened flower; C) pistil; D). stigma; E) magnified leaf surface, showing indumentum. Drawn by Wen-Hong Lin.

FIGURE 2. A–H) Primulina guigangensis. A) habitat; B) habit; C) leaf surface; D) cyme; E, F) flower in side view; G) flower in face view; H) opened flower, showing pistil and stigma. I, J) P. yungfuensis. I) habit; J) leaf surface.