Chloranthus coccineus Xin L.Zhao & L.H.He, 2022

He, Li-Hong, Zhao, Xin-Lei, Yu, Jing & Zhang, Zhao, 2022, Chloranthus coccineus (Chloranthaceae), a new species from Hubei, China, Phytotaxa 566 (3), pp. 279-289 : 284-287

Chloranthus coccineus Xin L.Zhao & L.H.He , sp. nov. ( Figs. 3 & 4 )

Type: — CHINA. Hubei: Wuhan City, Huangpi District, Chenjiashan Village , under forest on hillside, 31.02°N, 114.23°E, elev. ca. 210 m, 23 March 2021, Xinlei Zhao21005 (holotype IMD!; isotypes ACM!, BZCM!, IBK!, PE!) .

This new species is similar to C. fortunei , but the new species has a longer peduncle (1–4 cm), oval drupes, rigidly papery leaves, brown leaf veins when dry, reddish leaf margins and crimson stamen connective apex.

Herbs perennial, 20–40 cm high, glabrous. Rhizomes with many fibrous roots, intensely aromatic, brown. Stems erect, simple or tufted, apparently 2–3 nodes; internodes 4–12 cm, each node with one pair of scale-like leaves, ovatetriangular or triangular, 0.2–0.3 cm × 0.3–0.4 cm, membranous. Leaves opposite, usually 4 at the apex of the branches and whorled; stipules triangular or subulate; petiole 1–2.5 cm; leaf blade elliptic to broadly elliptic, or obovate, 3– 15 cm × 1.5–8 cm, rigidly papery, glabrous, glandular mucronate, scarlet, densely finely glandular abaxially when young; basal 1/4 entire, broadly cuneate, sometimes oblique, margin serrate or dentate-serrate, apex acute or shortly acuminate, occasionally oblique, adaxially green, abaxially pale green; lateral veins 4–8 pairs, reticulate veins adaxially impressed, abaxially prominent, turning brown when dry. Spike solitary, terminal, 3–6 cm with peduncle 1–4 cm; bracts obovate, usually 3-toothed. Flowers white, crimson at apex, with peculiar fragrance. Androecium 3: stamen connectives elongated, linear, erect or ascending, ca. 1 cm, apex crimson, connate at base, adnate to apical part of the ovary; central connective with a 2-loculed anther; lateral connectives with a 1-loculed anther. Ovary oval; style absent. Drupes pale yellowish-green, oval, striate, length ca. 3.6 mm, width ca. 2.9 mm, subsessile.

Phenology: —Flowering and fruiting from March to June.

Ecology and distribution: — C. coccineus grows in deciduous forests at an elevation about 210 m. This new species is so far only known from its type locality at this time.

Chromosome Number: —2n=60.

Etymology: —The specific epithet “ coccineus ” is derived from the color of stamens, which is crimson.

Conservation status: —There is not yet enough information on the distribution, abundance, or risk of this new species, further surveys are needed. The IUCN status proposed is ‘DD’ (data deficient), based on IUCN (2022) guidelines.

Vernacular name: —Fēi Hóng Jīn Sù Lán (Chinese pronunciation); ỦĹḮẹÍ (Chinese name).

Figures

FIGURE 3. Line drawings of Chloranthus coccineus. A. the whole plant. B. scaled leaf. C. flower. D. bract. E. leaf. F. drupe. Illustration drawn from the holotype by Li-Ming Zhang.

FIGURE 4. Morphology of Chloranthus coccineus. A. habitat. B. plant. C. root. D. leaf shape. E. abaxial leaf. F. scaled leaf. G. flower. H. inflorescence. I. bract. J. infructescence. K. lateral view of the drupe. L. inferior aspect of the drupe. M. the apical view of the drupe. Photographs taken by Xin-Lei Zhao (A–J) and Li-Hong He (K–M).