Hemiboea malipoensis Y.H.Tan, 2014

Zhang, Li-Xia, Tan, Yun-Hong, Li, Jian-Wu, Wen, Bin, Yin, Jian-Tao & Lan, Qin-Ying, 2014, Hemiboea malipoensis, a new species of Gesneriaceae from southeastern Yunnan, China, Phytotaxa 174 (3), pp. 165-172 : 166-171

Hemiboea malipoensis Y.H.Tan , sp. nov. ( Figs. 1–2 )

Diagnosis: Hemiboea malipoensis is similar to H. magnibracteata and H. cavaleriei var. paucinervis by conspicuous involucre and anthers fused by entire adaxial surfaces, but can be easily distinguished from the latter two species by its manificat spherical involucre, 3.5–4.5 cm in diameter, cymes with 4–10 flowers, corolla larger, 4.5–5.5 cm long, pale yellow-yellow, corolla tube glabrous, Calyx lanceolate, 5-parted from the base.

Type:— CHINA. Yunnan Province: Malipo County, Xiajinchang, Shanggaotang , limestone forests, 23° 8’ 6” N, 104° 51’ 16” E, 1250 m, 4 November 2011, Yun-Hong Tan 6055 (holotype HITBC!, isotypes IBK!) .

Perennial herb. Stems ascending, 50–120 cm tall, 0.8–1.5 cm in diameter, rounded to square glabrous, simple or rarely branched, with 10–15 nodes. Leaves opposite, 6–10; petiole 2.0–4.0 cm long, glabrous with purple spots; leaf blade subcarnose, thickly papery when dry, adaxially green, abaxially celadon green, oblanceolate to obovate, 10.5–17.5 × 5.0– 8.5 cm, acuminate at apex, narrowly cuneate at base, slightly oblique, margin entire or with shallowly glandular teeth, glabrous on both sides; lateral veins 5–8 on each side of midrib, midrib with purple spots. Cymes axillary or subterminal, 8.5–9 cm long, with 4–10 flowered; peduncle 3.0– 3.5 cm long, 0.4–0.5 cm in diameter, glabrous, densely verrucose and purple spots; involucre subglobose or broad ovate, 3.5–4.0 cm in diameter, green, glabrous, with 5–6 longitudinal vein, apex acute; involucel similar but smaller, 2.0– 2.5 cm in diameter, membranous, pale green. Pedicel 5–7 mm long, 3.0– 3.5 cm in diameter, glabrous. Calyx white, 5-parted from the base, lobes equal, lanceolate, 1.5–1.8 cm × 2.8–3.0 mm, glabrous, apex with colliculose. Corolla pale yellow-yellow, with mauve lines and spots inside, 4.5–5.5 cm long, glabrous. Corolla tube 3.5–4.5 cm long, ca. 1.3–1.5 cm in diameter at the orifice, 5–6 mm in diameter at the base, inside with a ring of hairs adnate to 6–7 mm above the corolla tube base; limb distinctly 2-lipped; adaxial lip 1.4–1.5 cm long, cassideous, adaxial purple-spotted, abaxial extremely short glandular-puberulent, 2-lobed, lobes semi-round, 4.5–5.5 × 11–12 mm; abaxial lip 3-lobed almost to base, lobes ovate, 10–11 × 7–8 mm. Stamens 2, anthers fused by entire adaxial surfaces of anthers, adnate to 10.3–14.5 mm above the corolla base; filaments linear, glabrous, geniculate from the middle, 1.8–2.0 cm; anthers oblonga, glabrous, 3.0–3.5 × 1.5–1.8 mm. Staminodes 3, glabrous, adnate to 11.0– 14.5 mm above the corolla base, lateral two staminodes thick, 1.0– 1.2 cm long, central staminode gracile, ca. 5 mm long. Disc ring-like, yellow, 2.5–3.0 mm high, margin slightly repand, glabrous. Pistil 3.5–3.8 cm long; ovary linear, 1.1–1.3 cm long, 2.8–3.0 mm in diameter, glabrous; style 2.5–2.8 mm long, glabrous, apex curved; stigma capitate, ca. 1.5 mm in diameter. Capsule linear, 2.5–3.0 cm long, 5–6 mm in diameter, glabrous, slightly curved. Flowering in October–November, fruiting in November–December.

Distribution, habitat and ecology:— Hemiboea malipoensis is only known from southeastern Yunnan and grows on limestone forests, at an elevation of ca. 1250 m. The main herbaceous companion species are: Nephrolepis cordifolia (L.) C.Presl, Luculia pinceana Hook. , Hemiboea cavaleriei var. paucinervis W.T.Wang & Z.Y.Li , Impatiens apalophylla Hook. f., Liparis distans C.B.Clarke , Ornithoboea wildeana Craib , Rhaphidophora hongkongensis Schott , Ardisia scalarinervis Walker , Primulina eburnean (Hance) Y.Z.Wang , Elatostema spp ., Begonia cavaleriei Lévl. , Begonia wangii Yü and so on.

Etymology:— The species is named after the type locality, Malipo county in Yunnan Province.

Additional specimens examined (paratypes):— CHINA. Yunnan: Malipo County, Xiajinchang , 29 October 2012, Yun-Hong Tan 6950 ( HITBC) .

Figures

FIGURE 1. Hemiboea malipoensis (from the type locality). A, B and D. Habit. C and E. Flower. F. Leaf show the purple spots. G– H. Involucre and openedinvolure. I–J. Involucel and opened involucel. K and N. Opened corolla showing stamens and staminode. L and P. Calyx and pistil with disc. M. Fruit. O. Calyx. Photographs by Yun-Hong Tan.

FIGURE 2. Hemiboea malipoensis. A–B. Habit. C. Involucre. D. Involucel and opened involucel. E. Opened corolla showing stamens and staminode. F. Stamens. G. Calyx and pistil with disc. I. Calyx. H. Stigma. J. Fruit. Illustration by Yun-Xi Zhu based on the holotype Yun-Hong Tan 6055.