Paraboea brevipedunculata W.H. Chen & Y.M. Shui, 2020

Shui, Yu-Min, Guo, Shi-Wei, Chen, Li & Chen, Wen-Hong, 2020, Two new species of Paraboea (Gesneriaceae) in Caryota obtusa forests in Southwest China, with compound and simple dichasia, respectively, PhytoKeys 157, pp. 207-216 : 207

Paraboea brevipedunculata W.H. Chen & Y.M. Shui sp. nov. Figure 3

Type.

China. Yunnan province: Malipo County, Tianbao community, 22°58'33.31"N, 104°50'32.92"E, in limestone forests, alt. 900 m, 30 April 2017, Y.M. Shui & W.H. Chen B2017-1342 (holotype, KUN).

Diagnosis.

Paraboea brevipedunculata is similar to P. crassifolia (Hemsley) B. L. Burtt in morphology and indumenti of the leaves, but different in simple dichasia with 1-2 flowers (vs. compound dichasia with many flowers), peduncle 0.5-2 cm (vs. 8-12 cm), 4-5 mm calyx segments (vs. 2-3 mm), capsules slightly twisted (vs. multi-twisted) and 0.6-0.7 mm long when mature (2-2.5 cm long). The new species is also similar to P. velutina (W.T.Wang & C.Z.Gao) B.L.Burtt. in the small plant, short peduncle and simple dichasia, but distinguished by purple corolla (vs. white), calyx 4-5 mm long (vs. ca. 1 mm), lobes of adaxial lip ca. 3 × 5 mm (vs. ca. 1.5 × 1 mm), lobes of abaxial lip ca. 5 × 7 mm (vs. ca. 1.5 × 2.3 mm) and capsule slightly twisted (vs. not twisted).

Description.

Herbs 4-5 cm high and without stems. Leaves clustered; petiole very short, 0.2-1 cm, densely arachnoid; leaf blade obovate, 2.6-6 × 1-3 cm, thick papery, adaxially pubescent when young and subglabrous when mature, abaxially densely matted arachnoid, base cuneate, margin subentire to shallowly repand-crenate, apex rounded; midrib depressed adaxially, protuberant abaxially; lateral veins 4-7 pairs, obscure adaxially and distinct abaxially. Dichasium terminal axillary, with 1-4 flowers; peduncle 0.5-2 cm, densely arachnoid; bracts 2, 0.5-0.6 × ca. 0.1 cm, sparsely pubescent abaxially; bracteoles 2 (sometimes absent), linear, ca. 2 × 0.5 mm; pedicel 0.3-1.2 cm long, densely arachnoid. Calyx 5-sect from base; segments linear, 4-5 × 1-2 mm, glabrous. Corolla purple, glabrous; tube 5-7 mm; adaxial lip 2-lobed, lobes ca. 3 × 5 mm; abaxial lip 3-lobed, lobes ca. 5 × 7 mm. Stamens 2, included; filaments curved, ca. 4 mm long, glabrous; anthers ca. 2 mm long; staminodes 3, the lateral two ca. 1 mm long and the middle one ca. 0.5 mm long. Pistil glabrous; ovary oblong, ca. 2 mm long; style linear, 6-7 mm long; stigma capitate. Capsule 0.6-0.7 mm long when mature, slightly twisted, glabrous, with persistent calyx. Seeds ellipsoid, 5-7 × 0.2-0.3 mm.

Etymology.

The new species is named after its short peduncle per dichasium.

Distribution and habitat.

The new species only grows in Caryota obtusa forests of limestone areas in Malipo County of Yunnan, China (Figure 1 ).

Phenology.

Flowering from April to May; fruiting from June to July.

Additional specimens examined (paratype).

China. Yunnan Province: Malipo County, 22°58'33.31"N, 104°50'32.92"E, in limestone forests, alt. 900 m, 24 June 2013, Y.M. Shui & W.H. Chen B2013-094 (KUN); Malipo County, Tianbao, 22°58'33.31"N, 104°50'32.92"E, in limestone forests, alt. 900 m, 30 April 2017, Y.M. Shui & W.H. Chen B2017-1342 (KUN); the same place, 14 September 2018, in fruits, Y.M. Shui & W.H. Chen B2018-021 (KUN).

Note.

The new species is more similar to P. crassifolia than P. neurophylla (Collett & Hems1.) B.L. Burtt in its linear bracts ( Wang et al. 1998; Li and Wang 2004). P. crassifolia is distributed in W Huibei, SE Chongqing, Guizhou, Guangxi and SE Yunnan in China, while P. neurophylla is distributed in China (Central and West Yunnan) and Myanmar. The new species is distributed in SE Yunnan and shares the similar distribution with P. crassifolia , which is considered as the similar species to the new species. Besides, as to the small habit and fruits, it is somewhat similar to P. velutina in West Guangxi, which is next to SE Yunnan, but distinguished by corolla colour, size of calyx and corolla lobes, and twisted capsules (see the above diagnosis).

Vu et al. (2011) reported Paraboea neurophylla as a new record in Vietnam. The voucher specimens are collected from Ba Be National Park, Bac Kan province, Vietnam. However, the figure (based on HLF 608 in HN) reveals that it seems to be conspecific with the new species we proposed here. Additionally, the description and geographical distribution of the new record in Vietnam roughly match that of the new species ( Vu et al. 2011). Although we are still waiting for further confirmation from the detailed surveys, it is possible that the new species will also occur in North Vietnam. In fact, P. neurophylla grows at ca. 2000 m elevation in China (Yunnan, e.g. B.Y. Qiu 55121 in PE, P. I Mao 1322 in PE, S. E. Liu 831, 13970, 14087, 19713 and 20886 in PE, K.M. Feng 10115 in PE, K.Y. Pan 1 in PE, J. Wu WJ2015010 in PE, Z.J. Qiu QZJ-0936 in PE, C.J. Chen 38 in PE, J.S. Xin 51404 in IBSC) and Myanmar (Shan hills, Collett 804, holotype K and isotype in E), but its habitat is very different from the habitat of the new species at less than 1000 m elevation ( Wang 1990; Wang et al. 1998; Xu et al. 2008).

Figures

Figure 1. The geographical distribution of Paraboea brevipedunculata W. H. Chen & Y. M. Shui, sp. nov. (square) and P. myriantha Y. M. Shui & W. H. Chen, sp. nov. (star).

Figure 3. Paraboea brevipedunculata W. H. Chen & Y. M. Shui, sp. nov. A habit B adaxial surface of leaf C abaxial side of leaf D adaxial surface of leaf, showing indumentum E, F abaxial surface of leaves, showing indumenti G dichasia H front view of flower I vertical view of flower, showing bracteoles (br) and calyx lobe (ca) J opened corolla, showing staminodes (sta) and pistil K pistil with calyx lobes (All photographed by Yu-Min Shui).