Paraphlomis kuankuoshuiensis R.B.Zhang, D.Tan & C.B.Ma, 2020

Zhang, Ren-Bo, Deng, Tan, Dou, Quan-Li, Wei, Ruo-Xun, He, Lin, Ma, Chong-Bo, Zhao, Sheng & Hu, Shun, 2020, Paraphlomis kuankuoshuiensis (Lamiaceae), a new species from the limestone areas of northern Guizhou, China, PhytoKeys 139, pp. 13-20 : 13

Paraphlomis kuankuoshuiensis R.B.Zhang, D.Tan & C.B.Ma sp. nov. Figs 1 , 2

Diagnosis.

Paraphlomis kuankuoshuiensis can be distinguished from the morphologically similar species P. patentisetulosa , P. hispida , and P. hirsutissima by its very short stem (<7 cm) with one or two short internodes (giving the impression of having a tuft of basal leaves). The three closely related species have stems longer than 15 cm and more internodes. The new species has sparsely setose hairs on the outer surface of the calyces (vs. finely or densely) and short fruiting calyces (5-6 cm vs. 7 cm, 8-9 cm, and to 11 cm). There are some other diagnostic characters between the new species and its three closely related species (Table 1 ). The flowering from July to August and fruiting from August to September are quite different from the three species (vs. fruiting from November to January). It grows on bare steep rocks, which is a distinctive habitat. The new species distributes in Guizhou Province and is far away from the other three species (Fig. 3 ).

Type.

CHINA. Guizhou Province, Zunyi City, Suiyang County, Kuankuoshui National Natural Reserve, on moist rocks, 28°11'N, 107°04'E, 820 m alt., 22 July 2019, ZRB1509 (fl., holotype ZY!, isotype IBK!), 24 August 2019 ZRB1575 (fr., paratype ZY!).

Description.

Perennial herb. Rhizomes short, 2-4 cm, dense and fibrous roots. Stems 2-5 (-7), unbranched, 2-7 cm, slightly grooved, densely strigose, with 1 or 2 pairs of leaves for each stem. Leaves long elliptic or long obovate, (thickly) papery, 10-37 × 3-8 cm, apex obtuse or acute, base cuneate, margin serrulate; petioles 0.5-4 cm, adaxially slightly grooved, strigose; lateral veins in 8-12 pairs, obviously concave above and slightly raised below; adaxial surfaces and abaxial veins densely strigose. Inflorescence with one to two verticillasters; verticillasters 7-46-flowered; flowers shortly petiolate; apical opposite cymes globose, pseudoterminal; bracteoles linear-lanceolate, ca. 5 mm, margin ciliolate. Calyx tubular-campaniform, red; tube 5-6 mm, sparsely bristled, 10 veins; 5 teeth, unequal, triangular-lanceolate, 1-2 mm. Corolla white, 2-lipped, ca. 2.2 cm; tube obliquely hairy annulate inside; upper lip oblong, entire, galeate, with pink spots outside; lower lip 3-lobed, with a pink-striped interior and larger middle lobe. Stamens 4, anterior pair longer, all rising under upper corolla lip; filaments puberulent; anthers two-loculed, forked. Style filiform, exceeding stamens, apex 2-lobed, lobes subequal. Ovary 4-loculed, small ovary apex truncate, glabrous. Disc ring like, not obvious. Nutlets ca. 2.5 mm long, apex truncate, base attenuate. Fl. Jul-Aug. Fr. Aug-Sep.

Distribution and habitat.

Based on current field observations, P. kuankuoshuiensis is only located in the Dazhuxi and Matixi valleys, the Kuankuoshui National Natural Reserve, Suiyang County, Guizhou Province. The area has a subtropical monsoon climate and it is wet but not seasonly dry. It grows on moist steep limestone rocks (almost bare) beside streams at an altitude of approximately 820 m, and in groups of several thousand individuals.

Conservation status.

This species is currently known to only occur in two valleys, with a population numbering several thousand individuals. It is suggested it be placed in the Near Threatened IUCN category ( IUCN 2017).

Phenology.

This new species was observed flowering from July to August and fruiting from August to September.

Etymology.

The specific epithet ' kuankuoshuiensis ' is derived from the plant’s locality: Kuankuoshui National Natural Reserve, Guizhou Province, China.

Figures

Figure 1. Paraphlomis kuankuoshuiensis spe. nov. A natural habitat B flowering plant C short and tufted stems D rhizome E-F calyces G bracteoles H frontal view of verticillaster I lateral view of verticillaster J-K corolla L anthers M front view of corolla N fresh nutlets and fruiting calyx O dried nutlets. Photographed by Ren-Bo Zhang.

Figure 2. Paraphlomis kuankuoshuiensis sp. nov. A flowering plant B pistil C flower D front view of corolla E opened corolla F leaf G opened calyx H nutlet. Drawn by Tan Deng.

Figure 3. The geographical distribution of Paraphlomis kuankuoshuiensis sp. nov. and its three closely related species.