Potentilla sunhangii D.G. Zhang, H.C. Wang & T. Deng, 2021

Zhang, Hua-Jie, Zhang, Dai-Gui, Feng, Tao, Liu, Qun, Yang, Jing-Yuan, Chen, Li, Wang, Heng-Chang & Deng, Tao, 2021, A new species of Potentilla (Potentilleae, Rosaceae) from central China, with reference to molecular and morphological evidence, Phytotaxa 480 (2), pp. 185-194 : 188-192

Potentilla sunhangii D.G. Zhang, H.C. Wang & T. Deng , sp. nov. ( Figs. 3 , 4 )

Type: — CHINA. Hubei, Shennongjia Forest District alpine grasslands in Jinhou hill , E110°18′44.50″, N31°27′59.31″, elev. 2932 m, 13 June 2019, Q. Liu wlc05 (holotype KUN1498244 ; isotype KUN1498245 ) .

Diagnosis:— Potentilla sunhangii is similar to P. saundersiana , from which it is distinguished by many granular glands on both the abaxial and adaxial sides of leaves, sepals, epi-sepals and stipule, and leaf blade sparse appressed sericeous.

Description: —Herbs perennial. Root terete, slender, with brown remaining stipules, membranous. Flowering stem erect, single or 2–3 cluster, 6–10 cm tall, with white long pubescence. Radical leaves palmately 3 foliolate, 1.5–4 cm including petiole. Petioles with white long pubescence, mid leaflet ovalellipsoidal, lateral leaflets obliquely ovoid, length and width are nearly equal, 0.6–1cm, apex obtuse, base cuneata or truncate, margin obtusely 10–12 serrate on side, green on both surfaces, both sides of leaflets with sparse pubescence and sticky glands. Cauline leaves 1–2, leaflets resembling those of radical leaves, smaller. Radical leaves stipule brown, membranous, with sparse pubescence. Cauline leaves, only radical concrescent with petiole, stipules grayish green, oval, obtuse, with sparse pubescence and granular glands. Inflorescence corymbose cyme, 1–3 flowered, pedicel 1.5–2 cm, densely with long pubescence and glands. Flowers diameter 1.5 cm-sepals long triangle, apex taper, episepals elliptic lanceolate, apex obtuse, abaxially sparsely pubescent and stick glands. Petals yellow, obcordate, apex micro concave, stamens ca. 20, filaments sparsely with pubescence, carpels 20, ovary sparsely pubescence, styles subterminal, base thickened, stigma bending.

Distribution and habitat: — P. sunhangii is known only in Jin-hou-ling moutains, Shennongjia Fostery District, Hubei, China ( Fig. 5 ). The terrain is mountainous with deep ravines and the climate is subtropical monsoon climate. The species is alpine herbs, which distributed in relatively drought alpine grassland meadow even in rock crevices.

Etymology: — Potentilla sunhangii is named in honor of Prof. Hang Sun, a Chinese botanist who has made significant contributions to the flora of China and research on Biogeography.

Figures

FIGURE 3. Potentilla sunhangii. A. habit in the Jin-hou-ling Mountains, Shennongjia; B. habit in rocks in Jin-hou-ling Mountains; C. flowers (in June); D. flower in front view; E. upper surface of basal leaves, showing leaflet number and teeth; F. stigma and style; G. flower in side view showing dense pubescence on the pedicel; H. part of stamens; I. root.

FIGURE 4. Illustration of the holotype of Potentilla sunhangii. A. Habit (perennial herb); B. Flower in front view; C. Sepal; D. Episepal; E. Anther with two thecae; F. Oval with lateral style; G. Cauline leaves with ventral stipular auricles.

FIGURE 5. Geographical distribution of Potentilla sunhangii in Shen-nong-jia Forest District, different colors represent different elevations of this region, orange represent region with elevation above 3800 meters, yellow represent region with elevation between 1800 and 3800 meters, green represent region with elevation below 1800 meters.