Primulina jiuyishanica K. Liu, D.C. Meng & Z.B. Xin, 2020

Liu, Kun, Meng, De-Chang, Huang, Zhang-Jie, Maciejewski, Stephen & Xin, Zi-Bing, 2020, Primulina jiuyishanica (Gesneriaceae), a new species from Hunan, China, PhytoKeys 162, pp. 37-44 : 37

Primulina jiuyishanica K. Liu, D.C. Meng & Z.B. Xin sp. nov. Figure 1

Diagnosis.

Primulina jiuyishanica resembles P. fimbrisepala (Fig. 2 ) in having similar inflorescence and corolla color, but can be distinguished by its leaf blade being elliptic to broadly elliptic, base broadly cuneate (vs. blade ovate, broadly ovate to suborbicular, base cordate), peduncle densely pubescent with sparse glandular hairs (vs. eglandular-pubescent to appressed pilose), corolla throat with no purple spots inside (vs. corolla throat with few to many purple spots inside), the yellow patch in the throat densely glandular-pubescent (vs. densely eglandular-pubescent) and pistil densely glandular-pubescent (vs. eglandular-pubescent).

Type.

China. Hunan Province, Yongzhou City, Ningyuan County, Jiuyishan National Nature Reserve, growing on a granite rock in the forest in a damp and moist valley, alt. 900-1300 m, 14 April 2017, Kun Liu 20170414-01 (holotype: IBK!; isotypes: IBK!, KUN!).

Description.

Herbs perennial, rhizomatous. Stem subterete, ca. 6 cm long, ca. 2 cm in diameter. Leaves 4-6, basal, opposite; leaf blade thickly chartaceous, elliptic to broadly elliptic, 6-9 × 6-7 cm, margin conspicuously serrate, lateral veins 4-5 on each side, abaxially conspicuous, apex obtuse, base broadly cuneate, oblique or slightly asymmetric, adaxially densely pubescent with sparse glandular hairs, abaxially densely pubescent. Petiole flattened, 4-5 cm long, ca. 0.5 cm wide, densely villous. Cymes 1-5 or more, axillary, 1-2-branched, 2-14-flowers per cyme; peduncles 6-8 cm long, 2.5-3 mm in diameter, densely pubescent with sparse glandular hairs; pedicel 1-2.3 cm long, ca. 2 mm in diameter, densely pubescent with sparse glandular hairs; bracts 2, opposite, narrowly lanceolate, 1.1-1.2 cm long, 2-3.5 mm wide, sparse hydathodes, both surfaces sparsely pubescent; bracteole 1, lanceolate, 3-5 mm long, 1-2 mm wide, sparse hydathodes, both surfaces sparsely pubescent. Calyx 5-parted to near base, lobes narrowly lanceolate, 5-7 × 2-3 mm, sparse hydathodes on each side; apex acute, outside densely pubescent, inside subglabrous. Corolla pink to bluish violet, 4-4.5 cm long, 2.6-3 cm wide; corolla tube funnelform, 2.5-3 cm long, 1.2-1.5 cm in diameter, outside glandular-pubescent, inside glabrous; with two distinct longitudinal ridges on the corolla tube floor; a yellow patch at corolla throat extends to the middle of the corolla tube, densely glandular-pubescent; limb distinctly 2-lipped, adaxial lip 2-lobed, lobes broadly ovate, abaxial lip 3-lobed, middle lobe narrowly orbiculate or broadly ovate, lateral lobes oval or oblong. Stamens 2, adnate to ca. 1.4 cm above the base of the corolla tube; 9-10 mm long, terete, geniculate near middle, knee greenish yellow, the rest white, sparsely glandular-pubescent; anthers fused by the entire adaxial surfaces, abaxially densely whitish pubescent; staminodes 3, lateral ones ca. 4 mm long, adnate to ca. 9 mm above the base of the corolla tube, terete, apically capitate, the middle one ca. 0.9 mm long, adnate to ca. 1.5 mm above the base of the corolla tube. Disc annular, ca. 1 mm high, margin repand. Pistil 3.1-3.6 cm long; ovary cylindrical, 1.2-1.6 cm long, ca. 4.5 mm in diameter, densely glandular-pubescent to glandular-puberulent; style 1.5-1.6 cm long, 1-1.5 mm in diameter, densely glandular-pubescent to glandular-puberulent; stigma chiritoid, lower lobe ca. 1 mm wide, divided, lobes ca. 4 mm long. Capsule linear, 5-5.5 cm long, densely glandular-pubescent to glandular-puberulent.

Distribution and habitat.

We found eight populations in different places of Jiuyishan National Nature Reserve for the new species through several field investigations. It grows on granite rocks, in association with Pileostegia viburnoides Hook. f. & Thoms., Hedera sinensis (Tobl.) Hand.-Mazz, Euonymus actinocarpus Loes., Viola kosanensis Hayata, Lysimachia congestiflora Hemsl., Goodyera biflora (Lindl.) Hook. f., Phyllagathis cavaleriei Guillaum. and Dryopteris Adans. spp. in the forest in a damp and moist valley.

Phenology.

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

Etymology.

The specific epithet is derived from the type locality, Jiuyishan National Nature Reserve, Hunan Province, China.

Vernacular name.

九嶷山报春苣苔 (Chinese name); jiǔ yí shān bào chūn jù tái (Chinese pronunciation).

Conservation status.

The EOO and AOO of Primulina jiuyishanica are 54.28 km2 and 5.2 km2 respectively. So far, only eight populations of this species were found located in a nature reserve. However, we believe that more populations will be found in the future, and the EOO and AOO might increase. The eight populations have in total more than 3000 mature plants in the type locality, and additionally many seedlings were found. The plants are well protected in the nature reserve. According to the guidelines for using the IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria ( IUCN 2019), the new species should be assessed as of Least Concern (LC).

Note.

In figure 2, A and B were published in Wei et al. 2010, page 374, 375, under the name of Chirita juliae Hance, now Primulina juliae (Hance) Mich. Möller & A. Weber. In fact, A and B are P. fimbrisepala (Hand.-Mazz.) Yin Z. Wang.

Figures

Figure 1. Primulina jiuyishanica A habitat B-C habit with flowers D cultivated plant E opened corolla F (1) adaxial surfaces of calyx lobes (2) abaxial surfaces of calyx lobes G inflorescence H bracts I inflorescence after the corolla shedding J dissected ovary, disc and pedicel K stamens L abaxial and adaxial surfaces of leaf blades (Photographed by Fang Wen).

Figure 2. Primulina fimbrisepala (A-G) A habitat B habit in wild with flowers C inflorescence D two distinct long longitudinal ridges on the corolla tube floor E opened corolla F stamens G bracts. (A-B: Photographed by Xiao-Ning You; C-G: Photographed by De-Chang Meng).