Pedicularis multicaulis W.B.Yu, H.Wang & D.Z.Li, 2019

Li, Xin, Wang, Hong, Li, De-Zhu & Yu, Wen-Bin, 2019, Taxonomic and nomenclatural notes on Pedicularis (Orobanchaceae): I. One new species from northwest Yunnan, China, PhytoKeys 130, pp. 205-215 : 207-210

Pedicularis multicaulis W.B.Yu, H.Wang & D.Z.Li sp. nov. Figures 1 , 2 A–F and 3

Vernacular name.

Duo Jing Ma Xian Hao (多茎马先蒿) (Chinese).

Type.

CHINA. Yunnan: Weixi, Lidiping, wet meadow, alt. 3180 m, 27°9'16.06"N, 99°24'48.70"E, 30 Aug 2014, W.-B. Yu, X.-L. Yang & H. Tang 2014096 (holotype: HITBC! (accession no. 169315); isotypes: HITBC!, KUN!).

Diagnosis.

Pedicularis multicaulis W.B.Yu, H.Wang & D.Z.Li is distinguished from P. macilenta and P. taihaiensis in having taller and more ascending stems, partially crawling stems with fibrous roots, shorter petiole and leaf blade of cauline leaves in middle and upper parts and smaller corollas with a shorter beak.

Description.

Herbs perennial, 20-50 cm tall, glabrescent, drying slightly black; taproots slender, fusiform; stems caespitose, mostly (3) 5 to 9 (12) from a caudex, ascending or partially crawling (with fibrous roots) and branchlets (0) 1-3 (10), glabrescent or sparely pubescent along the lines. Basal leaves absent. Cauline leaves alternate; petiole up to 10 mm long or distal ones sessile or subsessile, glabrescent; leaf blade ovate-elliptic or oblong, 5-30 mm × 7-15 mm, glabrous on both surfaces, pinnatisect; segments 2 to 5 pairs, ovate to lanceolate-oblong, incised-pinnatifid or double dentate. Inflorescences racemose, up to 30 cm long; bracts leaflike, distal ones shorter than flowers. Pedicel 1.0-2.5 mm long. Calyx tube ca. 5 mm long, glabrescent, 1/3 cleft anteriorly; lobes 3, unequal, posterior one acicular, lateral pair larger, leaf-like and toothed. Corolla rose, 10-14 mm long; tube erect, ca. 8-10 mm long; galea ± falcate, not crested, not twisted, with 1 distinct reflexed marginal tooth on one side; beak straight, ca. 3 mm, slightly 2-cleft at apex, not ciliate; lower lip 5-6 mm × 6-8 mm, sparely ciliate, lobes 3 unequal; middle lobes apex slightly cucullate. Filaments 4 glabrous, equal length, ca.13 mm long, inserted in the middle of corolla. Ovary long ovoid, ca. 3 mm long; Capsule lanceolate-oblong, 10-15 mm × 4-5 mm. Seeds narrowly ovoid, ca. 1.0-1.2 mm.

Etymology.

The specific epithet " multicaulis " refers to the new species having many ascending stems that are branched in the middle and upper parts.

Phenology.

This new species was found in flowering from middle June (in a field trip in 2006) to August and in fruiting from July to September.

Pollen morphology.

Pollen grains are radially symmetrical, isopolar, spheroidal and medium in size (polar length: 23.71-25.47 μm × equatorial diameter: 18.86-20.29 μm). Pollen apertures are bisyncolpate ( Figures 2G and H ) and the colpi are usually wide and sunken ( Figure 2G ); exine ornamentation is perforated tectum with microfoveolate ornamentation ( Figure 2I ).

Phylogenetic analyses.

All analyses strongly supported P. taihaiensis as sister to P. multicaulis (ML/MP/BI = 88/76/1.00, Figure 4 ) and the two samples of P. multicaulis (ML/MP/BI = 100/100/1.00) and of P. taihaiensis (ML/MP/BI = 100/99/1.00) are monophyletic, respectively. Then, P. macilenta is sister to P. taihaiensis + P. multicaulis (ML/MP/BI = 100/100/1.00).

Distribution.

Pedicularis multicaulis was only found in two populations in Weixi county, northwest Yunnan ( Figure 5 ). It occurs in wet meadow or the margin of wetland between 2900 m and 3200 m a.s.l.

Conservation assessment.

To date, we only collected this new species from two populations in Weixi county, northwest Yunnan. There are around 100 and 300 individuals in Pantiange and in Lidiping, respectively. It is restricted to wet meadow, which is likely to be threatened by grazing in these areas. According to IUCN Red List Criteria ( IUCN 2012), P. multicaulis can be classified as Vulnerable (VU).

Additional examined specimens.

Pedicularis multicaulis W.B.Yu, H.Wang & D.Z.Li. CHINA. Yunnan: Weixi, Pantiange, wet grassland, alt. 2930 m, 27°20'39.48"N, 99°16'59.30"E, 27 Aug 2014, W.-B.Yu, X.-L.Yang & H.Tang 2014102 (KUN!). Pedicularis macilenta Franch. CHINA. Yunnan: Eryuan (Mountain Yentzehay), in humid localities on the slopes, 8 Aug 1888, Delavay 3698 (types, P!, PH!, LA!); Yunnan: Zhaotong, Dashanbao, Dahaizi reservoir, alt. 3044 m, 27°44'89.2"N, 103°31'94"E, 7 Aug 2008, H.Li et al. 8078 (KUN!). Pedicularis taihaiensis Bonati. CHINA. Yunnan: Huize, Dahai, Jul 1913, E.E. Maire 678 (holotype: E [E00284020]!); ibid. 30 Jul 2010, W.-B.Yu et al. HW10369 (KUN!); Yunnan: Luquan, Wumeng Mountains, alt. 3700 m, 2 Jul 1990, R.Z.Fan & Z.W.Lyv 061 (KUN!); Yunnan: Luquan, Jiaozi Mountain. 8 Jul 2008, C.L.Xiang et al. HP9544 (KUN!).

Figures

Figure 1. Line drawing of Pedicularis multicaulis W. B. Yu, H. Wang & D. Z. Li A habit B leaf C flower D open flower showing the anthers and style E fruit. Drawn by Zhen-Long Liang from the holotype (A-D) and an isotype (E), W. - B. Yu, X. - L. Yang & H. Tang 2014096 (KUN).

Figure 2. Field photos and pollen of Pedicularis multicaulis W. B. Yu, H. Wang & D. Z. Li A-C overview of habitat and plants D inflorescence E flowers F infructescence G equatorial view of pollen H polar view of pollen I exine ornamentation.

Figure 3. The holotype of Pedicularis multicaulis W. B. Yu, H. Wang & D. Z. Li (W. - B. Yu, X. - L. Yang & H. Tang 2014096, HITBC, accession no. 169315).

Figure 4. The major-rule consensus tree of Bayesian Inference analysis using the total data by concatenating four DNA regions (nrITS, matK, rbcL and trnL-F). Bootstrap values of Maximum Likelihood / Parsimony and posterior probability values of Bayesian Inference are presented above branches. The bottom scale bar represents the number of substitutions per site.

Figure 5. Distribution map of Pedicularis multicaulis W. B. Yu, H. Wang & D. Z. Li and related taxa.