Glochidion shanense Gang Yao & Shixiao Luo, 2018

Yao, Gang, Cai, Jie, Wu, Youheng, Yang, Xuefei, Oo, Thaung Naing, Moe, Aung Zaw & Luo, Shixiao, 2018, Taxonomic studies of Glochidion (Phyllanthaceae) from the Indo-China Peninsula (I): G. shanense, a new species from Myanmar, PhytoKeys 96, pp. 57-62 : 58

Glochidion shanense Gang Yao & Shixiao Luo sp. nov. Figures 1 , 2

Diagnosis.

The species is similar to G. ellipticum Wight in morphology, but differs from the latter by its branchlets pubescent, pedicels of female flowers 1.5-2 mm long, sepals of female flowers uniseriate and narrowly triangular, apex of style truncate slightly, persistent style of fruit stout and cylindric.

Type.

MYANMAR. Shan State, Pindaya, near the Htwet Ni village, West of Pindaya town, at an elevation of 1396 m, forest understory, in flowering and fruiting, 25 December 2015, Jie Cai et al. 15CS10794 (holotype, KUN!; isotype, KUN!, IBSC!)

Description.

Shrubs or treelets, up to 2 m; monoecious; branchlets pubescent. Leaf blade oblong or elliptic, 9-13.5 × 4.5-6.5 cm, papery, slightly leathery, with apex acuminate to round and base broadly cuneate, sparsely pubescent along veins adaxially, pubescent abaxially; midvein and 6-9-paired lateral veins elevated abaxially. Petiole 3-4 mm long, pubescent. Stipules narrowly triangular, 2-4 mm long, pubescent. Male flowers: pedicels 6-10 mm long, densely tomentose; sepals 6, biseriate, oblong or ovate, densely tomentose; stamens 3. Female flowers: in axillary clusters, pedicels 1.5-2 mm long, densely strigose; sepals 6, uniseriate, narrowly triangular, densely strigose; ovary depressed globose, 4-5-locular, densely strigose; style connate into a cylinder, ca. 1 mm long, slightly truncate at apex, apex 4-5-lobed. Capsules depressed globose, 8-9 mm in diameter, ca. 4 mm high, sparsely pubescent, 8-10-grooved; persistent style cylindric, ca. 1 mm long; fruiting pedicels 4-5 mm long, stout, densely pubescent; seed laterally compressed, orange.

Distribution and habitat.

This new species is currently known only from its type locality, Shan State, eastern Myanmar, where it grows in the broadleaved and coniferous dry forest dominated by Docynia indica (Wall.) Decne., Schima wallichii (DC.) Korth. and Pinus species.

Etymology.

Glochidion shanense is named after its type locality, Shan State in eastern Myanmar.

Taxonomic discussion.

The species resembles Glochidion ellipticum Wight, a species widely distributed from eastern Himalaya to Taiwan Island, but differs from the latter by its branchlets densely pubescent (Figure 2G ), pedicels of male flowers tomentose, pedicels of female flowers densely strigose and up to 1.5-2 mm long (Figures 2A, D ), sepals of female flower uniseriate and narrowly triangular in shape (Figures 2A, D ), ovaries 4-5-locular, style cylindric and truncate at apex (Figure 2D ), fruits 8-9 mm in diameter and 8-10-grooved (Figure 2G ), persistent styles cylindric and ca. 1 mm long (Figure 2G ). In contrast, G. ellipticum has the branchlets glabrous (Figures 2B, H ), pedicels of male flowers glabrous (Figure 2H ), female flowers sessile (Figures 2B, E ), sepals of female flowers biseriate and oblong in shape (Figure 2B ), ovaries 3-4 (5)-locular, style columnar to columnar-conical (Figures 2B, E ), fruits 6-8(rarely up to 10) mm in diameter and shallowly 6-8 (rarely 10)-grooved (Figure 2H ), persistent styles obscure or slightly elevated but far less than 1 mm long (Figure 2H ).

Figures

Figure 1. Line drawing of Glochidion shanense Gang Yao & Shixiao Luo, sp. nov. A Habit B Female flower C Male flower D Fruit E Seed. Draw by Ling Wang on Jie Cai et al. 15 CS 10794 (KUN).

Figure 2. Morphological comparisons between Glochidion ellipticum Wight (B, C, E, H) and G. shanense Gang Yao & Shixiao Luo (A, D, F, G). A, B, D, E Female flower C, F Branchlets G, H Fruit.