Smilax fui Z.C. Qi & P. Li, 2016

Qi, Zhe-Chen, Shen, Chao, Han, Yu-Wei, Wang, Rui-Hong, Liu, Rui-Zheng, Naiki, Akiyo & Li, Pan, 2016, A new species of Smilax (Smilacaceae) from southern islands of Kagoshima prefecture, Japan, Phytotaxa 269 (2), pp. 128-130 : 128-130

Smilax fui Z.C. Qi & P. Li , sp. nov. ( Fig. 1 )

The new species resembles to S. ligneoriparia Fu & Li in possessing herbaceous leaves, a prickleless woody stem, compressed peduncle and bronze-colored tendrils, but differs in having cordate leaf blades and greenish tepals (vs. light pink). This species is also similar to Smilax japonica Li & Fu (2013: 58) in having cordate leaf blades, flattened bronze tendrils, and prickless slender stem, but differs in having free tepals (vs. fused tepals), non-glaucous lower leaf surface (vs. glaucous), and deciduous habit (vs. evergreen).

Type:— JAPAN. Kagoshima prefecture: south slope of Mt. Yagura, Kuroshima Island , 400 m, 129°56’ 10–20”E, 30°49’05–15”N, 29 March, 2003, Fl., Shinji Fujii 9380 (holotype, OSA 213030 !) .

Perennial woody vine, climbing with tendrils. Stems terete, with numerous secondary branches and no prickles, green, lustrous, smooth. Petioles 1.2–3.8 cm long, narrowly winged for 1/10 to 1/3 of their length; abscission zone subapical; stipular tendrils well developed, green when young, then becoming bronze-colored at maturity. Leaf blades ovate to oblong with acuminate apex, and shallow to deep cordate at base, 5.7–18 cm long, 3.3–12.7 cm wide, herbaceous, green and glossy above and beneath, primary veins 7–9, the outer 4 less prominent, sometimes the outermost 2 barely noticeable. Inflorescence of 1 umbel, borne in leaf axil; peduncle 1.8–3 cm long, straight, slightly compressed; umbel 7- to 30-flowered, hemispherical or spherical, base slightly thickened, globose, 2–3 mm in diameter. Pistillate flowers borne on pedicels 4.5–16 mm long; buds yellowish-green, green and recurved in full bloome, tepals 6, elliptic to oblong, 3.0–4.0 mm long, 1.0– 1.5 mm wide, 1-veined, inner tepals slightly narrower than outer. Berries 5.0–10.0 mm in diameter, presumably red at maturity (based on S. Fujii 10042, OSA; fresh fruits not seen). Flowering in March, fruiting in November.

Etymology:—The specific epithet honors Chengxin Fu of Zhejiang University, China, for his great contribution and dedication to the study of cosmopolitan Smilacaceae .

Distribution, habitat, and conservation:— Smilax fui is an insular species currently known only from Kuroshima and Nakanoshima islands in Kagoshima, Japan. It grows on mountain slope from 250–400 m near the edge of evergreen broad-leaved forests (e.g. Castanopsis , Cyclobalanopsis and Pleioblastus ). Shiuchi (1995) listed it as Smilax sp. and pointed out as “further study is needed” in his Flora of Tokara Archipelago. Fujii (2006) commented it as a possible new taxon or unrecorded species in Japan of his collection in Kuroshima Island. Now only four specimen sheets were designate to this new taxon. Such a few specimen records may indicate the rarity of S. fui . These two species have not only common characters in morphology, but also similar habitat conditions (both in broad-leave evergreen forests). The disjunct distribution of S. fui and S. ligneoriparia indicates that the two species might be relicts from the late Tertiary period of Sino-Japanese flora. Further studies and attempts at conservation should focus on this interesting new and rare species.

Further specimens seen (paratypes):— JAPAN. Kagoshima prefecture: Mishima-mura, Kuroshima Island, south slope of Mt. Yagura , 400 m, 129°56’ 10–20”E, 30°49’05–15”N, 30 December 2003, Shinji Fujii 10042, Fr., Shinji Fujii 10043 ( OSA 217361 !, OSA 217363 !) ; Toshima-mura, Nakanoshima Island, northeast side of Mt. Otake , 250 m, s.d., Akiyo Naiki 5226 ( OSA 216324 !) .

Figures

FIGURE 1. Illustration of Smilax fui Z.C.Qi & P.Li:A, fertile branch with pistillate inflorescence; B, fruits; C, pistillate flower; D, adaxial (above) and abaxial (below) surface of leaf with tendrils.