Vincetoxicum junzifengense B.J.Ye & S.P.Chen, 2022

Ye, Bao-Jian, Tu, Xiong-De, Zhou, Cheng-Yuan, Liu, Bin, Cao, Xue-Fen & Chen, Shi-Pin, 2022, Vincetoxicum junzifengense (Apocynaceae), a new species from Fujian, China: Evidence from morphological and molecular analyses, Phytotaxa 539 (2), pp. 203-209 : 206-207

Vincetoxicum junzifengense B.J.Ye & S.P.Chen , sp. nov. ( Figs. 2 & 3 ).

Type: — CHINA. Fujian (Dz建): Mingxi (DZĀ), growing on loose soil, with high air moisture, elev. ca. 457 m, 25°35′46″N, 116°55′25″E, 15 July 2018, Baojian Ye WSD9808 (holotype FJFC) .

Diagnosis:— This new species is most close to V. stauntonii , from which it differs by its climber life form, pubescent stem and leaf blade, triangular corolla lobe, dentate corona lobe, ovoid pollinium, and slightly elevated stigma.

Perennial twining climber, lower part erect and upper fertile part twining. Stems terete with short curved hairs, 1–2 mm long. Roots fascicled and slender. Leaves opposite, petiole ca. 1 cm; leaf blade narrowly lanceolate, sparsely pubescent, 6–15 × 2–3 cm, papery; lateral veins ca. 8 pairs, obvious, connected in the blade margin, and acuminate at base and apex. Inflorescences racemelike, axillary; peduncle 1.5 cm, bracteoles densely; pedicel 2 mm, sparsely pubescent; calyx rotate, deeply 5-lobed; lobes triangular, 2 × 1 mm, glabrous, basal glands 5; corolla amaranth, rotate, deeply five-lobed, ca. 12 mm in diameter, lobes triangular, 5 × 3 mm, pubescent; corona cupular, fleshy, shorter than gynostegium, 5-lobed, triangular, dentate on both sides of base, keel-convex on inner surface, connate with middle of gynostemium; stigma pentagon, slightly elevated; pollinia 2 per pollinarium, pendulous, ovoid, 0.3 × 0.2 mm. Follicles single, terete lanceolate in outline, ca. 8 cm long, ca. 1 cm in diameter, tapering toward apex, glabrous.

Phenology: —Flowering in July, and fruiting in August.

Distribution and habitat:—It has only been discovered in the subtropical evergreen broadleaf forest in the Junzifeng National Nature Reserve, West Fujian, China. It grows on around wet loose soil.

Etymology: —The specific epithet refers to the locality of the Junzifeng National Nature Reserve where the new species has been found. Therefore, the Chinese name is suggested as “ 君Ŧ峰àů (jun zi feng bai qian)”.

Conservation status: —After the general field survey, it was only found at one site in the Junzifeng National Nature Reserve, with less than 20 plants in an area of 2 m 2. Due to the small survey area and limited data, this new species is temporarily assessed as Data Dificient (DD) according to the IUCN (2020 Red List Categories and Criteria.

Figures

FIGURE 2. Vincetoxicum junzifengense B.J.Ye & S.P.Chen.A. Habit. B. Back of leaf. C. Root. D. Front view of corolla. E. Back view of corolla. F. Corona. G. Gynostegium. H. Follicles. I. Pollinarium.

FIGURE 3. Vincetoxicum junzifengense B.J.Ye & S.P.Chen. A. Habit. B. Front view of corolla. C. Lateral view of corolla. D. Corona. E. Pollinia. F. Follicles.