Wednesday, July 6, 2016

[Botany • 2016] Chionographis nanlingensis • A New Species (Melanthiaceae) from northern Guangdong, China


Chionographis nanlingensis 
L. Wu, Y. Tong & Q. R. Liu

Chionographis nanlingensis (Melanthiaceae), a new species from northern Guangdong, China, is described and illustrated, and its affinity is also discussed. In addition, a distribution map and a key to species of Chionographis are provided.

Key words: New species, Melanthiaceae, Chionographis, China.


Fig. 3. Chionographis nanlingensis (from holotype and paratype). A: Habit, B & C: Flowers, D: Pistil and stamen; C. shiwandashanens. E: Flowers; C. chinensis. F: Flowers. (photographed by L.Wu). 


Chionographis nanlingensis L. Wu, Y. Tong & Q. R. Liu, sp. nov.

Type: China. Guangdong: Ruyuan County, Nanling National Nature Reserve, under dense forests on hill slopes, alt. 300 m, 12 Apr., 2013 (fl.), L. Wu and Y. Tong 3187 (holotype: BNU; isotypes: BNU & IBSC). (Figs. 1 and 3. A-D)

Diagnosis: this species is similar to C. shiwandashanensis and C. koidzumiana, but differs from the former mainly by tepals 3, 8-12 mm long (vs. 6, 5-8 mm long), stamens nearly 2 whorls, filaments of outer whorl 1.0-1.3 mm long, inserted between tepals, inner whorl a little shorter, inserted at base of tepals (vs. inserted at base of tepals, 0.6-1.2 mm, regular), and differs from the latter by bractlike leaves elliptic to oblong-elliptic (vs. linear to lanceolate), flower nearly actinomorphic (vs. Zygomorphic), tepals usually 3, regular (vs. 6, lower 2 or 3 very short or reduced). 

Distribution: Chionographis nanlingensis is currently known only from Nanling National Nature Reserve, northern Guangdong, China (Fig. 2). It grows well under forest on mossy place or in moist rock along roadsides, at altitudes from 300 to 500 m.

Etymology: The specific epithet refers to its type locality, Nanling National Nature Reserve. 


Lei Wu, Yi Tong, Rui-Ya Yan and Quan-Ru Liu. 2016. Chionographis nanlingensis (Melanthiaceae), A New Species from China.  Pak. J. Bot. 48(2): 601-606. http://www.pakbs.org/PJBot/abstracts/48(2)/24.html