Sunday, December 25, 2016

[Botany • 2015] Acranthera burmanica • A New Species of Rubiaceae from Kachin State, Myanmar


Acranthera burmanica 
Y. H. Tan & B. Yang 


Abstract

Acranthera burmanica, a new species of Rubiaceae from Kachin, Myanmar, is here described and illustrated. It is morphologically similar to A. sinensis, but can be easily distinguished from the latter by its stem and branches densely strigose throughout; ovate leaves; calyx distinctly shorter than corolla tube, lobes lanceolate, apex attenuate; stipules triangular, apex acute not cuspidate; lower part of filaments connate into a tube.

Keywords: Acranthera, biodiversity, Kachin, morphology, Myanmar, taxonomy, Eudicots


Acranthera burmanica A. Habit. B. Stipule and Flower branch. C. Peduncle. D, F. Bracts. E. Flower bud. G. Inforescences. H. Corolla (adaxial view). I. Calyx. J. Opened corolla. KL. Stamens. M. Pistil. NP. Ovary portion.

Photographed by Yun-Hong Tan.  DOI:  10.11646/phytotaxa.238.1.5 

Acranthera burmanica Y. H. Tan & B. Yang, sp. nov. 

Diagnosis: Acranthera burmanica is similar to A. sinensis C. Y. Wu (1957:295), differing from the latter by its stem and branches densely strigose throughout (vs. glabrescent when aged); ovate to ovate-lanceolate leaves (vs. elliptic or obovate); calyx distinctly shorter than corolla tube (vs. equal to corolla tube), calyx lobes lanceolate (vs. linear-lanceolate), apex attenuate (vs. acuminate); stipules triangular, apex acute not cuspidate (vs. broadly ovate to triangular, glabrescent, cuspidate); lower part of filaments connate into a tube (vs. free).

Distribution:— Acranthera burmanica is endemic to Myanmar and known from Kachin State, Putao, where it grows in the understory in tropical rain forests and tropical mountain forests, at an elevation of ca. 900–1500 m.



Yun-Hong TAN, Bin YANG, Jian-Wu LI, Shi-Shun ZHOU, Shwelone Shwelone, Kyi Kyi Khaing, Ren LI, Jian-Ping HUANG and Hang SUN. 2015. Acranthera burmanica, A New Species of Rubiaceae from Kachin State, Myanmar. Phytotaxa.  DOI:  10.11646/phytotaxa.238.1.5