Wednesday, March 8, 2017

[Botany • 2017] Billolivia middletonii • A New Species of Billolivia (Gesneriaceae) from Central Vietnam


Billolivia middletonii  N.S. 


Abstract

Billolivia middletonii, a new species from Cà Ðam Mountains, Quảng Ngãi Province, Central Vietnam, is described and illustrated. A morphological description, a colour plate, the distribution, ecological information, the conservation status, and notes to species of Billlolivia in Vietnam are given.

Keywords: Annamite range, Billolivia middletonii, Quảng Ngãi Province, Taxonomy, Vietnam, Eudicots


Billolivia middletonii.   Lower part of the stem showing axillary inflorescence. 

Billolivia middletonii N.S. Lý, sp. nov. 

Similar to B. kyi in the long pubescent petioles, the shape of the lamina, and the 5-lobed ovate calyx almost divided to base, but differing in the glabrous stems (vs. densely pubescent), the lamina being glabrous adaxially (vs. sparsely pubescent adaxially), much longer bracts, 25–52 mm long (vs. shorter, up to 15 mm long), the oblong-obovate corolla lobes with violet lines (vs. orbicular, dark to redpurple), the white corolla throats having two yellow patches at base of lower lip, with violet lines (vs. dark red with a yellow patch), the longer and pale greenish filaments, 8–10 mm long (vs. white with long red patch, 5–6 mm long), fruit 20–25 mm long, ovoid to oblong-ovoid (vs. 14–16 mm long, ellipsoid).

 TYPE:—VIETNAM. Quảng Ngãi Province, Tây Trà District, ... Cà Ðam Mountains, Bà Noong stream, 1009 elev., 25 September 2016, Lý Ngọc Sâm, Lý-817 (holotype VNM!, isotypes P!, VNM!). 


Etymology:— The specific epithet of the new species is named in honour of Dr David J. Middleton of the Singapore Botanic Gardens for his continuing contribution to our understanding of the Gesneriaceae in Asia, including as the first author on the paper in which the genus Billolivia was first described.


Ngọc-Sâm Lý. 2017. A New Species of Billolivia (Gesneriaceae) from Central Vietnam.
 Phytotaxa. 291(1); ; 89-93.  DOI:  10.11646/phytotaxa.291.1.9