Monday, August 21, 2017

[Botany • 2017] Argostemma cordatum • A New Species (Rubiaceae) from southern Vietnam


Argostemma cordatum Nuraliev


Abstract

Argostemma cordatum, a new species of Rubiaceae, is described and illustrated. The species was discovered in 2014 during a botanical survey of the Chu Yang Sin National Park (Dak Lak province, Southern Vietnam). Argostemma cordatum possesses a solitary large leaf per plant (along with one very small leaf). The new species differs from morphologically similar species mainly by the small size of the enlarged leaf and cordate base of the enlarged leaf. It is also characterized by the following features: plant completely glabrous, stipules minute and reduced to papillate warts, inflorescence with all axes elongated, anthers coherent into anther cone and dehiscent by longitudinal slits, style slightly exserted. An extended description of the vegetation in the area inhabited by A. cordatum is provided.

Keywords: Argostemma, taxonomy, Southern Vietnam, Chu Yang Sin National Park, flora, biodiversity, Eudicots

  
FIGURE 2. Argostemma cordatum at type locality.
A. General view of population. B. Flowering individual. D. Dichasium with flower buds. E. Flower, apical and oblique view.
Nuraliev, Kuznetsov, Kuznetsova 960. All photos by M. Nuraliev.  

Argostemma cordatum Nuraliev, sp. nov.

Etymology:— The specific epithet “cordatum” refers to the prominently cordate base of large leaf which distinguishes the new species from its relatives.  


Maxim S. Nuraliev, Anton S. Beer, Andrey N. Kuznetsov and Svetlana P. Kuznetsova. 2017. 
Argostemma cordatum (Rubiaceae), A New Species from Vietnam.
 Phytotaxa. 317(1); 42–52. DOI:  10.11646/phytotaxa.317.1.4