Saturday, July 7, 2018

[Botany • 2018] Aristolochia tongbiguanensis (Aristolochiaceae) • A New Species from Yunnan, China


Aristolochia tongbiguanensis  J.Y. Shen, Q.B. Gong & S. Landrein

in Gong, Landrein, Xi, et al., 2018.   

Abstract
Aristolochia tongbiguanensis (Aristolochiaceae), a new species from Dehong Prefecture, Yunnan, China, is described and illustrated. It is compared with morphologically similar species including A. faviogonzalezii, A. saccata, A. balansae, A. tonkinensis and A. cathcartii. This new species differs mainly by the shape and colour of its calyx. The perianth of A. tongbiguanensis is yellowish-white with dark purple lines, the limb is nearly rectangular and covered with purple warts as well as long papillae and the throat is yellowish-white with dark purple lines and dots. Full description of A. tongbiguanensis is provided, together with line drawings, photographs and a conservation assessment for this rare vine species.

Keyword: Aristolochia tongbiguanensis, Aristolochiaceae, China, New species, Subgenus Siphisia, Yunnan


Fig 2. Aristolochia tongbiguanensis.
 A. Front view of the open flower. B. Flowering stem. C. Flower opened showing the inside structure. D-E. seed. F-H. Adaxial and abaxial leaf surface. I. Gynostemium. J. Capsule (immature).
Photo by J. Y. Shen & Q. B. Gong.

Aristolochia tongbiguanensis J.Y. Shen, Q.B. Gong & S. Landrein, sp. nov.

Diagnosis: Aristolochia tongbiguanensis can be distinguished from its closest morphological match A. faviogonzalezii by the dark purple lines inside the throat, it differs from A. saccata and A. cathcartii which have yellow to deep red throats, and A. tonkinensis which have white throat, A. balansae differs from A. tongbiguanensis by the cuneate to rounded leaf base and the golden-brown throat. 

Distribution and Habitat: currently known only from the type locality and found growing in dense forests at ca. 1500 m high elevation.

 Etymology: The specific epithet is derived from the type locality, Tongbiguan Provincial Nature Reserve, Dehong Prefecture, Yunnan, China.


Qiang-Bang Gong, Sven Landrein, Hou-Cheng Xi, Xing-Da Ma, Zheng-Hua Yang, Kuan-Weng He and Jian-Yong Shen. 2018. Aristolochia tongbiguanensis, A New Species of Aristolochiaceae from Yunnan, China. Taiwania. 63(3); 183-187 DOI: 10.6165/tai.2018.63.183