Tuesday, August 6, 2019

[Botany • 2019] Ophiorrhiza shiqianensis (Rubiaceae) • A New Species from Guizhou, China


Ophiorrhiza shiqianensis L.D.Duan & Yun Lin

in Duan, Lin & Lu, 2019. 


Abstract
A new species of the genus Ophiorrhiza L. (Rubiaceae), Ophiorrhiza shiqianensis L.D.Duan & Yun Lin, is described, illustrated and photographed from Shiqian County, Guizhou Province, South-western China. This species was found growing at the side of streams in evergreen broad-leaved forests in mountains at elevations of 960–1100 m. The new species is morphologically similar to Ophiorrhiza hunanica H.S.Lo, but differs from the latter by the glabrous, glabrescent or pilose stems, the 5–10 cm long subterranean stem internodes, the glabrous or pilose petioles, the 3–5 mm long stipules, the purple corolla lobes, the ca. 12 mm long style and included stigmas in long-styled flowers and the 3–4 × 8–10 mm, glabrous or glabrescent capsules.

Keywords: Distyly, morphology, new taxon, taxonomy

Figure 1. Ophiorrhiza shiqianensis
A habit of flowering plant B section of stem, showing stipules C inflorescence D flower E long-styled flower F pistil in a long-styled flower G short-styled flower H capsule 
A–F from L.D. Duan, Z. Lu & Q. Lin 5805 G from L.D. Duan, Z. Lu & Q. Lin 5808 H from L.D. Duan, Z. Lu & Q. Lin 5809.




 Figure 4. Ophiorrhiza shiqianensis (A–E) and O. hunanica (F).
A Habit of flowering plant B Inflorescence C long-styled flower D short-styled flower E capsule F habit of flowering plant, showing white corolla lobes.

Ophiorrhiza shiqianensis L.D.Duan & Yun Lin, sp. nov.

Diagnosis: Similar to Ophiorrhiza hunanica H. S. Lo based on stems, leaves and capsules; differing from it by the stems which are glabrous, glabrescent or pilose, the 5–10 cm long subterranean stem internodes, the glabrous or pilose petioles, the 3–5 mm long stipules, the purple corolla tube and lobes, the ca. 12 mm long styles and the included stigmas in long-styled flowers, the 3–4 mm × 8–10 mm, glabrous or glabrescent capsules [vs. stems densely villose, subterranean stem internodes 1–2 cm long, petioles villose, stipules 5–15 mm long, corolla tube purple and corolla lobes white, style 15–17 mm long and stigmas exserted in long-styled flowers, capsules 5–6 mm × 10–12 mm, densely villose in Ophiorrhiza hunanica (Figs 3, 4F)].


Distribution: Ophiorrhiza shiqianensis is only known from two localities in Shiqian County, northeast Guizhou Province, southwest China, notably: Fudingshan Nature Reserve, Pingshan Town and Nishan Village, Ganxi Town.

Etymology: Ophiorrhiza shiqianensis is named after its type locality, Shiqian County, northeast Guizhou Province, southwest China.


 Lin-Dong Duan, Yun Lin and Zhen Lu. 2019. Ophiorrhiza shiqianensis (Rubiaceae), A New Species from Guizhou, China. PhytoKeys. 121: 43-51. DOI: 10.3897/phytokeys.121.30570