Wednesday, June 29, 2022

[Botany • 2022] Oreocharis guangwushanensis (Gesneriaceae) • A New Species from Sichuan Province, China


Oreocharis guangwushanensis Z.L.Li & Xin Hong, 

in Li, Ma, ... et Hong. 2022. 

Abstract
A new species of Oreocharis, O. guangwushanensis from the Sichuan Province of south-western China, is described and illustrated here. This new species has a pink corolla that is different from other species of Oreocharis in southwest China and, although it is morphologically similar to O. ronganensis and O. reticuliflora, it has significant differences in the colour and shape of the corolla, the apex of the corolla limb, shape and indumentum of the filaments and a shorter pistil. A detailed description, colour photographs, distribution and habitat, as well as the IUCN conservation status, are also provided.

Keywords: Didymocarpoideae, Lithophilous, new taxon, pink flowers, Sichuan flora

Oreocharis guangwushanensis Z.L.Li & Xin Hong
 A flowering plants in natural habitat B plant with pair-flowered cymes C corolla front view D opened corolla
E dissected calyx lobes, outside brown with rusty strigose indumentum (3 left), inside green with brown pilose indumentum on margins (2 right) F peduncle, pedicel and young lateral branch G leaves (left: adaxial surface, right: abaxial surface) H capsule
I immature pistil J immature pistil with calyx K mature pistil with calyx.


 Oreocharis guangwushanensis Z.L.Li & Xin Hong, sp.nov.
 
Diagnosis: Oreocharis guangwushanensis morphologically resembles O. ronganensis and O. reticuliflora. The new species is vegetatively similar to O. ronganensis, but it differs from the latter in that the adaxial lip is 2-lobed to or above the middle (vs. lobed to near base), ovary with white pubescence (vs. glabrous), anthers in pairs (vs. anthers free), shorter tube (9–14 mm vs. 20 mm), shorter pistil (5 mm vs.12–15 mm) and filaments strongly twisted and bent at the top (vs. linear, straight). The new species resembles O. reticuliflora in habit, flower tube and the shape of the calyx, but differs by its pink limbs (vs. limbs with a network of violet stripes), filaments strongly twisted and bent at the top (vs. linear, straight), anthers in pairs (vs. anthers free), ovary with white pubescence (vs. glandular-pubescence) and shorter pistil (5 mm vs. 10–12 mm).


Etymology: The specific epithet is derived from the type locality, Guangwushan Provincial Nature Reserve, Sichuan province, China.

Vernacular name: Guāng Wù Shān Mǎ Líng Jù Tái (Chinese pronunciation); 
光雾山马铃苣苔 (Chinese name).


 Zheng-Long Li, Hai-Jun Ma, Zheng-Rong Ye, De-Chang Meng, Fang Wen and Xin Hong. 2022. Oreocharis guangwushanensis, A New Species of Gesneriaceae from Sichuan Province, China. PhytoKeys. 201: 123-129. DOI: 10.3897/phytokeys.201.77574