Tuesday, September 20, 2022

[Botany • 2022] Vincetoxicum pingtaoanum (Apocynaceae: Asclepiadoideae: Asclepiadeae) • A New Species from the Three Gorges District in Central China


 Vincetoxicum pingtaoanum Cai F. Zhang, G.W. Hu & Q.F. Wang, 

in Zhang, Wang, Chen, ... Hu et Wang, 2022. 

Abstract
Vincetoxicum is one of the largest genera in Apocynaceae with recent expansion that includes former Tylophora, Biondia, and other small genera. In this study, we describe Vincetoxicum pingtaoanum sp. nov., a new woody species of Apocynaceae from the Three Gorges District in Central China based on our recent field and old herbarium collections. It is unique due to its growth habit and leaf characteristics which is similar to the former Biondia species. However, it has the well-developed corona common to the former Tylophora species. Diagnostic characteristics, a full description, photographs, ecology, and a distribution map and conservation status of the new species are provided in this study. Detailed comparisons with similar species and a key to all known species of Vincetoxicum from the Three Gorges District are also provided.

Keywords: China, plant taxonomy, Tylophora, Tylophorinae, Vincetoxicum, Biondia, Eudicots



 Vincetoxicum pingtaoanum Cai F. Zhang, G.W. Hu & Q.F. Wang.

 A–B, habit; C–D, flowering branch; E–F, inflorescence.
  A, E, F from the type locality; B from Fengjie County; C, D from Wushan County.

 A, E, F photographed by Feng Chen; 
C, B, D photographed by Hou-Lin.
 
Vincetoxicum pingtaoanum Cai F. Zhang, G.W. Hu & Q.F. Wang, sp. nov.

Etymology:—The specific epithet ‘pingtaoanum’ is in honor of Prof. Ping-Tao Li (P.T. Li; 1936–) from South China Agriculture University, for his contributions to the taxonomy of Chinese Apocynaceae .

Vernacular name:—Following a tradition of using geographic names as part of the plant vernacular names, we suggest ‘Three Gorges swallow-wort’ as the English common name and ‘Sanxia Baiqian (__)’ as the common Chinese name for the new species.


Cai-Fei Zhang, Yan Wang, Feng Chen, Hou-Lin Zhou, Miao Liao, Wyclif Ochieng Odago, Guang-Wan Hu and Qing-Feng Wang. 2022. Vincetoxicum pingtaoanum (Apocynaceae: Asclepiadeae), A New Species from the Three Gorges District in Central China. Phytotaxa. 564(1); 59-70. DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.564.1.4