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| Primula sunhangii T. Deng, D. G. Zhang & Jiao Sun, in Sun, Zhang, Huang, Tojibaev, Yang, Wang & Deng, 2020. |
Abstract
This report provides a description of Primula sunhangii from the Shennongjia Forestry District, Hubei Province in Central China, which is categorized as a new species of the primrose family. Primula sunhangii is morphologically similar to P. involucrata Wall. ex Duby in terms of its simple umbel, efarinose, and prolonged bracts. However, P. sunhangii is distinguished by its glabrous sepal, short petiole (compare with blade) and cylindrical calyx and capsule. Molecular phylogenetic analysis based on nuclear and cpDNA genes demonstrates that P. sunhangii and P. involucrata are closely related. Combining genetic and morphological data, the recognition of P. sunhangii as a unique new species is supported.
Keywords: morphological and molecular data, new species, Primula, Shennongjia
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| Holotype of Primula sunhangii T. Deng, D. G. Zhang & Jiao Sun, sp. nov. |
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| Primula sunhangii T. Deng, D. G. Zhang & Jiao Sun, sp. nov. A habitat B inflorescence C leaves D flower, front and back side E root. Scale bars: 1 cm in (C, D, E). Photographer: Qun Liu. |
Primula sunhangii T. Deng, D. G. Zhang & Jiao Sun, sp. nov.
Diagnosis: Primula sunhangii is similar to P. involucrata in glabrous, efarinose, ovate leaves, and lanceolate bracts base prolonged below into auriculate appendage and its length. But it differs from P. involucrata in the following characters: glabrous sepal, cylindrical calyx and capsule, truncate or acute leaves base, and shorter scape (at most 3 times the leaves).
Etymology: The specific epithet refers to the Chinese botanist Hang Sun.
Vernacular name: Simplified Chinese: 神农架报春;
Chinese Pinyin: Shénnóngjià Bàochūn.
Jiao Sun, Dai-Gui Zhang, Xian-Han Huang, Komiljon Tojibaev, Jing-Yuan Yang, Heng-Chang Wang and Tao Deng. 2021. Primula sunhangii (Primulaceae): A New Species from Hubei, Central China. PhytoKeys. 156: 103-112. DOI: 10.3897/phytokeys.156.49137
