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| Epimedium longnanense Y.J.Zhang, in Jiang, Ji, Li & Zhang, 2023. |
Abstract
Epimedium longnanense, a new species of Epimedium (Berberidaceae) from Longnan Prefecture, Gansu Province, China, is here proposed and illustrated. E. longnanense has large flowers with petals possessing long spur and obvious basal lamina, and thus should be grouped into series Davidianae. The species closely resembles E. flavum of ser. Davidianae in morphology. However, it can be easily distinguished by its elongated rhizome (vs. compact), trifoliolate leaves (vs. five leaflets, sometimes trifoliolate), pale pink or purplish-red inner sepals with 6–8 × 2–3 mm (vs. pale sulphur-yellow, ca. 11 × 4 mm).
Keywords: Epimedium, IUCN Red List, morphology, taxonomy
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| Epimedium longnanense A habitat B plant C leaves (abaxial sides) D simple inflorescence with a flowering stem bearing one leaf E compound inflorescence with a flowering stem bearing two alternative leaves F flowers (adaxial view) G flower (abaxial view) H flower (Side view) I flower (Side view) and immature capsules J mature capsules K rhizome. Photographed by Yanjun Zhang and Ying Ji. |
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| Epimedium longnanense A plant B flower C petal D inner sepal E stamen and gynoecium. Drawn by Nan Jia. |
Epimedium longnanense Y.J.Zhang, sp. nov.
Diagnosis: Epimedium longnanense is closely similar to E. flavum Stearn in morphology, but can be easily distinguished by its elongated rhizome, trifoliolate leaves, and relatively smaller and pale pink or purplish-red inner sepals.
Distribution and habit: At present, Epimedium longnanense is only known from its type locality, i.e. Kangnan Forest District, Kangxian County, Longnan Prefecture, Gansu Province, China. The new species mainly occurs in thickets at elevations of 1800–2300 m and is usually together with Fargesia nitida (Mitford) Keng f. ex Yi, Rubia cordifolia L., Smilax stans Maxim., Cardamine tangutorum O. E. Schulz and Veratrum nigrum L. It often grows in stone crevices with barren soil, and its elongated and slender rhizome might be an adaptive characteristic of its living environment. Except for E. longnanense, there are two other species of Epimedium, E. brevicornu Maxim. and E. pubescens Maxim., in Gansu Province, China. In the type locality of E. longnanense, we also found E. pubescens at elevations of 300–1500 m, but no sympatric distribution of these two species was found.
Etymology: Longnan is located in the southeast of Gansu Province, the intersection of Qinba Mountain, Loess Plateau and Qinghai Tibet Plateau in China. Longnan is a biodiversity hotspot where many new species or new species records have been found (Liu et al. 2018; Qin et al. 2020; Zhang et al. 2022a). The new species, E. longnanense, is found in this region and is named after the geographic name.
Chinese name: Long nan yin yang huo (陇南淫羊藿).
Jianhang Jiang, Ying Ji, Jianqiang Li and Yanjun Zhang. 2023. Epimedium longnanense (Berberidaceae), A New Species from Gansu, China. PhytoKeys. 219: 97-106. DOI: 10.3897/phytokeys.219.94275
