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| Petrocodon rubrostriatus K.Tan, X.Q. Song & M.X.Ren, in Tan, Chen, Song et Ren, 2023. Photographs by D.C. Meng |
Abstract
A new lithophytic species of Gesneriaceae, Petrocodon rubrostriatus K.Tan, X.Q.Song & M.X.Ren, sp. nov. from Lvchun County, South Yunnan, China, is described and illustrated here. It closest resembles P. mollifolius (W.T.Wang) A.Weber & Mich.Möller, but the new species is differentiated from it by red to brownish-red stripes in the yellow corolla throat and 4.5 mm long bract lobes, a ca. 10 mm long style, and staminodes inserted at 2.5–3 mm from the corolla base. The species is preliminarily assessed as ‘Critically Endangered’ (CR) according to IUCN criteria, since currently only one single locality is known with a few subpopulations on a fragmented limestone cliff, with fewer than 300 individuals.
Key words: Didymocarpoideae, flora of Yunnan, limestone, new taxon
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| Petrocodon rubrostriatus K.Tan, X.Q. Song & M.X.Ren, sp. nov. A habitat B habit C underside of plant D oblique side view of flower and buds E cyme F bracts and flower bud G dissected calyx lobes, pistil with opened corolla H front view of flower I side view of flower J stamens with coherent anthers K dehisced capsule (Photographs by D.C. Meng). |
Petrocodon rubrostriatus K.Tan, X.Q.Song & M.X.Ren, sp. nov.
Diagnosis: The new species resembles Petrocodon mollifolius (W.T.Wang) A.Weber & Mich.Möller in leaf blade shape and size, flower base colour and size (Figs 2, 3), but can be easily distinguished from the latter by corolla lobes with red to brownish longitudinal stripes (vs. corolla purely yellow), shorter lanceolate bracts, ca. 4.5 mm long (vs. linear, 12–20 mm long); longer style length ca. 10 mm (vs. 6–8 mm), and staminode insertion at 2.5–3 mm from corolla base (vs. inserted at the corolla base).
Etymology: The name rubrostriatus refers to the bright red to brownish stripes in the yellow corolla. This is noticeably different from the corolla colours of previously published Petrocodon species.
Vernacular name: Hóng Wén Shí Shān Jù Tái (红纹石山苣苔). The first two words, “Hóng Wén”, mean red stripes of the corolla, and the following four words, “Shí Shān Jù Tái”, mean Petrocodon in Chinese.
Ke Tan, Di-Ya Chen, Xi-Qiang Song and Ming-Xun Ren. 2023. A New lithophilous Species of Gesneriaceae, Petrocodon rubrostriatus, from the Karst Area of South Yunnan, China. PhytoKeys. 230: 289-299. DOI: 10.3897/phytokeys.230.106358
