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| Lysimachia cavicola Y.Nong & Y.G.Wen, in Nong, Fang, Xu, Wei, Yan, Hu et Wen, 2023. 洞生香草 || DOI: 10.3897/phytokeys.235.109528 |
Abstract
Lysimachia cavicola (Subgen. Idiophyton, Primulaceae), a new species from Guangxi, China, is here described and illustrated based on morphological data. Although it shares similarities with L. microcarpa, L. fooningensis, and L. capillipes, there are distinguishing characteristics that set it apart. These include erect stems either solitary or in clusters of 1 to 2, herbaceous, terete, and densely glandular hairy. The leaves are either ovate or elliptical lanceolate, with inconspicuously reticulate veins. The petiole measures 2–4 mm in length covered with minute glandular hairy. The corolla is deeply parted, measuring 6–8 mm in length, with narrowly elliptic or narrowly oblong lobes that are 1–2 mm wide. The capsule is globose, measuring 2–3 × 2–3 mm, and possesses a chalky, brittle texture, which splits into 5-valved segments. The calyx of the plant appears yellowish-white during fruiting. This newly discovered species is endemic to limestone areas in Fengshan County, Guangxi, China.
Key words: Conservation, dòng shēng xiāng cǎo, Fengshan, limestone, new species, taxonomy
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| Lysimachia cavicola A flowering plant B fruiting plant C flower (front view) D flower (back view) E flower (lateral view) F calyx (back view) G anthers H fruit I lateral (left) and front view (right) of capsule. Photographed by You Nong and Ke-Jian Yan. |
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| Habitat of Lysimachia cavicola at the entrance of a limestone cave. Photographed by You Nong and Ke-Jian Yan. |
Lysimachia cavicola Y.Nong & Y.G.Wen, sp. nov.
Chinese name: dòng shēng xiāng cǎo (洞生香草).
Diagnosis: Lysimachia cavicola shares several similarities with L. microcarpa C.Y.Wu, L. fooningensis C.Y.Wu, and L. capillipes Hemsl., including leaves alternate, flowers solitary in leaf axils, corolla yellow, anthers longer than filaments with distinct basifixation, and typically opening by apical pores, along with capsules dehiscing by valves. However, the new species can be easily distinguished by the following characteristics: stems solitary or clustered in 1–2, herbaceous and densely glandular; leaves ovate or elliptical lanceolate with inconspicuously reticulate veins; petioles 2–4 mm long that are minutely glandular hairy; capsules globose, 2–3 mm in diam., about the same length as the calyx. A more detailed morphological differences among the four species is presented in Table 1.
Etymology: Fengshan, situated in the southwest of Guangxi, China, is a biodiversity hotspot known for its remarkable discoveries of new species (Nong et al. 2010; Wen et al. 2012; Li et al. 2019). One such species, Lysimachia cavicola, was found at the cave entrance in Fengshan, and the specific epithet is named after its habitat.
You Nong, Yuan Fang, Chuan-Gui Xu, Gui-Yuan Wei, Ke-Jian Yan, Ren-Chuan Hu and Yuan-Guang Wen. 2023. Lysimachia cavicola (Primulaceae), A New Species from Guangxi, China. PhytoKeys. 235: 189-198. DOI: 10.3897/phytokeys.235.109528
