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| Ophiorrhiza reflexa L.Wu & Q.R.Liu, in Shang, Xue, Yang, Liao, Liu et Wu, 2024. |
Abstract
Ophiorrhiza reflexa, a new species from Guangxi, China, is described and illustrated in this study. It is morphologically similar to O. alatiflora due to the branched inflorescence, distylous flowers and the tubular-funnelform corolla with five longitudinal wings. The new species can be distinguished from O. alatiflora by its erect inflorescence, its smaller and equal-sized calyx lobes 0.5–0.7 mm long, its corolla tubes winged to the middle and the wings straight and its strongly reflexed corolla lobes at anthesis. Ophiorrhiza reflexa is assessed as least concern (LC) according to IUCN Categories and Criteria.
Key words: China, new taxon, Ophiorrhiza, Rubiaceae, taxonomy
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| Ophiorrhiza reflexa A flowering branch B stipule C part of inflorescence D longitudinally dissected short-styled flower E longitudinally dissected long-styled flower F capsules. Drawn from the holotype by X.Y. Zeng. |
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| Ophiorrhiza reflexa A, B habit C stipule D young inflorescence E inflorescence in lateral view F inflorescences in different development stages G bracts from lower part to upper part of inflorescence H leaves I corollas in lateral view J corollas in top view K longitudinally dissected long-styled flower L longitudinally dissected short-styled flower M infructescence. Photos by L. Wu. Scale bars: 3 mm (C); 1 cm (G, J–L); 2 cm (E, F, I, M); 10 cm (H). |
Ophiorrhiza reflexa L.Wu & Q.R.Liu, sp nov.
Diagnosis: The new species is most similar to O. alatiflora, but can be distinguished from the latter by the inflorescences which are erect from the earliest developmental stages (vs. drooping when young, then erect), the small and equally-sized calyx lobes 0.5–0.7 mm long (vs. 0.9–1.8, sometimes to 2.5 mm long and usually unequal), the longitudinal wings on the corolla tube which run to the middle of the tube and are straight (vs. wings running along entire length and obviously undulate) and the strongly reflexed corolla lobes (vs. spreading) at anthesis.
Etymology: The species epithet refers to the reflexed corolla lobes. The Chinese name is given as ‘fan-ban-she-gen-cao (反瓣蛇根草)’.
Chao Shang, Jun Xue, Yanjie Yang, Xiaowen Liao, Quanru Liu and Lei Wu. 2024. Ophiorrhiza reflexa (Rubiaceae), A New Species from A Karst Region in Guangxi, China. PhytoKeys. 238: 231-240. DOI: 10.3897/phytokeys.238.116767
