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| Schnabelia jiuzhaigouensis C.Liu, F.Zhao & C.L.Xiang, in Zhao, Gao, Zhang, Liu et Xiang, 2025. |
Abstract
Schnabelia jiuzhaigouensis C. Liu, F. Zhao & C.L. Xiang, a new species from north-eastern Sichuan, China, is described, based on both morphological and molecular phylogenetic evidence. Morphologically, the new species is mostly similar to S. terniflora, but can be readily distinguished by its habit, ovate to lanceolate-ovate leaf blades, the presence of 5–8 lateral veins on each side of the mid-rib and distinct characteristics of the floral structure, including oblong upper lip and lateral lobes of the lower lip, with the middle lobe being cuneate. In addition, the nutlets are puberulent and lack reticulate venation. Molecular phylogenetic analyses place the new species at a basal position within the genus Schnabelia. The new species is categorised as Data Deficient (DD) according to the IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria. A key to all species of Schnabelia is also provided.
Key words: Ajugeae, morphology, new species, Schnabelia, taxonomy
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| Morphology of Schnabelia jiuzhaigouensis. A, B habitat C leaf morphology D frontal view of inflorescence E lateral view of inflorescence F lateral view of flowers and filaments (Scale bar: 5 mm) G frontal view of calyces (Scale bar: 1 mm) H surface of the nutlets. (Scale bars: 1 mm) (Photo by Cheng Liu). |
Schnabelia jiuzhaigouensis C.Liu, F.Zhao & C.L.Xiang, sp. nov.
Diagnosis. Schnabelia jiuzhaigouensis is most similar to S. terniflora, but can be distinguished by several morphological differences. Schnabelia jiuzhaigouensis is a perennial herb (vs. shrub), with ovate to lanceolate-ovate leaf blades, 2–8 × 1.5–4 cm (vs. lanceolate-oblong to ovate, 1.5–4 × 1–3 cm in S. terniflora), the lateral veins on each side of the mid-rib number 5–8 (vs. 3–6 in S. terniflora).The upper lip and lateral lobes of the lower lip are oblong in S. jiuzhaigouensis (vs. broadly obovate in S. terniflora) and the middle lobe is cuneate (vs. subrounded). The corolla is puberulent on the outside, but non-glandular (vs. puberulent and glandular in S. terniflora) and the nutlets puberulent (vs. densely hirsute), with S. jiuzhaigouensis lacking reticulate veins on the nutlets (vs. with distinctly reticulate veins in S. terniflora). The differences between the new species and S. terniflora are summarised in Table 2.
Etymology. The specific epithet ‘jiuzhaigouensis’ is derived from the type locality Jiuzhaigou County.
Chinese name. Jiǔ Zhài Gōu Sì Léng Căo (Chinese pronunciation); 九寨沟四棱草 (Chinese name).
Fei Zhao, Peng-Wei Gao, Ting Zhang, Cheng Liu and Chun-Lei Xiang. 2025. Schnabelia jiuzhaigouensis (Lamiaceae, Ajugoideae), A New Species from Sichuan, China. PhytoKeys. 253: 21-32. DOI: doi.org/10.3897/phytokeys.253.141697
